Morning Glory vs. Evening Power: The Battle of Fitness Timing

What’s going on, Ironback Community! Today we dive into the great debate: What time of day is best to work out, day or night?

The video above is from Jeremy Ethier, founder of "Built with Science."

Jeremy's approach to building muscle doesn't rely on steroids or performance-enhancing drugs. As his brand name suggests, he builds muscle with science.

In this Built with Science video, Jeremy presents findings that late afternoon or evening workouts can lead to slightly better muscle growth compared to morning workouts.

Midway through the video, it is shown that studies indicate people tend to perform better and are naturally stronger in the evening. This is likely due to factors such as hydration, glycogen levels, and core body temperature. However, the choice of workout time should also consider individual factors such as work schedule and gym availability.

For those who prefer morning workouts or are constrained by their schedules, the video suggests strategies such as consuming caffeine before exercise, ensuring a thorough warm-up, and maintaining consistent workout times to help mitigate performance differences between morning and evening sessions.

Ultimately, the key to achieving results lies in consistency and adherence to a training program, regardless of the chosen workout time. Individual preferences and lifestyle factors should be considered alongside the research findings to determine the most effective training schedule.

Regarding your faith, finding the right time of day for your devotional and growing your relationship with God also requires effectiveness. Much like working out, having a designated time and schedule for devotionals will strongly reinforce the habit.

There is no “biblically correct” answer for what time works best for growing your relationship with God, as the Bible portrays many individuals utilizing different times of the day. 

While the Bible doesn't specifically mandate doing devotionals in the morning, it does emphasize the importance of seeking God early in the day and starting the day with Him.

Morning as a Time of Renewal

Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

These verses highlight that God's mercies are renewed every morning. The verse doesn’t say, “He waits to bless us sometime in the day”; rather, it points out that it is in the morning when God brings fresh evidence of His compassion and grace. 

This is a great reminder for us to follow this example by not waiting to do our devotionals. Instead, we should make it one of the first things we do each morning, showing the same eagerness that God demonstrates toward us.

Morning as a Time for Prayer and Communion

Psalm 5:3: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."

Psalm 5:3 encourages believers to start their day by seeking God's presence, sharing their needs with Him, and maintaining a hopeful expectation that He will provide guidance and answers.

Doing devotionals in the morning allows us to “wait expectantly” for God’s guidance throughout the entire day, unlike evening devotionals which might leave a narrow window for receiving answers before falling asleep.

Morning as a Time for Praise and Thanksgiving

Psalm 59:16: ”But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."

The phrase “in the morning I will sing of your love” indicates that the psalmist begins each day by celebrating God's love, suggesting there should be no hesitation in giving God His due praise. 

Morning is often seen as a fresh start, and expressing gratitude and praising God for all He has done should be one of the first things we do to begin our day.

People choose the morning for their devotionals because of the benefits of starting the day with God. It's easier to focus with fewer distractions before the stress of the day’s schedule kicks in.

Doing devotionals in the morning also gives you the entire day to put into practice what you’ve read. Most people tend to do what is most important to them within the first couple of hours of waking up. Unfortunately, jumping on social media is the default for many.

Ultimately, the goal is to grow your relationship with God through devotionals. Regardless of the time or duration, the first step is to do them consistently. Figuring out the best time of day for your schedule will help you give God the time He deserves.

Get Sharper.