31 Days of Faith and Fitness: How to Live Fit and Free

Are you tired of circling that mountain of diets, gimmicks, and quick fixes? Are you ready to leave the desert behind?

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV)

God led the Israelites out of their desert and into freedom, and He can do the same for you. 

31 Days of Faith and Fitness: How to Live Fit and Free 

Available on Amazon and local retailers*

These 31 devotions will help you recognize and let go of the lies, habits, and mindsets that keep you from living in the freedom Christ desires for you. With Scripture to guide you each day, practical action steps to encourage healthy living, and something to let go of, you’ll learn to live fit and free—one day at a time.

Why another faith and fitness devotional?

Over the years, I could find a lot of devotionals. And I found a lot of books on fitness, even ones that had a faith element. But I had a hard time finding a devotional that combined both faith and fitness and spoke directly to the struggles I was having. I had gathered numerous Bible verses that spoke to my body image and weight loss issues, and I finally decided to write about how they helped me overcome the frustrations and low self-esteem that comes with not liking my body.

That’s how the first devotional came about, but the journey continued. For nearly fifteen years now, I have been practicing what the Lord has taught me through His Word, from those verses that led to the first devotional, and celebrating the freedom I found in the process. Along the way, I’ve been able to help other women do the same. Still, I keep discovering verses that will aid us in taking a faith-first approach to fitness and embracing our age and stage of life. I keep writing what God puts on my heart. It all started with me wanting freedom – freedom more than anything else. And this devotional is the result of the Scriptures that helped me and what I had to let go of to start living fit and free.

What to expect:

31 devotions. Each day, you’ll get a Scripture to guide you, a practical action step, and something to let go of. Each devotion is followed by a journal page so that you can process through what God wants to teach you. You might not struggle with that thing that is listed on a particular day, but I imagine you will recognize how many of these things have held you back from living in freedom. Be willing to get honest with yourself at the end of each day’s reading and ask the Lord to show you if this is something you need to let go of. He wants to set you free, and He will if you’ll allow Him to.

What people are saying:

Thanks Marsha! This was such a great way to focus a month and to help stay focused where it matters — on Jesus — as well as awareness of those barriers that can get in the way! ~ Cathie

Once again, you have produced a marvelous book that emphasizes God over culture during our fitness journeys. Each book you write features many of the same themes, but you always approach things with a fresh take and new insights. ~ Teresa

How you can get your copy of 31 Days of Faith and Fitness: How to Live Fit and Free:

Available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle (free on Kindle Unlimited)

Also by Marsha: 40 Days of Faith and Fitness: A Devotional Journal, 6 Week Guide to Building a Healthy Life on a Foundation of Faith, Turn Your Holidays into Holy-Days: 31 Day Guide to a Happy Healthy December,40 Days of Faith and Fitness for Tweens and Teens, 50 Days of Faith and Fitness: A Walk Through Psalms, and When I’m Running: Finding Money and Meaning.

Background on 31 Days of Faith and Fitness

More than any amount of weight loss or acceptance by my peers, I craved freedom. During all of my years of worrying about, watching, and obsessing over my weight, I knew there had to be a better way. Surely, I could live a healthy life without being consumed by it. I mostly wanted to be free! 

It took years. It took the Lord’s lovingkindness towards me and His patience with me as I came to terms with my role in this ongoing bondage—the sin of pride and of making my weight an idol in my life. But when I, like the Israelites in the desert, finally obeyed God by turning north (see Deuteronomy 2:3), I took the first step onto my path of living fit and free. 

That was nearly fifteen years ago. Every day I must be intentional about continuing on that path of freedom. Living fit and free is a choice. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. The peace that comes with it is greater than any amount of weight loss. And the beautiful thing is that it is possible to live a healthy life without being bound by all the negative things we will consider over the thirty-one days of the devotional. Any one of the things mentioned in “letting go of” can get us off track to freedom. But when we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can get on track and stay on track—on track to freedom and on track with healthy living.  

Here’s to living fit and free—one day at a time!

More about the author 

Marsha desires to live according to 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” She believes that God wants to be part of our everyday lives including how we eat and drink and how we view the reflection in the mirror. She cried far too many tears over a number on a scale but is thankful that God set her free and can now use those experiences to help other women find the freedom they’re looking for. 

Marsha is a mental health counselor and is passionate about helping women live fit and free. She does this by teaching her Faith and Fitness Framework as well as her FITT Framework and providing guidance and encouragement in her Faith and Fitness Support and Accountability Community. It is important for women to focus on whole-person health and wellness with an inside-out approach. She believes that a healthy lifestyle must be built on a firm foundation of faith for it to be sustainable.  

*Copies of 31 Days of Faith and Fitness can be found at the following locations: Three Sisters Books and Gifts: 7 Public Square, Shelbyville, IN  46176. 

Questions:  Please email me at marsha@marshaapsley.com