Training for the Lord: Learning to Prioritize Form Over Speed

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” – Colossians 3:23

I’ll be honest—patience has never been my strong suit, especially when it comes to fitness. I like to push myself. I like to see progress. And if I’m being really honest, sometimes I care a little too much about how fast I can finish a workout or how heavy I can lift, rather than how well I’m actually doing it.

Lately, though, God has been convicting me in this area. Am I training with intention, or am I rushing through just to check off another workout? Am I truly honoring Him with my body, or am I letting pride and impatience dictate my movements?

When Speed Takes Over

There have been too many times when I’ve sacrificed good form just to finish a set faster. Maybe I wanted to match someone else’s pace in class. Maybe I was trying to get through my workout quickly because my to-do list was calling. Either way, I’d end up feeling it later—tight muscles, sore joints, or even a nagging pain that reminded me I hadn’t been careful.

One day, mid-workout, I felt a sharp pain in my knee after rushing through some squats. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious, but it was a wake-up call. I realized I had been treating my workouts like a race rather than an act of worship.

Training with Excellence

Colossians 3:23 tells us to work heartily for the Lord, not for men. That means doing things with excellence, not just rushing through them to get them done. When it comes to fitness, that means focusing on quality over quantity, form over speed, and consistency over quick results.

So I’ve started slowing down. When I lift weights, I make sure I’m controlling the movement instead of just throwing the weight around. When I do bodyweight exercises, I check my posture and engage the right muscles. And you know what? I feel stronger. My workouts are more effective. And I’m less likely to get hurt.

A Mindset Shift

I’m still working on this. Some days, I catch myself wanting to power through my workouts just to get them over with. But I remind myself—this is part of stewarding the body God gave me. If I truly want to honor Him, I need to be intentional in how I move, train, and take care of myself.

So if you’re like me and have a habit of rushing through workouts, I encourage you to slow down. Check your form. Breathe. Give your best effort—not just for the sake of fitness, but as an act of worship. Because when we train for the Lord, we train with purpose.

How about you? Do you struggle with prioritizing form over speed? Let’s work on this together.

#FaithAndFitness #GirdedWithStrength #Colossians323 #TrainWithPurpose #HonorGodWithYourBody