Fighting the Inner Battle by Fighting the Outer Battle

How Physical Discipline Strengthens Spiritual Warfare

I was preparing a short-devo for an upcoming Youth Group Workout and Breakfast with the boys from our Youth Group and I think this is something that isn't talked about enough and it's a personal theory of mine but I thought it would be great to share for the Foundry.

The Spiritual Flesh and the Physical Flesh

I believe there is a direct connection between our physical flesh and our spiritual flesh.

Scripture tells us that sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, and that brokenness has been passed down from generation to generation. We are inherently bent toward sin—not because we are uniquely bad people, but because we are fallen people. Yet God, in His mercy, sent Jesus as the final sacrifice so the price of sin could be paid once and for all. Through Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are invited into restored relationship with God.

But that doesn’t mean the battle disappears.

The Draw Towards the Darkness

Sin still lives in us, and with it comes a pull toward darkness. That’s why temptation can feel so convincing, so persistent, so personal. The enemy doesn’t usually shout—he whispers.

“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re not loved.”

Or he disguises temptation as something harmless:

“That girl/boy is pretty cute, don’t you think?”
“If I had more money, I’d finally matter.”
“If I can get that job or that position, then I’d be happy.”

Scripture names this clearly:

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
1 John 2:16

So the real question becomes:

How do we fight back?

In my experience, you don’t just manage these thoughts—you have to beat them.

And I’m not talking about a casual jog or checking the “worked out” box for the day. I mean pushing your body past comfort. Past excuses. Past the voice that says, not today.

There’s a reason this works—and science actually supports it.

Harvard Health reports that exercise lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline while increasing endorphins, the body’s natural mood elevators.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that regular physical activity significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression while improving emotional well-being.
PubMed Central highlights that exercise improves mood regulation, sleep, and mental clarity.

In other words, there is real, measurable evidence that physical discipline strengthens our resistance to mental and emotional attacks.

Why do you think the good things are so hard to do?

Working out.
Eating well.
Getting enough rest.
Going to church.

Because the battle isn’t neutral. It’s spiritual.

What starts as sleeping in becomes habitual laziness.
What starts as overeating becomes gluttony.
What starts as “just one drink” slowly becomes dunkeness and dependence.

None of this happens all at once—but every choice moves us either toward the light or deeper into the dark.

Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. That’s not a metaphor meant to shame us—it’s a truth meant to wake us up. Why would we treat something sacred like a dump?

And hear this clearly: this isn’t about condemnation.

This is about invitation.

The REAL Call

Anxiety, depression, shame, and self-hatred don’t get the final word. You are not weak for struggling but you are called to fight. Not to be the strongest. Not to look a certain way. But to take intentional steps toward the light.

Yes, it’s hard to train your body.
Yes, discipline costs something.
But we were never meant to do it alone.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17

This battle is better fought together. Accountability matters. Brotherhood matters. Sometimes it’s not even about having a whole group sometimes it’s just one person who refuses to let you quit.

I’m not telling you to wake up at 5am.
I’m not telling you to train five days a week.
I’m not telling you to start a strict diet.

I am reminding you that this is a spiritual battle and I want you equipped.

Because when you discipline the flesh, you quiet the lies.
When you strengthen the body, you sharpen the mind.
And when you choose the light, over and over again, you begin to see more clearly who God has always called you to be.