Faith Based Fitness in a Nutshell

Society would have us to accept, and even embrace; the inadequate sleep and rest, stressful situations and daily events, poor diet, sedentary existence, and exposure to harmful elements, that have become regular parts of our lives. As Christians, we should understand that living a healthy lifestyle is in keeping with God's perfect will for our life! Temptations confront us daily, as our flesh beckons us to feel this or to feel that, to think this or to think that, and to do this and to do that. As imperfect beings, we will inevitably miss the mark daily; but if our hand is truly in God's, and we are truly repentant; we are able to pick ourself up, and by faith, intend to move in the way that God would have us to. Over time, this process results in an actual change of identity, typically, little by little. So in the context of a healthy lifestyle, we must learn about, and take exception to the ways of the world that come against our health; and purpose our heart toward properly caring for the temple that God has blessed us with. Eventually the unhealthy foods that we used to crave, won't be as much of a problem to deal with, and we'll be better able to prevent and eliminate harmful stress from our life, as we become more able to trust God in our daily living; and focus more on His Glory, and His will for our life! These Health and Healing Scriptures also show a strong connection between our physical health and our spiritual health! We are to walk by faith, but the Bible also encourages us to move forth in an informed manner; Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14) So we are to put forth our due diligence, and seek out quality resources and qualified people that can help us. We must even seek to be an informed patient/client, prepared to ask our health professionals good questions, and give useful input. Unfortunately, medical mistakes occur frequently, and do a lot of harm. It is in our best interest to accept the fact that the responsibility for our health, ultimately lies with us! A great source of information can be our church's Wellness Ministry! "Fasting" is an extremely important consideration for Christians, but it is not intended to punish our flesh, but rather to allow us to better focus on God as we take our eyes off of things of this world for awhile. How many of us, however; know how to "fast" safely and successfully when it comes to fasting from food. Fasting without respecting fundamental guidelines, can result in bodily harm, and even death! The way that we resume eating after a fast is even an important consideration. When not fasting, the discipline developed through fasting, still can be important, as we recognize and resist the tendency to "eat our emotions". We must learn our body's nutritional needs, and base our eating on that, and not upon; our mood, whether we are bored or not, on the occasion, etc... We must even learn to recognize and resist bad practices that have generational or even cultural roots! If the extent of our knowledge about health and wellness consists of; what we are told by those that are not qualified to advise us, what we hear in general conversation, and what we see and hear on infomercials, then we are in trouble. We must make a concious decision to learn and to do what we can to steer our lifestyle away from disease and deterioration, and onto the path of wellness. Realize the importance of planning, shopping for, and preparing healthful meals; and act upon that! Take the time to learn and experiment with recipes for tasty dishes that are in keeping with a health enhancing lifestyle. Don't use medications that treat your symptoms, as a crutch, so that you may continue with unhealthy habits. Be proactive, don't wait until the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle catch up to you to the point where; your activities become limited, you'll require more and stronger medications, and you're pretty much forced to view life's priorities differently. Work with your doctors to come up with a strategy so you may eventually reduce and even eliminate your medications! Put the matter of your health before God in prayer. It is very possible that rather drastic measures may need to be considered, but remember, the little bumps in the road and temporary failures, can become stepping stones toward a victorious future. Keep the faith, and be persistent. May God Bless You BeHealedandHealthy.com