May
12
2009
There are probably a few hundred reasons that might motivate you to care for yourself and to be healthy. Here are five, actually four, reasons that motivate me at a really deep level… and I think that these are reasons why God would want us all to be motivated by.
- It glorifies God
- You’re taking care of your body - His temple
- It’s being a good witness
- You’ll have more energy – be better equipped for what God has planned for you
- I need your help with a 5th reason?
It Glorifies God
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whatever we do we’re to do it to the glory of God. It also tells us in Isaiah that we were created and formed by God to glorify Him. This is our primary purpose in life – to glorify God. We do that when we care for our body and live a healthy lifestyle.
Our Body is God’s Temple and for Us to Care For
One scripture that reminds us that our body is God’s temple is 1 Corinthians 19-20. God’s Holy Spirit lives inside a believer. After we accept Jesus into heart, God gives us His Spirit to help us live the kind of life He wants us to live. Since God actually lives in us, Paul tells us in htis verse that our body is His temple. Since God “bought” us with a high price, Jesus’ death, than we are obligated to care for our body which is His temple.
If you are not a believer in Jesus but want to join His family, read more here.
Being Healthy is Being a Good Witness
Acts 1:8 reminds us that we are to be witnesses for other people. People look for us to be models of the Christian faith. We ought to desire to live our lives in a way that represents our faith well. Taking care of our health is one way that we can be a good witness.
You’ll Have More Energy to Do God’s Work
Ephesians 2:10 helps us see that we are God’s masterpiece, created to do the good things that He had planned a long time ago for us to do. We all know that the more fit and healthy we are the more energy we will have. The more energy that we have, the more we can put into whatever task we are doing. We’ll also be better able to sustain ourself for the long haul.
What’s a 5th Reason?
What is one other reason that you think God wants us to be healthy? Comment by adding a 5th reason that you think would be pleasing to God.
Something to Reflect On
What we believe determines what we do. I suspect that if you believe what I’ve written above, and you value your relationship with God, it’s likely that you are taking good care of your body and your health.
How well are you taking care of yourself and your health?
If your relationship with God is important to you, and you’re not taking too good care of your body, could you use this post as an inspiration to better care for your body?
Apr
06
2009
As I was sitting in church yesterday, Palm Sunday, and read the words of songs on the screen that were being sung by the choir, I was reminded of who I am and how I am living because of what God and Jesus have done. I made a decision to blog on this daily during this Holy Week before Easter.
Jesus was obedient to God in that He allowed others to crucify Him on a cross on Calvary. In the day or two preceding His death, Jesus was emotionally distraught. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus knelt and prayed to God, “Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will not mine.” (Luke 22:42) Jesus knew the suffering He would endure as he carried His own cross to the hilltop on which He would be crucified. He knew the agony and pain His body would experience. He knew that for a moment as He would take all of our sins upon Himself that He would be separated from His Father and that this would be horribly painful in a spiritual sense.
The Bible tells us that soldiers mocked Him and beat Him on the head with a stick before He made the trip to Calvary to be killed. (Matthew 27:30) Most of us have seen the accounts of how He must have been beaten and whipped by the Roman soldiers in keeping with the tradition of that time. Clearly, Jesus suffered in an excruciating way. More about His crucifixion.
He suffered because He was obedient to the will of God, His father. God’s plan was that Jesus would be crucified so that we could have a full and eternal life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
You and I can experience true and long-lasting joy because of Jesus’ suffering and death. Jesus tells us the type of joy and blessings we can experience in His Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5:3-12
One of Jesus’ disciples, Paul, writes about the life circumstances and joy he was able to experience in the book of Philippians. He writes about his joy in times of suffering, serving, believing and in giving. Paul encourages all believers to be joyful amongst the various experiences of our lives.
I know that I have experienced and continue to experience deep inner joy in my life because of the suffering and sorrow that Jesus experienced.
Do you experience joy because you know Jesus personally? I hope so.
If you have not accepted God’s deep love by believing in His son Jesus but are ready to have His peace and joy you can do that now. Follow this link.
Have a terrific day!
Jan
21
2009
Do you want others to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to earth, died and was resurrected for so that they might have it? John 6:63 says that “It is the Spirit alone that gives life.”
So, my question to you is this, “Is it your nature or God’s nature flowing through you that is touching the people around you and the people who you hope will experience this abundant and eternal life?” It is only when we relinquish our self-nature, when we yield our own self and allow God’s Holy Spirit to flow through our spirits into our souls and outward through our bodies that people will experience God’s Spirit and the life that Jesus wants them to have.
I have been reminded that it is important for me to start my day out asking God to help me surrender myself to His will and His Spirit so that He can live through what I do and what I say. That my living comes from His Spirit directly and by His power. As well, the more frequently than I can have this attitude and lift up a similar prayer throughout the day, the more likely it is that my actions and speech will be influenced by God’s Holy Spirit and not be of my own soul-nature. This will then increase the likelihood that the people I speak to and what I write about will be of God and His Spirit and will have His life in it.
This requires intentionality. It requires a choice to live like this. It requires a certain sensitivity, appreciation and an awareness of when we are living from our soul-nature versus living by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And then, it requires a degree of obedience to live out God’s will instead of our own nature. We can be sure, then, that if we are acting out of the promptings and from the direction of the Holy Spirit that lives in us, we will be extending true life to others who we interact with and serve. Only in that way can we be assured that we are being instruments, in the purest sense, of God and His love.
Are you being intentional and surrendering your own own nature and asking God that His nature, His Holy Spirit inside you, live through you?
Oct
01
2008
Herod Agrippa the First facilitated the murder of James and had Peter put in prison. He also received the praises of the Jewish people under his rule as though he were a god. As a result God punished him.
Scripture tells us in Acts 12:23 what happened as Herod was addressing the people – “Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.” Herod died in a horrible way because he did not recognize God for the deity that He is.
In Exodus 20:3 we are told by God, “You must not have any other god but me.” God does not want us to have other gods or idols in our life nor does He want us to be so proud that we act like a god. As we can see in the case of Herod, if we maintain this kind of attitude there will probably be consequences. We may not experience the type of ugly sickness and death that Herod did, but we can be sure that there will be consequences. Pride and self-righteousness leads to control, conflict and frustration in our relationships with other people. It can also put a big wedge in between us and God and He doesn’t want that to happen.
Take some time to reflect deep into your heart and check your pride level. Are you taking or receiving the praise and glory in a situation without redirecting it to God? He placed each of us on this earth to glorify Him, not ourselves, by using our unique gifts and talents. Let’s make sure to do that!
Stay close to God and with His power, be humble.
Sep
09
2008
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.
View this 4 minute show on how God can help with your stress.
Have a great day!
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Aug
29
2008
Today an article was released by Health Behavior News Service suggesting that happiness and life satisfaction might lead to better health. They refer to a study that was based upon research in Australia conducted in 2001 and 2004. The researchers looked at 10,000 adults who responded to items about health indicators in the presence of long term limited health conditions and physical health. They found that both happiness and life satisfaction might lead to better future health.
So the question is, how do we become happier and more satisfied with our life? The answer can be found in scripture. Psalm 119:2 says “Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts. Verse 35 reads “Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Finally, verse 56 reads “This is my happy way of life: obeying your commandments.”
These are only three versus of this very revealing chapter in the book of Psalm. I would urge you to take time to read the entire chapter of Psalm 119 so you can gain a full appreciation of the value of God’s principles and commandments. He gave us His truths in the Bible so that we could live a more full and happy life. I am convinced that the happier we are with our life and the more satisfied we are with our life that the better our emotional health will be. This improved level of emotional health will then lead to improved physical health.
Warren Wiersbe writes in his book, 5 Secrets of Living, that the secret of enjoying life is fruit bearing. The secret of fruit bearing is abiding in God. The secret of abiding in God is obeying Him. The secret of obeying God is loving Him. The secret of loving is knowing God. The abundant life that Jesus refers to John 10:10 is what happiness and true joy is all about. Scripture tells us that we can receive this happiness and true story through obeying God’s commandments. So, I urge you to spend time in his Word to get to know God and to try your best to live your life in accordance with his commandments. The resulting happiness and subsequent improved health will contribute to living the abundant life that Jesus died for us.
Go have an awesome day!
Aug
14
2008
We all know that exercise is good for the heart. Aerobic exercise, the kind that causes the
heart rate to rise and stay at an elevated level for a period of time, is most beneficial for the cardiovascular system. I’ve been a runner for over 44 years. During that time my heart and my entire cardiovascular system certainly has benefited from all the running. I am confident that all the time I have spent on the road and treadmill has benefited my physical health.
Psalm 119:32 says “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Like the author of this Psalm, I have discovered over the years that as my lifestyle is consistent with God’s commands, I have found more and more freedom deep in my heart. This freedom and joy has given me an even greater desire to follow the principles of God. I want to “run” in the path that He has laid out for me in the Bible.
As much benefit as moderate physical activity like running is for us, the spiritual exercise of obeying God’s commandments has even greater benefits for our hearts. The freedom, joy and inner peace that comes from “running” alongside God is indescribable.
What benefits have you enjoyed from “running” in the path of God’s commands?
Have a terrific day!
Jun
16
2008
I think that each of us knows instinctively that if we remain stressed for a long period of time, our health will suffer in some way. Not surprisingly, that’s what the research shows as well. Headaches, asthma, the common cold, high blood pressure, ulcers and eczema are just a few conditions that may come about because of the body’s exposure to chronic stress. We each have a different response, but if stress is long term and intense enough, our bodies will pay a price.
There are many conventional ways in which we can alleviate the stress we are under. Getting enough sleep, exercising, muscle relaxation, deep breathing and connecting with close friends are some ways to manage stress. More about these and other techniques can be found at this website on Medline.
In today’s scripture, the psalmist indicates that he is troubled and distressed. Yet he proclaims that “your commands are my delight.” He’s saying that the principles and guidelines for living found in the Bible are a delight to him. When he is stressed, he is delighted by following God’s commandments.
The message for us is that in our lives, we will have stress. Yet, amidst the stressful situations and events, if know the principles in the Bible and live by them, we can find delight. As we are delighted, instead of feeling internally stressed for long periods of time, our health will be impacted in a positive well.
Are you intimately familiar with God’s commands and principles? Do you find delight in following them?
Have a wonderful week. And to all you father, a belated ‘Happy Father’s Day!’
Apr
05
2008
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.
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!
