Reflecting His Image: Personal Training
Ready:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:26 (ESV)
Set:
How would you teach someone to do a back lunge?
“To do a back lunge, start standing with your feet about hip-width apart. Step back with one leg, lowering until your back knee gently touches the floor. Both knees should form 90-degree angles at the bottom.”
I demonstrated the move a few times.
Then it was her turn.
As she stepped back, I noticed her hips turning to the side.
“Square your hips,” I instructed.
She tried again—same result.
I showed her the difference, facing forward and keeping my hips aligned.
She tried again… but still turned.
Finally, mid-step, I said, “Stop.” I gently placed my hands on her waist and guided her hips forward.
Her eyes lit up. “Oh! So that’s squaring my hips!”
It was her joyful aha moment.
There’s a saying: Monkey see, monkey do.
But the truth is, most of us aren’t naturally good at perfectly imitating what we see—especially something new.
A qualified personal trainer uses verbal, visual, and tactile cues to help us learn, and with their guidance, our form improves toward the standard.
Praise God—He doesn’t just call us to imitate Him or reflect His image.
He gives us the Holy Spirit as our personal trainer!
- Verbal cues – The Holy Spirit speaks God’s Word to us, showing us the character He wants to form in us.
- Visual cues – The Holy Spirit surrounds us with believers who model how to live like Jesus in today’s world.
- Tactile cues – The Holy Spirit convicts our hearts, leading us to repentance and faith.
Jesus perfectly reflected the Father’s image—trusting Him fully, even to death on a cross.
I grew up knowing this, and that Christians are supposed to trust God.
But in college, while studying Psalm 23, I realized I often approached exams like a sheep without a shepherd.
I noticed something different about my fellowship leaders—they didn’t stress over schoolwork.
They even kept Sundays free for church and fellowship, even with Monday exams.
I began praying for God’s help to truly trust Him with my studies.
Slowly, He changed my heart, lifting my anxiety.
God continued to speak to me through passages like Philippians 4:6–7 and Matthew 6:25–34.
He showed me believers trusting Him in singleness, unemployment, and generosity.
And He still convicts me when I fail to trust His shepherding.
Every time I turn to Him, He gives me peace, joy, and provision.
Reflecting God’s image—imitating Christ—isn’t something we naturally know how to do.
It’s completely different from the world’s way.
That’s why we must spend with our wonderful Personal Trainer, listening to His verbal, visual, and tactile cues.
He will faithfully refine us until Christ is fully formed in us.
GO:
Ask to be touched and filled with the Holy Spirit so you can bear fruit and truly reflect Christ’s image.
Praise the Lord for giving you the best Personal Trainer—the Holy Spirit—who never leaves you to figure it out on your own.
As you read Scripture this week, ask what verbal cues He wants to speak to your heart.
Who are the godly examples He’s placed in your life? What specific habit or attitude will you begin to imitate?
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