But godliness is profitable for all things.

1 Timothy 4:7-10, But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

I have to wonder sometimes, when I’m with fellow believers, how much more could be accomplished if we prayed as much as we talked about other people. While this might sometimes even be classified as gossip, most of it is pretty meaningless and unproductive. It’s like my time spent working out before I found my present trainer; when I come to the gym and meet him, we are focused intensely upon using the fifty minutes to make progress physically. What if we took the same attitude towards our spiritual development, and took time with a spiritual trainer to make progress spiritually?

Come, Holy Spirit, I need Your training every day because I have fixed my hope on the living God!