Health = Faith and Health Connection

Tag Archive for 'Health'

In Times of Stress Like This

Published by Dale on September 19, 2008 in Bible and Health, Faith and Health, Jesus, Spirit Mind Body Health, Trust in God and stress. 0 Comments

stress and money2 USA Today reported on the physical consequences related to the stress people are under, especially over this last week. An article on September 19th - today as I write this - titled “Money Woes, Other Stresses Bring Unwanted Physical Response” says “As the market melts down, hurricanes wreak havoc, war grinds on and feelings of helplessness set in, stress goes up.” ComPsych, an employee assistance and wellness provider, has seen a 10% to 15% spike in calls since the weekend according to their vice president of health and wellness.

“The connection between mind/body is seamless,” says Linda Rosenberg, CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “There isn’t a separate brain and a separate body. What you’re thinking about has an effect on your physical well-being. General good health means good mental health.”

So what’s a Christian to do during times like this? We take care of ourselves in a variety of ways: Get plenty of sleep, eat well, engage in regular physical activity, review our investment portfolios, manage our time effectively and we care for our heart in a spiritual way. We do the very best we can to give our cares and worries to Jesus. We pray for ourself and our leaders. We put our trust in Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26: 3-4)) We spend more time with Him. We ask God for wisdom. (James 1:5-6) We remember that it’s in our trials that our faith has an opportunity to grow… we get opportunities to exercise our faith muscles at times like this.

And we invite Jesus to be our personal trainer.

See a listing of scriptures for faith in times of stress on my website.

“Spiritual & Physical Health and the Need for a Doctor” Matthew 9:12 - Weekly Faith & Health Scripture

Published by Dale on September 15, 2008 in Bible and Health, Jesus, Spirit Mind Body Health and Weekly Faith and Health Scripture. 0 Comments

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor, sick people do.” (Matthew 9:12) The Great Physician, Jesus, told people that it was those who were sick and needed to be made well that needed the help of a doctor, not those who were already well. In that scenario the Pharisees had asked Him why He was eating with scum or sinners. Jesus was talking about those who were sinners and especially in need of becoming spiritually well. .

Today, research is clearly showing that there’s often, but not always, a relationship between certain physical conditions and diseases and one’s spiritual health. Consider some of these conditions and diseases: addictions, allergies, arthritis, asthma, bulimia, chronic back pain, cold sores, coronary artery disease, Crohn’s disease, depression, dermatitis, diarrhea, eating disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, impotency, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, obesity, panic attacks, post traumatic stress syndrome, reflux, rosacea and ulcers.

If you suffer from one of these conditions or you know someone that does, it’s quite possible that an aspect of your or their spiritual health may not be well and that over time the spiritual condition has affected the body with one of these conditions. Specifically consider the degree to which your relationship with God, with other people and with yourself is well. Reflect on whether or not there is any inner conflict at all in regards to your relationship with yourself, others or God. Are you sick or do you need to be made well from one of these conditions I’ve listed or perhaps another condition that has as its root some inner conflict with yourself with God or with another person? Is there an existing open wound, hurt, unforgiveness, resentment, guilt, shame or any other strong negative emotion related to any of your relationships? If so, then you could benefit from a touch by the Great Physician.

God’s greatest commandment for us is that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and that we should love other people as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) Since this is the principle that He wants us to follow more than any other, it certainly makes sense that if we are not right with this commandment that we might have trouble in our lives. For many of us, a long-term conflict or issue with an aspect of our relationships may be manifesting itself with a physical condition. You see, our bodily health is often like a barometer of the health of our soul. If conditions deep down inside of us are not right, over time the mind, body and spirit can interact with one another and often cause physical health problems and conditions.

Are you sick and in need of a doctor? If so, turn to Jesus.

The Scriptures, Jesus and Stress - Matthew 11:28-30

Published by Dale on September 9, 2008 in Bible and Health, Jesus and stress. 0 Comments

Bible Over the last four months more people have landed on my website and blog looking for Scriptures related to stress than for any other reason. In that light I thought it would be helpful to make another entry on this topic.

In January of this year I made an entry about Jesus on stress management. This Weekly Faith and Health scripture post was from Matthew 11:28 - 30. “Then Jesus said, come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I gave you is light.”

It’s not surprising that so many people are searching for scriptures on stress. Lots of people are struggling with their home loans and many are experiencing foreclosure. The higher oil prices have raised the cost of gasoline. The economy is on shaky grounds. We are two months away from another presidential election and many people are concerned about making the right choice in November. These are just a few reasons why I am certain that many people are stressed.

As Jesus has told us in this scripture in Matthew, more than anything when we are stressed I believe that he wants us to turn to Him. Spending regular time with Him in prayer and through reading the Bible is one of the best ways I have found to “turn to Jesus.” The more I do this I am less stressed. I hope that you will take this scripture to heart and turn to Jesus during times of your stress.

See this page for more scriptures on stress and receiving strength from God.

Have a great day!

Faith & Health Scripture: Joy, Wellbeing & Health - Psalm 119:2

Published by Dale on September 2, 2008 in Bible and Health, Faith and Health, Weekly Faith and Health Scripture and research. 0 Comments

Joyful Reuters Health released an article on September 1, 2008, “Lack of Joy in Life Ups Early Death Risk,” about a research study conducted in Japan. It found that people who don’t think life is worth living are more likely to die within the next few years. The increased death risk was mainly due to cardiovascular disease and external causes — most commonly, suicide. The research is the largest to date to investigate how “ikigai,” or “joy and a sense of well-being from being alive,” affects mortality risk, and only the second to examine death from specific causes, according to Dr. Toshimasa Sone and colleagues from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Sendai.

In this study, the investigators looked at 43,391 men and women between the ages of 40 and 79. Each person was asked the question, “Do you have “ikigai” in your life?” The researchers found that those who did not have a sense of a “ikigai” were in worse health, more mentally stressed, and in more bodily pain. They were also more likely to have limited physical function. Overall, people with no sense of “ikigai” were 50% more likely to die from any cause during the follow-up period compared to those who did have a sense of life worth living.

The Bible speaks to the topic of joy and a life worth living in Psalm 119. Let’s look at the following five scriptures:

Psalm 119:1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.

Psalm 119:2 - Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

Psalm 119:74 - May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 119:92 - If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.

Psalm 119:143 - As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.

Similar to the blog post on happiness that I made on Saturday, living a life that is in line with God’s principles that are written about in the Bible can not only bring a life of happiness but of joy and a sense that life is worth living. As the researchers in this Japanese study have discovered, those with a deep sense of joy and a sense that life is worth living do have better health outcomes than those who do not have that sense of deep joy in their hearts. That’s how God designed us. And that’s why God inspired the writers of the Bible to give us the truth that can be found there. As I urged readers of my blog on Saturday, I will urge you again to read through Psalm 119 so that you can understand the value of living according to God’s principles.

Do you have deep inner joy and a sense that life is worth living? I hope so. If not, I pray that by reading Psalm 119 and spending more time reading about the truths of God and through developing a personal relationship with Jesus you’ll be enable to find true and lasting joy and a sense of meaning of life.

Have a terrific day!

Weekly Faith and Health Scripture - Prov 4:23 & 17:22 - Your Heart

Published by Dale on August 28, 2008 in Faith and Health, God, Spirit Mind Body Health, Uncategorized and Weekly Faith and Health Scripture. 2 Comments

A few days ago I was listening to Johnny Cash’s song, “I Walk the Line”, while I was running. One of the lines in the song is “Keep a close watch on this heart of mine.” It reminded me of several scriptures:

Proverbs 4:23 - “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 14:30 - “A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones.”

Proverbs 15 :13 - “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”

Proverbs 17:22 - “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Broken Heart From a spiritual perspective, our heart is the deepest part of our being. It perhaps includes our soul and our spirit. It’s clear by what we read in scripture that God advises, in fact he commands us, to take care of matters of the heart. Certainly Johnny Cash knew that, and God wants us to know that too.

How do we take care of our heart? We guard against things that are not of God. We resist the lies that the evil one speaks into our mind. We spend time reading God’s Word so that His truth can sink deep into our spirit and soul - our heart. As we understand His truth by reading the Word, we do our very best to live our lives in accordance with His guidelines and His truth. We monitor our behaviors, our thoughts and what we say. We take an honest look, on a periodic basis, deep into our heart, to see if there is any aspect of our heart that is not in alignment with God.

Having any bitterness or unforgiveness in our heart certainly is not of God. If somebody has hurt you in the past, if you are upset with God or you haven’t forgiven yourself concerning an issue of your life, your heart is probably not right with either God, yourself or another person. God would want us to take this issue to Him prayerfully so that we don’t carry this burden in our heart. Doing this frees us up on the inside so that more of God’s Spirit can control us.

Yes, our heart is the wellspring of all life. It is at the deepest level of our heart that God lives in us with His Holy Spirit. He does not want to share space with anything that’s not good, pure and holy. Is your heart pure? Is your heart full of peace, joy and love? I hope so, because when that’s the case, God’s spirit certainly can be alive in you to the fullest. Consequently, your life will probably be healthier because of it. You’ll also be a better example for others who observe you as you live this life.

Take good care of your heart….and have an awesome day!!

See more scriptures about the heart

Weekly Faith and Health Scripture - Jesus Praying Through Me - Galatians 2:20

Published by Dale on July 30, 2008 in God's Presence, Jesus, Spirit Mind Body Health and Weekly Faith and Health Scripture. 2 Comments

Jesus Praying2 Last week I prayed in a way that I had never prayed before.

My heart has been heavy for an individual for many months. I sensed that person needed a special touch from God from deep within. On many, many occasions I had prayed for him. In my Men’s Bible study we have been looking at how Christ lives His life through us. Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20, “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.” That tells me that a follower of Christ is to allow Christ to be the one who is speaking, behaving and doing all the other things a person does. If we were truly one with Christ, we could step aside and let Him live though us.

Jesus tells us in John 15:4 & 16, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.” “The Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” To me, this says that if we are so deeply abiding in Jesus that we will actually sense His presence in us. We will know that Jesus actually is living in us. Since that is the case, then we ought to understand that Jesus wants to be the one praying, not us. If we have this awareness and are able to yield to Jesus during our prayers, then in those moments we can be confident that the prayers that are being lifted up to the Father are actually the prayers of Jesus. Wow! That is so very powerful and sacred and holy.

I believe that this is the true essence of abiding in Jesus. When we are able to experience that Jesus is present and the one living through our bodies and the one doing the talking through our lips, then we are “joined” to Him just as He desires us to be. When we are able to be in this place, that’s when much fruit will be produced. (John 15:5) And one of the fruits that most pleases the Father is the fruit of someone entering into His Kingdom.

Why does Jesus want to be able to pray through us to the Father? He wants us to experience the ultimate connection with Him that occurs during that time of prayer. He wants us to have that sweet fellowship with Him. He wants us to experience the confidence and the power that occurs when we are with Him so solidly. He wants us to be instruments of His love as we pray for others. He wants us to really know Him… the kind of knowing Him that is experienced during such intimately prayerful times.

When we are in God’s presence, imagine how quieted our body, mind and emotions are. Such peace is wonderfully conducive to our health. When we are purely connected with God and Jesus it’s a really beautiful thing. Anytime we experience something beautiful, it’s good for our inner being and wellness. Imagine the strong sense of confidence you’d have and a sense of power, not power that comes from self, but power that comes straight from God. We should not be motivated for these reasons, but it’s an extra benefit that comes from such a close and intimate relationship with our Savior!

I have full confidence that God heard that prayer last week. It was Jesus’ prayer to His Father. I also know that God then touched a man’s heart in a special way over the next few days. Thank you Jesus for revealing more of your nature to me.

Weekly Faith and Health Scripture - 2 Cor 7:1 - Be Fit and Holy

Published by Dale on May 13, 2008 in Faith and Fitness, Spirit Mind Body Health and Weekly Faith and Health Scripture. 0 Comments

“… let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.” This is from the Message translation of this week’s scripture. Bible Reading

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God’s spirit, in the form of the Holy Spirit lives inside you. Paul is urging us to live in a way that is honoring to God. We are called to be Holy as God is Holy. The way we live our life is a form of worship to God. As we attend to the health and well being of our body, this is a form of worship.

Anything that takes us aware from our relationship from God is a distraction or a defilement. Not only in our external behavior but in our thought life and “internal” life. What we read, watch on television and listen to on our Ipods and the radio has a potential impact on our relationship with God. It’s either a positive influence or a negative influence. It’s either building up your faith muscles or tearing them down. That’s why Paul urges us to ‘make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us.’ God wants us to be as fit as possible -physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Knowing that God lives in you can be a great motivator to live in a way that is holy and honoring to Him. How about it? Might you benefit from making a break from something that is a distraction in your relationship with God or that defiles His temple?

Want to learn more on Spiritual Exercises for a healthier life? Click here.

Hope you have an awesome day!

Weekly Faith and Health Scripture: Walking in Freedom - Psalm 119:45

Published by Dale on April 5, 2008 in Exercise, Faith and Fitness, Spirit Mind Body Health and Weekly Faith and Health Scripture. 0 Comments

We all know the value of walking. It’s a great way to exercise as it puts minimal stress on the joints, requires little special equipment other than a good pair of shoes and you can do it virtually anywhere. A regular walking program can help you maintain a healthy weight and manage your stress.

Walking As important as regular exercise like walking is for us, our spiritual walk is even more important as 1st Timothy 4:8 tells us “Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.”

A vital ’spiritual exercise’ is obeying God’s principles… his commandments. In the New Living Translation of Psalm 119, words for commandments, principles, and precepts are found over 150 times in the 176 verses as the author tells us the value of “walking” according to his guidelines. The psalmist speaks to one of those benefits as he writes in Psalm 119:45 “I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.”

When we live according to His principles we can experience freedom. If we are a follower of Jesus, we understand the importance of living in a way that lines up with God’s commandments. When we are not regularly following His principles, deep in our spirit there is conflict and often guilt. Over time, this guilt can impact on aspects of our health. But when we are living our life “devoted to His commandments” we “walk in freedom.”

Are you walking in the freedom that comes from knowing and obeying God’s principles? It’s a special path that He wants all of us to be on.

Have a great week!