Spiritual Training

Training for the Fight: The Call to Godliness

“Rather, train yourself in godliness. For physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the one to come.”
—1 Timothy 4:7b–8, TLV

Shalom beloved,

Recently, while rewatching the Rocky film series, I was stirred again by the iconic training montages: Rocky sprinting through the snow, punching slabs of meat, gulping down raw eggs, and running up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. These scenes are more than cinematic nostalgia—they reflect the truth that victory is never accidental; it is the product of training, discipline, and devotion.

This is not unlike the rigorous world of Olympic athletes, who typically train 5–6 hours a day, six days a week. One commentator remarked that the average person would collapse from just their warm-up.¹ And yet these men and women endure it because they are focused on a prize that fades—a medal, a moment, a memory.

But what of us, beloved of Yeshua? What of those called to endure the fiery trials, to wrestle against the schemes of the enemy, to hold fast to truth in an age of deception? What kind of training is required for those of us engaged in spiritual warfare, whose weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God for tearing down strongholds? (2 Corinthians 10:4)

The apostle Paul exhorts his spiritual son Timothy—and us by extension—“Train yourself for godliness.” The Greek word for “train” here is gumnázō, from which we get the word “gymnasium.” It implies rigorous spiritual discipline—not for show, but for substance.

Messianic Discipleship is Training Ground

At I Was Just Thinking Ministries, we take this call seriously. As a Bible-based Messianic and Christian apologetics ministry, we exist to help believers:

KNOW the Scriptures deeply,
ARTICULATE the truth clearly, and
DEFEND the faith courageously.

And all of this requires spiritual fitness. You cannot withstand the fiery darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16) if you haven’t trained in the Word. You cannot “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) if you haven’t first spent time in the presence of the living God.

Yeshua, our Rabbi and Redeemer, modeled this life of disciplined devotion. He withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). He silenced the voice of the accuser with the Word: “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4–10). He abided in the Father, and so must we.

Abide. Remain. Wait.

Yeshua said:

“Abide in Me, and I will abide in you.”
—John 15:4

The word abide (Greek: menó) means to remain, to dwell, to wait.⁴ It carries with it a sense of endurance—not a passing moment, but an unbroken devotion.

Think of the love of a parent who waits up at night for their child to return home, fighting sleep and fatigue just to hear the door unlock. That is the posture of one who abides. But how many of us extend that kind of anticipation to Yeshua?

Do we fight distractions to sit in silence before Him?
Do we deny fleshly indulgences to make space for His voice?
Do we train ourselves, not just to react, but to remain?

This is the kind of spiritual fitness that bears fruit. It is the kind that is cultivated when we devote ourselves to prayer, the Word, and intimacy with our Savior.

If Yeshua Needed Time with the Father…

Let us never forget: Yeshua Himself needed time alone with the Father. Before calling His disciples (Luke 6:12–13), after miracles (Matthew 14:23), and even before facing the cross (Luke 22:39–44), He withdrew to pray.

If the Son of God needed spiritual solitude and Scripture to strengthen Him for the battle, how much more do we?

We will not withstand temptation with willpower.
We will not overcome trials with intellect.
We will not endure persecution without preparation.

We need training in godliness. And training requires time, effort, and commitment.

Take Shelter in the Secret Place

As we leave our homes each day, let us not leave the presence of God behind. Carry His shelter with you.

“He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon, will abide in the shadow of Shaddai.”
—Psalm 91:1, TLV

Let this be your discipline: daily dwelling in His presence.
Let this be your calling: delighting in His Word.
Let this be your strength: the power of the Ruach HaKodesh dwelling within you.

Because the enemy is real.
The battle is real.
But our victory is also real—in Yeshua, the Risen One, who has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Final Charge: Train for the Eternal Prize

As Paul wrote in another letter:

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training… they do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
—1 Corinthians 9:25 (TLV)

Beloved, train yourself for godliness. Press on. Abide. Remain.
Study. Pray. Fast. Worship. Guard your heart.
Live a life of holy preparation.

Because our King is coming—and He is worthy of every ounce of devotion.

Standing with you in the fight,
The Team at I Was Just Thinking Ministries

Sources

Siddharth, Suchde, “A Professional Athlete’s Fitness Regime: An Insider’s Guide,” The Health Site, February 28, 2014.
1 Timothy 4:7b–8 (TLV)
John 15:4 (TLV); John 14:4 (BSB)
Strong’s Concordance, s.v. “menó,” accessed June 18, 2023, https://biblehub.com/greek/3306.htm
Luke 4:1–2,14–15; Mark 6:30–32; Matthew 14:1–13; Luke 6:12–13; Luke 22:39–44; Luke 5:16

Meet Our Ministry Chaplain

You can contact our ministry Chaplain at, PastorRaymond@IWJTM.org

Read Pastor Raymond’s Bio.

The role of the Chaplain at I Was Just Thinking Ministries (IWJTM) is to design and direct all aspects of devotions and worship opportunities for IWJTM staff and volunteers. Furthermore, the Chaplain collaborates with Senior Stewards and selected volunteers to strengthen the spiritual discipline of all IWJTM’s volunteers and staff. The Chaplain

Prays for the ministry
Prays for and with team members and their families
Schedules and organises devotions and worship opportunities for volunteers and staff
Calls for prayer and fasting as the Holy Spirit leads
Holds staff and volunteers spiritually accountable

The above are just a few of the duties our Chaplain, Pastor Catherine Raymond, exercises. She is also a church planter, evangelist, and prophetic minister.

Where Are We Now? Milestones in Ministry Development

We are rejoicing in YHWH’s faithfulness as I Was Just Thinking Ministries continues to grow in both spiritual depth and structural maturity. What began as a vision planted in prayer has blossomed into a visible and verifiable ministry, moving forward with transparency, wisdom, and alignment with God’s will.

Here are a few key milestones we’re celebrating:

✅ 501(c)(3) Status Approved!

On June 10, 2023, we submitted our full application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to the Secretary of State. After several days of careful revisions and supplemental documentation, we were issued our Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.

On June 26, 2023, to the glory of YHWH, we received our official approval letter, confirming that IWJTM is now a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry! We are currently awaiting our printed license in the mail.

“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice and be glad.”
—Psalm 118:24

👥 Leadership Engagement

On June 3, 2023, our Senior Stewards gathered for a scheduled leadership meeting, where we prayed, planned, and strategized the next stages of the ministry’s development. These meetings are more than administrative—they are spiritual checkpoints where we seek alignment with the heart and direction of God.

🌐 New Domain Added: IWJTM.org

To make it even easier for our community to connect with us, we secured the abbreviated domain IWJTM.org, now fully linked to our primary site IWasJustThinkingMinistries.org. Visitors can now use either address to access our resources.

This abbreviation, IWJTM, will also serve as our official email domain, simplifying communication while retaining our unique identity.

📝 Articles of Incorporation: First Draft Complete

The first draft of our Articles of Incorporation has been completed and is under review. These foundational documents will help ensure the structural, legal, and spiritual integrity of our ministry as we expand our outreach.

What’s Next? Prayerfully Moving Forward

We are prayerfully seeking God’s guidance as we continue to build a ministry that reflects His holiness and order:

🙏 Treasurer Selected
We have prayerfully discerned a candidate to serve as our Treasurer and will be reaching out to her in the coming weeks.
🙏 Tax Accountant in Discernment
We have scheduled a meeting with a trusted accountant, previously known to our team, to discern if she is the right person to manage IWJTM’s financial integrity and reporting.
🙏 Legal Counsel in Review
We are meeting with a Christian attorney to:
- Review our Articles of Incorporation
- Discuss legal protections for our ministry and team
- Determine if he is the right fit to serve as IWJTM’s official legal advisor

Please join us in covering these decisions in prayer, that every person brought into this ministry would be appointed by YHWH, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, and aligned with the mission and message of the Kingdom.

Final Encouragement

We do not take any of this for granted. Every meeting, every document, every line of code and every domain—all of it exists for one reason: that the truth of the Word of YHWH might be known, articulated, and defended in a world desperate for clarity and hope.

Thank you for standing with us. May we never lose sight of why we do what we do:

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Messiah.”
—2 Corinthians 10:5

Together, let’s keep training for godliness, building with integrity, and contending for the faith once delivered to the saints.

In the strength of Yeshua,
The IWJTM Team