This post begins my review of Alisa Keeton’s new book, The Wellness Revelation – Lose What Weighs You Down So You Can Love God, Yourself and Others.
Alisa is the Founder of Revelation Wellness, a non-profit ministry that use fitness and wellness to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This book incorporates the core teachings of her ministry outlined as an 8-week journey for whole person health. It’s unique in that it’s not only a book, but the purchase of the book gives you access to a set of 56 videos and podcasts that include a unique blend of fitness workouts and inspirational teachings.
As part of my review, I’ll be sharing many excerpts of the book and then make additional comments.
Excerpts from the Introduction Chapter
“If you desire to improve your quality of life through better health and well-being, this book is designed to put you on that path, while helping you avoid the dead end that comes from missing this truth; your Creator loves and values you as you seek to improve your physical fitness, He wants to free you from whatever is weighing you down.”
“The Wellness Revelation is going to change the way you perceive yourself and lay out strategies to improve your health. This time the change will occur from the inside out.”
“By 1998 I was the model of fitness within an award-winning physique. I had a successful personal training career and was newly married to a man who was going to take on the world. The money was rolling in, and on the outside, the package looked close to perfect. But on the inside, I was a sad, afraid, and miserable woman – desperate to be loved. I felt empty inside as I watched my marriage – not even a year-old – nearly crumble under all the expectations I’d placed on it. Ironically, that void rested like a heavy weight inside me. Enter Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) ”
“For the first time, I realized that as good as physical fitness felt and looked, it would not give me the joy, purpose, and rest I was looking for. Only Jesus could do that, and I found a new joy and meaning as I began to follow Him.”
“Once I opened myself up to God, I begin to see that my clients were longing for the very same things I had craved.”
“Revelation Wellness is now an international nonprofit ministry that uses fitness as a tool to spread the Gospel message.”
“Through this book, we are inviting you to be a part of this fitness revolution. For the next eight weeks, you will move, step-by-step to the pace of grace, toward something greater then the number on the scale or the size of your jeans. You will learn the living and practical truth of what it takes to be healthy and whole (heart, soul, strength, and mind) while loving others as yourself.”
“The Wellness Revolution is designed to help you renew the whole person, from the inside out.”
“This is a God first book. Though it is packed with relevant information on diet and fitness, it wasn’t created to tell you exactly what to eat and how to move. Instead, it was designed to enable you to develop fitness and nutrition plans that work for your life as you draw closer to the One who made you. As you seek God first, all the food and and fitness-related details will fall into place.”
“Be real. You have to show up, do the work, and be completely you. Don’t try to fake it for anyone else’s sake. Don’t live as if you have to audition for others’ approval. Don’t try to cover up your imperfections by donning another pair of spiritual Spanx. Our good God sees it all, and he is not offended by our messes. Achieving wholeness is possible only when we bring all of our insecurities and mistakes to the table. And we cannot heal what we are not willing to reveal, so please do yourself a favor and just be real. You are safe in His presence.”
“When we successfully reach our goals, we are tempted to take all the glory; When we fail to get what we want, we assume all that shame. This is one reason The Wellness Revolution contains one component that is missing from many fitness programs. As you “Cast your cares on the Lord” (Psalm 55:22) and transform into a new being in Christ, your heart will be freed up to help others in need. At Revelation Wellness, this is what we call “calories in” and “calories out” – receiving the fulfilling love of God (calories in) so you can give away His love to someone else (calories out). this is how the Gospel message spreads!”
“Please pause and consider that this eight-week process is going to take a commitment and a conviction to settle for nothing less than living the full and rich life that God intends for you. After all, you were created by God and for God because he loves you. He has a plan for your life, anyone’s to free you up to live that life! I can promise you it will be better than anything you have ever imagined or dreamed, but it will come at a price.”
“In eight weeks, you will be gaining distance from your old self as you move closer to your true self– a person who embodies gods love. Though the obstacles you and I face may differ, we are all on the same quest – to exchange old lies for truth and be set free. As you make this journey, you will be transformed and renewed, becoming more of the person you were truly meant to be.”
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What jumps out to me first is that this book is most about the transformation of the inside – the soul and spirit – as opposed to becoming physically fit on the outside. Alisa understands that true outer transformation can come about only after inner transformation occurs.
And because God designed us as a spiritual being – along with a mind, will and emotions – who lives in a body, we must first attend to matters of the heart before we can address matters of physical fitness.
Stay tuned for my blog post on Week 1.
The Wellness Revelation is available where books are sold on August 8, 2017.
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