Nicole Martin: God speaks through fitness trackers

I did it. I finally got a Fitbit. After months of curiosity and positive reviews from people who wore them, I was grateful to receive it as a birthday gift from my amazing husband. So far, this fitness tracker may be the best gift I’ve ever received!

You see, for someone as competitive as me, this glorified pedometer keeps me pressing until I reach my goals. The little buzz on my wrist that I get when I’ve hit my 10,000 steps makes me smile. Looking at the dashboard on my phone to see the green lines when I’ve walked 5 miles or burned 2,000 calories makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something great.

Of course, I had goals before wearing my band, but now I’m more aware of what it means to reach them. Knowing that I have a goal keeps me walking when I’d otherwise be sitting down. It pushes me to get moving, even when it’s easier for me to be still. Knowing that I have an objective of activity each day makes me want to achieve it as often as I can.

This must be how Paul felt when Jesus came into his life. You see, before his encounter with Jesus, Paul had goals, but they weren’t rooted in the reward of eternal life. In fact, when he shows up in the book of Acts, he was probably working toward his goal of capturing as many Christians as possible to bring back to Jerusalem. But when Jesus came into his life, his goals were changed and suddenly, he found himself pressing toward goals that brought joy to his soul.

I’d like to believe that Paul was a little competitive like me and enjoyed knowing there were goals to reach, even in his walk with the Lord. He was called by God to share the Gospel with those who seemed undeserving. He was driven by the Savior to spread the joy of God’s grace and to let everyone know that forgiveness and new life is available in Christ.

Perhaps this is why he said in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” He knew that he was not perfect, but he was striving to get there. He knew that he had not yet reached the goal of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus, but he was willing to keep serving until he got there. Paul was well aware that his life was filled with challenges, but his goal of becoming more like Christ kept him going when he probably wanted to give up.

You may not have a fitness tracker, but if you believe in Jesus, you definitely have goals to reach and activity to track. Like Paul, you are called by God to share the Gospel and the free gift of salvation to all. You have been challenged to live changed, knowing that who you used to be in the world is nothing compared to who you can be in Jesus. Every single day, you are invited to reach Godly goals like praying, reading God’s Word, and sharing His love wherever you go.

Reaching these goals brings life to your soul. Knowing that you have lived your best life for God can bring eternal satisfaction. While you may not feel a little buzz on your wrist when you hit the mark, be assured that one day, you’ll get something even better: the sweet reward of hearing God say, “Well done!”

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Nicole Martin: God speaks through fitness trackers."