Physical activity was so woven into daily life in biblical times that Scripture rarely needed to command it outright. Today, we don’t have that same luxury.
However, it’s noteworthy that God created one of the most vital nutrients — vitamin D, essential for mental well-being and bone and muscle health —to be absorbed through spending time outdoors in the sun. This subtle detail reminds us that humanity was never meant to live a sedentary, indoor lifestyle or be deprived of sunlight, especially since vitamin D is rarely available through food sources alone.
I learned this lesson early as a teenager working in care. We were taught to regularly reposition bedridden clients to prevent pressure sores —severe wounds where the skin can break down until bone becomes visible. That image has never left me.
The human body was never designed to stay still for long periods. The importance of physical activity cannot be overstated. Thankfully, incorporating movement into our daily lives does not have to be complicated. We live in a time when countless exercise professionals share free workouts and practical guidance online. There are more opportunities than ever to find activities that suit our individual needs, abilities, and lifestyles.
Movement in Eden
Before sin entered the world, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Even in paradise, physical movement was an expectation, not a punishment. Adam walked, worked, tended the garden, and explored creation as part of his daily life.
This offers us an important perspective: physical activity is not merely a modern health recommendation or a means of changing our appearance. Movement is a natural part of how we care for the bodies God has entrusted to us.
Redefining Physical Activity
1 Timothy 4:8 tells us that “bodily exercise profits a little” — even a little movement to strengthen your body is far better than none at all. This isn’t permission to neglect physical activity altogether. You don’t need a personal trainer or a rigid gym routine to get started; you simply need intention.
Physical activity does not have to mean structured exercise. Many everyday activities can help us move more and spend less time sitting.
For example:
- Walking to the bus stop.
- Vacuuming, sweeping, and doing other household chores.
- Gardening and tending to plants.
- Swimming or engaging in other recreational activities.
- Taking regular movement breaks throughout the working day.
If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk or working remotely, try incorporating a five- to ten-minute walking break into your routine. Stand up, stretch, walk around, or step outside for some fresh air when possible.
Rather than feeling overwhelmed by rigid exercise schedules, begin by examining your daily routine. Where can you introduce more movement? What activities do you enjoy? What small changes can you sustain?
Remember, the goal is not perfection but progress. Start where you are, work within your abilities, and build gradually towards a more active lifestyle.
Caring for your body is one practical way to steward the life God has given you. Let movement become a natural part of your daily life — not a burden to endure, but a healthy habit to embrace.
I walk through how to think about movement across every season of life in The ABCs of Wellness Through Biblical Wisdom.
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