Count the Cost

S3 Ep.1: Happy New Year, Troop, and welcome back to Renewed Strength, the podcast where faith and fitness come together to help you live stronger—inside and out. I’m so glad you’re here with me. January is a powerful month. It’s full of fresh starts, new goals, and renewed motivation. A lot of people are starting new fitness journeys right now. Some are restarting old ones. Others are feeling the pull to grow spiritually in a new way. But before we rush into change, there’s an important question we don’t ask often enough: Am I prepared for what this journey will require of me? --- Any good training program starts with a plan. Before you sign up for a gym, start a program, or hire a coach, you usually want to know a few things: How many days a week will I train? How much time will this take? Will I need to change how I eat? What will this cost me — in money, time, energy, comfort? Because deep down, we know this truth: results demand commitment. The mistake a lot of people make isn’t starting — it’s starting without understanding what staying consistent will require. Jesus speaks directly to this in Luke 14:28–30: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” Jesus wasn’t just talking about construction. He was teaching about discipleship. Following Him isn’t something we stumble into casually. It requires intention, sacrifice, and a willingness to stay committed when things get hard. He wanted people to understand what they were saying “yes” to — not to scare them away but to prepare them to endure. The same principle applies to fitness — and honestly, to any meaningful change. If you want a stronger body, it’s going to cost you time. If you want better health, it may cost you comfort. If you want spiritual growth, it will require discipline and consistency — not just motivation. Counting the cost doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start. It means you start with clarity instead of emotion. So before you chase a new goal, ask yourself: What habits need to change? What distractions need to be addressed? What am I willing to give up so I can gain something better? When you count the cost ahead of time, you’re far more likely to finish what you start. This week, take a moment to sit down — literally or figuratively — and count the cost of the journey you’re on. Not to overwhelm yourself. Not to talk yourself out of growth. But to prepare your heart, your schedule, and your mindset for what’s ahead. Strong foundations lead to lasting strength. Ways To Connect With Us: Facebook: facebook.com/renewedstrength Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/renewedstrength Instagram: instagram.com/renewedstrength Music: Aestheticbeat from Pixaby Ashot Danielyan from Pixabay Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay