As Christians, we believe that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and taking care of them is an act of stewardship. God has given us these bodies, and it is our duty to keep them strong and healthy. Exercising and staying fit helps us live longer and serve Him better.
Working out not only benefits our health but also prepares us to serve God and others with strength and endurance. A healthy body allows us to carry out God’s work with energy and joy. When we are strong, we can help those in need and fulfill our purpose effectively.
The Bible encourages us to be disciplined, diligent, and persistent in all areas of life, including physical fitness. Discipline in exercise can teach us valuable lessons about perseverance and self-control. These same qualities help us grow spiritually and live a life that honors God.
Below are Bible verses that relate to working out and physical health. These scriptures remind us of the importance of taking care of our bodies. May they encourage you to stay strong, both physically and spiritually.
Preachers Quotes
“God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome.” – Oswald Chambers
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
“Spiritual stamina is necessary in order to finish the race of faith.” – Charles Stanley
“When we honor God with our bodies, we bring glory to Him in all that we do.” – Rick Warren
“Don’t pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
“You will never always be motivated, so you must learn to be disciplined.” – Unknown
“Your body is a tool for God’s work; keep it strong and healthy.” – John Piper
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Commitment
Bible Verses About Working Out
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Your body is God’s temple.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
1 Timothy 4:8 – Exercise has some value.
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8
Philippians 4:13 – Strength through Christ.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
Proverbs 31:17 – Strength and diligence.
“She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.” – Proverbs 31:17
Isaiah 40:31 – Renewed strength.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
Colossians 3:23 – Work as for the Lord.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” – Colossians 3:23
Hebrews 12:11 – The fruit of discipline.
“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11
Psalm 18:32 – God arms us with strength.
“It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.” – Psalm 18:32
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Running the race.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24
1 Corinthians 9:27 – Disciplining the body.
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27
Psalm 144:1 – Strength for battle.
“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” – Psalm 144:1
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous.
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
Romans 12:1 – Present your body to God.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1
2 Timothy 2:5 – Compete according to the rules.
“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” – 2 Timothy 2:5
Joshua 1:9 – Do not be afraid.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Psalm 73:26 – Strength in God.
“My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Do with all your might.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” – Ecclesiastes 9:10
Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
2 Corinthians 12:9 – His grace is sufficient.
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for God is with you.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
Proverbs 24:10 – Strength in adversity.
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” – Proverbs 24:10
Psalm 18:39 – Strength for battle.
“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” – Psalm 18:39
Galatians 6:9 – Do not grow weary.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” – Galatians 6:9
2 Samuel 22:40 – God gives strength for victory.
“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me.” – 2 Samuel 22:40
Nehemiah 8:10 – The joy of the Lord is your strength.
“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
James 1:12 – Perseverance leads to reward.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:12
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my strength.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1
Isaiah 12:2 – God is my strength and my song.
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” – Isaiah 12:2
2 Corinthians 4:16 – Renewed day by day.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16
Psalm 138:3 – God strengthens our soul.
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” – Psalm 138:3
Matthew 11:28-30 – Rest for the weary.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Romans 15:13 – Hope and strength through the Holy Spirit.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
Psalm 119:28 – Strengthen me according to Your word.
“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:28
Hebrews 10:36 – Endurance brings God’s promise.
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” – Hebrews 10:36
Exodus 15:2 – The Lord is my strength and song.
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” – Exodus 15:2
Micah 7:8 – When I fall, I will arise.
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” – Micah 7:8
Acts 20:24 – Run the race with joy.
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24
John 16:33 – Be of good cheer.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Revelation 3:21 – Overcoming brings victory.
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” – Revelation 3:21
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Competition
What does the Bible say about Working Out
The Bible talks a lot about taking care of our bodies. God created us in His image, and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means we should respect and care for them. Working out, staying active, and being healthy are ways we can honor God with our bodies.
One important verse about this is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which says, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This means our bodies do not belong to us; they belong to God. We should take care of them just like we would take care of a church building.
The Bible also teaches that discipline is important. 1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” This verse does not say exercise is bad; it simply reminds us that spiritual growth is even more important. Just like we train our bodies, we should also train our hearts and minds to follow God.
Hard work and perseverance are also biblical principles. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Whether we are working out, doing our jobs, or helping others, we should do it with our whole heart, knowing that God sees our efforts.
Strength comes from God, and He helps us when we feel weak. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Even when we feel tired or discouraged, God gives us the strength to keep going.
The Bible encourages us to take care of ourselves, but it also reminds us that physical health is not everything. Spiritual health is even more important. When we take care of our bodies, we should do it for the right reasons—to honor God, to have energy to serve others, and to live a long life for His glory. Working out is good, but loving and obeying God is the most important thing.