Pass the Baton

January 19, 2025

by Logan Lanier

I do not want to do this. Can’t I just skip today?

Would it really matter? Just missing one day isn’t that bad, right? It hurts, it takes too long, and I don’t have the motivation for this. I don’t have the time for this. These inner thoughts run through my mind at the same time each day: time to do my physical therapy exercises. The stretches are painful, there are so many to do, they take forever—and did I mention it hurts?

Why must I put myself through this pain every day? As I send this question up to heaven daily, my loving and gentle Heavenly Father reminds me of the truth that brings peace and patience to my soul through this healing process. He reminds me that the pain is for a purpose. He will strengthen and prepare me, cultivate humility in me, and lovingly assure me that He is doing this for my good and His glory. I can trust and follow Him through the process. The exercises are painful and time-consuming, and at times I get discouraged. Nevertheless, I rejoice because I have already seen progress, and my strength is slowly returning.

As Christians, we are called to “exercise ourselves unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). As I prayed over this topic, God led me to reflect on the concept of conditioning. I thought about its purposes and benefits and how it applies to us spiritually. A quick search about conditioning revealed several analogies we can use to apply this scripture.

In the physical realm, conditioning is beneficial for preparing you for your sport, improving heart health and endurance, building strength, increasing stability, and teaching your muscles how to work properly. Similarly, exercising or conditioning ourselves unto godliness has comparable purposes and benefits.

When we exercise ourselves to godliness daily, we are conditioning ourselves to become more like Christ. We are strengthened to grow in spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:14). Our heart health improves as it becomes tender toward the things God loves (Luke 6:45). We grow in stability as God reinforces our trust in Him, setting our feet on the rock of His truth and character (Matthew 7:24-25, Psalm 40:1-3). With consistent spiritual exercise, our endurance increases (Hebrews 12:1). The small weights or tasks that once seemed daunting become lighter and more manageable. Through spiritual exercise, our posture toward God is developed and refined (Colossians 3:2). Finally, we are prepared for the work He has for us (Proverbs 24:27).

Exercising, whether physically or spiritually, requires intentionality, wise choices, and sacrifice. For exercise to be effective, we must prepare and commit to a time to act. Treat it as an appointment or a daily priority. Being intentional spiritually may look like setting aside time during your day to meet with God, preparing your heart and mind to receive His instruction, or asking a spiritual brother or sister to hold you accountable or join you in the “workout.”

Conditioning also means selecting exercises that align with a goal. The exercises we choose determine what is strengthened in us. For example, if we choose to exercise humility, we grow in selfless love. On the other hand, if we choose to focus on control, we may cultivate mistrust and anxiety. To exercise ourselves unto godliness, we must choose practices that help us become more like Christ.

Lastly, conditioning requires sacrifice. In the physical sense, we give up time, comfort, and energy. Spiritually, we surrender these as well, often facing discomfort and aches in our spiritual “muscles.” On our own, we would never trade temporary comfort for long-term growth—it’s too painful. The Spirit must work within us, reminding us that surrendering our own ideas, goals, and plans is worth it to see what God is doing in and through us.

When I grow tired and weary from the effort it takes to complete these exercises each day, I find motivation and hope in remembering the goal. I want to regain full mobility and strength. I don’t want to be limited in the activities I can do for the rest of my life. Similarly, I want to experience the presence and fellowship of my Savior. If I must endure uncomfortable exercises to grow stronger, so be it. If it requires dying to my flesh, setting aside pride, complacency, and comfort to know Christ in a greater way, I will press on. I will exercise myself toward this goal.

Training and Discipleship

The Cord of 3 training and discipleship program serves the community by offering educational seminars on various mental health and related topics (parenting subjects, coping with loss, warning signs of addiction) as well as conferences, retreats, and seminars for area churches on matters that pertain to God’s design for the family.

Counselor Education & Supervision

Cord of 3’s Counselor education and supervision program is deigned to support interns who are completing their master’s degree, counselors who are working toward licensure, and professionals who are working to integrate their Chritian faith into their clinical practice.

Equine Therapy

Cord of 3’s equine therapy program is designed for individuals ages 7 and up as well as women ages 13+ and families. Equine therapy can help individuals and families overcome challenges, cuiltivate healthy relational skills, build trust, improve interpersonal and behavioral functioning, and create positive self-concept and identity in Christ.

Play God’s Way

A Christ-centered play therapy model to meet teh spiritual, emotional, and mental health needs of children. Through play therapy, children learn to accept responsibility for behavior, engage in healthy coping strategies, acquire problem-solving skills, develop empathy for others, and gain an understanding of identity in mChrist.

ADDICTION RECOVERY

Addictions always originate in pain… The question is never ‘why the addiction?,’ but rather ‘why the pain?’” (Dr. Gabor Maté). Counselors can help those struggling with addictions address underlying painful issues and then break the addictive patterns.

Child & Adolescent

Behavioral issues at home or in school often have an underlying cause, such as trauma, depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. The experienced staff at Cord of 3 meets each child with love, builds trust, and applies effective treatment that approaches the root cause of the behavior.

Marriage & Family

As in couple’s counseling, family counseling focuses on the relationship and dynamics within the family unit and between the individual members of it. Counselors will help clients identify unhealthy or unhelpful patterns, and to address them by developing healthier communication and conflict resolutions skills, create realistic expectations, and restructure familial roles to benefit everyone. The ultimate goal is to help the family be better able to thrive as a team.

STRESS & TRAUMA

Every person will at some point have at least one potentially traumatic experience, but this doesn’t impact everyone in the same ways. When struggling to process and move on from negative life experiences, therapy offers a powerful method of finding support and healing.

EMOTIONAL WHOLENESS

Individual counseling can help overcome the sometimes overwhelming fear and hopelessness by helping you better understand the conditions that led to the emotional brokenness you are experiencing, and applying healthy coping skills against them.