In North America over the past year there has been serious concern about high levels of obesity, not just among adults, but among relatively young children, too. Medical studies, media reports, and even school meal legislation have heightened awareness of ways in which sedentary lives, often coupled with bad eating habits, can affect a nation's health, quality of life, and even longevity.

At the same time, at least one sector of the population has been making a special effort to get fit by joining gyms, jogging, and dieting. This widespread enthusiasm to get in shape is reflected in a February 27 Gallup Poll showing that 29 percent of people in the United States can now be classified as "highly active" on the so-called physical exercise index. Nineteen percent of those sampled were "moderately active." People spent an average of 1.6 days a week participating in "vigorous exercise" that lasted at least 20 minutes. And, if one included those who engaged only in "moderate sports or recreational activities," the average shot up to 3.3 days a week.

These figures can be viewed as promising or disappointing, depending on a person's definition of fitness—and the relative importance attached to physical vs. spiritual development and to a prayer-guided lifestyle. After all, 3.3 days out of 7, is hardly impressive when compared with the Apostle Paul's call for people to revitalize their lives daily by praying "without ceasing" and by rejoicing "evermore" (I Thess. 5:17, 16).

At the sound of the word fitness, many people think exclusively of the human body. But consider for a moment the idea of spiritual conditioning—which relates to what Mary Baker Eddy described as "a fitness for holiness," without which "we cannot receive holiness" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 15). Holiness, which by dictionary definition includes such phrases as "purity of heart" and "setting apart to a sacred use," is not so far from the generally used term fitness as it might at first seem. Holiness doesn't have to conjure up a picture of someone who is out of touch with real life—with the demands of office politics, family relationships, bottom lines in business. Holiness is, in fact, fundamental to daily fitness.

As we take in the truth that we are not material and flawed, but spiritual and perfect, the mental focus shifts. We understand more of God's nature and of our relationship to Him. And suddenly we have more control over the body, work schedules, and insidious outside forces.

Jesus set a model for this lifestyle. Think for a moment of the utter simplicity of his life, and the mental and spiritual regimen he recommended. He told his followers not to be immobilized by worry over those needs that God promises to supply. He urged them to learn spiritual lessons about beauty, health, diet, clothing, and daily provision by observing the lilies, the birds, and fields of grass (see Matt. 6:25–34). His message, in essence: "Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today."

In that same informal sermon on a hillside in Galilee, Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values, emphasizing that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up. He implied that we should never be possessed by our possessions. These, among several other key disciplines, he said, would make us worthy recipients of God's care and grace.

We believe that praying conscientiously for wisdom and economy in every aspect of daily life—until such prayer becomes a habit—prepares people to follow Jesus' example. "God selects for the highest service one who has grown into such a fitness for it as renders any abuse of the mission an impossibility," wrote Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 455). And the message of Christian Science is that singlemindedness, patience, alertness, and an unwavering trust in God bring people to the point at which they can perceive and achieve a fitness for God's work.

If the call to stay mentally and emotionally in shape seems more than we can handle, there is ample reassurance in the Scriptures that we all have the almighty God at our side—and He wants us to succeed. He is in full charge of our fitness. We can leave our development in His steadying hands.