The Power of Physical Training in Spiritual Warfare
Have you ever felt like you are in a constant battle? Not just in life, but within yourself? The struggle to do what’s right, to push past comfort, and to stay disciplined is more than just a mental game. It’s spiritual warfare.
We live in a fallen world. We do not have to look very far to see evidence of this. All you have to do is look at the news for a few minutes to see the hurt, pain, injustice, killing, and sin. We are living in a time where it has never been more apparent that we are in spiritual warfare. In our own spiritual warfare, we can call upon St. Michael to defend us in battle. We can also look to him for inspiration. Lucifer was the most beautiful, highest-ranking angel. He then rebelled against God, and that was when St. Michael the Archangel stepped in and intervened:
“Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelations 12:7-8)
St. Michael, though lower in rank, triumphed over Lucifer. Not through his own strength, but through complete obedience to God. This reminds us that humility and reliance on God can defeat even the greatest adversaries. We are all fighting our own spiritual battles, and we can take courage as we look to St. Michael and know that "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Our bodies want comfort. Our subconscious wants to recreate the comfort we had in the womb of our mothers when we had all of our needs perfectly met. This takes form when we choose things like laying in bed, lying on the couch, mindlessly scrolling on social media, or binge-watching TV. These activities are not inherently bad. They can be good, in moderation; but when we constantly choose comfort over our daily obligations such as folding laundry, eating out over homemade food, or daily prayer, it then becomes a slippery slope. When we compromise on small things, it often trickles into bigger aspects of our lives.
Just as St. Michael did not shy away from the battle against evil, we are called to fight the battles within ourselves—against laziness, pride, and self-indulgence. Physical training becomes a practice ground for this interior battle. It’s where we learn to say no to comfort and yes to discipline.
“The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness”- Pope Benedict XVI
How does this tie into physical training? Physical training is one way to deny the flesh. Listen to your internal dialogue the next time you go for a jog or exercise. The body will tell you, “It’s okay to stop, you are tired”, “You’ve reached your limit”, “No one is watching, no one would care if you called it quits”, “You are not making any progress, there’s no point in continuing”, even when your body can keep going. These self-defeating thoughts can mirror our spiritual life. We might be tempted to have similar thoughts when praying. These thoughts might present as “What’s the point, I don’t feel different”, “Let’s cut prayer short, the game is on”, or “I don’t have time for this”. When we exercise, we have the opportunity to face the mental barriers that may be influencing multiple parts of our lives. We can choose to listen to the negative self-talk or to prove it wrong and say “I am not going to listen to you, because ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. What a powerful feeling it is to overcome yourself and the limitations you thought you had.
In the St. Michael prayer, we ask him to defend us in battle. We also get the opportunity to join him in battle. Through physical training, we can ask God to help forge our mind, our body, and soul to prepare us for the battles he has prepared for us. So, the next time you pick up a weight, go for a run, or feel tempted to quit, remember that you’re not just training your body; you’re training your soul for battle. Let St. Michael be your guide and God your source of strength.