Purify Your Mind Series (Part 2) by Joe KirbyNäide

Exercise Is Biblical

As Christians, our primary concern is the spiritual health of the soul; however, Paul here states there is a small benefit to exercising. We aren’t to be like the world, worshipping our bodies, but we also mustn’t forget we are physical creatures.

All the experts tell us that the greatest way to beat an addiction is regular exercise. Why is that? Because if you are addicted to pornography, you are actually addicted to dopamine. Dopamine is the pleasure hormone. God created it, but like most things in life, the Devil has corrupted it. A conversation, marital sex, chocolate, cold showers, listening to music, and yes, exercise, all release dopamine. If over many years you have made a habit of sexual sin, you need to replace that habit with a new one—one that will produce equal pleasure, but a pure type of pleasure. Why do many intelligent adults rise at 5 a.m. to go running on a rainy Monday morning? Because an hour afterward their body releases happy hormones, giving them a “runner’s high.” Exercise is good for the body because God did not design us to be sedentary, so think about how you can practically incorporate exercise into your daily routine. (Personally, what I’ve found helpful is cold water swimming (as low as 40°F). I get a real buzz from it, but we’re not all that weird.)