Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I weren’t so (fill in the blank)“?
Or maybe something else like, “Well if only I were ____ I could be more active in the kingdom”?
Sweet friends, lets talk a little bit about our bodies and how they tie in to the kingdom and even our natural lives. We are all kingdom minded, but with the knowledge that we need to equip ourselves with essentials, we will be able to get through this thing we call life. Let’s start with two small verses in the Bible (two of many!), that refer to our bodies and what their place is in the kingdom:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.{1 Corinthians 6:19-20}
If I asked you to imagine a temple, maybe one from the Bible times, or maybe one that you’ve seen recently, surely you would imagine a beautiful stature, both beautiful and well-taken care of on the INSIDE — as well as the outside!
Our bodies are meant to glorify God which is why we take care with holiness and humility. But what of the physical aspect? Does God even care whether we take care of ourselves physically? In I Corinthians 3 you’ll find a verse that talks about not destroying the temple — and that refers to both in the inside and the outside of the structure.
Does that mean we have to eat strictly healthy and workout all the time? You have probably heard the saying “everything in moderation.” In truth, moderation is a relative term dependent on what the subject is, and who the individual is amongst many other different variables. Different people require different things, and that’s okay!
So lovelies, lets get down to the nitty gritty:
1. YES:
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- there are benefits to being fit and healthy.
2. NO: it doesn’t require a lot of time or a strict diet.
3. YES: you should pray more than you workout and understand that whatever is given to you physically is given by God. For he hath equipped you with a body that can move, and has blessed you with the ability to work out however you may like, or however your body allows you to do so.
My goal in writing to you is to help, challenge, and inspire you to be healthy in your physical and spiritual life; so today I’m sharing a few workout and life tips so that your health may benefit the purpose God has called you to.
Workout tips
(Disclaimer: I do understand that there are physical disabilities or illnesses that may limit you from certain physical activities. Hopefully with God’s help, I can offer some value to everyone no matter their physical state!)
1. Find what YOU like to do!
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- I personally love lifting weights, and anything to do with nature: hiking, biking, kayaking. Maybe you like to walk, run, or do stretches. Find something that you look forward to doing.
2. BE MOTIVATED in everything you do. How sad would it be to die and never know the true strength and power God has given our earthly bodies? Let’s use those benefits He’s given to us in order to further His kingdom!
In future posts we will talk more in depth of different workouts and the different benefits.
Lifestyle Tips
1. Yes, healthiness is a lifestyle: crash diets do not work, fad diets do not work.
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- They are not sustainable for a lifetime. Restricting your calories to an extreme level is NOT sustainable.
2. God gave you a body to nourish, not destroy. Yes, you can have treats! Make them work into your everyday life and you’ll find yourself much happier than a completely restrictive diet. We are also meant to enjoy food, but not become gluttonous. Find some yummy staple foods that are healthy and delicious, and meal prep them in bulk (it’ll make your life easier, I promise!)
We will talk more in further posts about the different ways of attaining a sustainable healthy lifestyle that you will ENJOY.
Healthy Food Staple Examples
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- Boiled eggs
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- Egg salad (YUM!)
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- Chicken salad
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- Crockpot chicken (jerk, Mediterranean, lemon butter, spicy Thai, etc.)
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- Sweet or regular potatoes
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- Fresh cut veggies and fruits
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- Rice
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- High protein snacks
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- Good fats like avocados
- Good, hearty non-processed carbs
My sweet friends, let’s be motivated to reach beyond what is comfortable, beyond what is normal. Let us glorify God by allowing our health to meet our purpose by being happy, healthy, and holy.