July 10, 2017
Fit for Life Part 1
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV).
Friend to Friend
It is much easier to give in to sin or yield to temptation when we are physically depleted. Discipline begins in the mind and then travels to the body. I can hear you groaning already, but stay with me. Sin and temptation often find their greatest opportunity to work in the body.
I have struggled with diet and exercise from childhood. Part of my struggle is rooted in “fluffy” genes lovingly passed down to me through several generations of “fluffy” relatives. The remainder of my struggle is firmly rooted in the fact that I enjoy eating, hate exercise, and sometimes use food as an emotional outlet. Consequently my weight has fluctuated over the years like a championship yo-yo.
Satan rejoiced as I deemed myself “worthy” when I lost the weight and “unworthy” when I gained it back. Guilt and shame attached themselves to every bite of food, while the Battle of the Bulge became the War of Worthiness.
Marriage, motherhood, and ministry brought new weapons into the fray. Ridiculously crowded schedules and chronic fatigue seemed to be regarded as holy Medals of Honor. I quickly learned the unspoken rules of successful Christian living - rest is for the wicked, exhaustion is for the holy, fast food is for the fully devoted, and burnout is the ultimate goal. At times, I can almost hear Satan, standing in the wings, laughing at my skewed priorities and lack of discipline, knowing that his opening is just around the corner.
There is simply no way around the truth that discipline is part of trusting God with our health. We cannot give our hearts to God but keep our bodies for ourselves. To do so is sin. It’s time for a new plan and a new way of thinking when it comes to disciplining the body.
Eliminate diets. Replace all “diets” with a “healthy eating plan.” Fad diets are quick-fixes and rarely work long-term. A healthy eating plan requires a lifestyle change, and is not only a matter of how much we weigh, but a matter of what we eat as well. Many thin people follow diets that are just as unhealthy as the diets of overweight people. Ask yourself, “Is this good for me?” instead of “Is this fattening?” A healthy eating plan honors God.
Get moving. A friend once told me her favorite exercise was opening and closing the refrigerator door. Hmm … not good! Set realistic goals in the area of exercise. Start with 15 minutes a day, three times a week. Gradually increase that time. Choose an activity with a dual purpose. For example, while you are walking, you can pray. Walking can be a healthy way of dealing with anger, venting frustration to God instead of to others. A walk can also serve as a “mini-retreat” during a chaotic day. Ask God to change your perspective on exercise – then take the first step. He will meet you there.
Learn to rest. Rest is not an option if we are to function at our best. We sometimes stay busy because we are afraid to face our past or even the future. Guilt keeps us moving, trying to prove our worth.
For most of my adult life I have wrongly equated being busy with being productive. I am guilty as charged when it comes to living each day in overdrive. The result has always been exhaustion and watered-down living.
We are masters of rationalizing our way to man’s approval. I am convinced that when we are willing to surrender our lives to the tyranny of the urgent, the enemy will keep ‘em coming – people who need us immediately, those who clamor for our attention above our family and our personal relationship with God.
The chorus in one of my favorite worship songs says:
Lord, I give you my heart.
I give You my soul.
I live for You alone.
Every breath that I take
Every moment I’m awake,
Lord, have Your way in me.
Join me in a new commitment to become fit for life – for our good and God’s glory.
Let’s Pray
Father, I recognize my body as Your temple. Forgive me for the times when I do not care for it in a way that honors and pleases You. Give me the strength to eat right, exercise and learn to rest. I have given You my heart. I now give You my body. Glorify Yourself in and through me, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Memorize today’s key verse of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV).
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
Which one of the following steps do you need to take first in order to honor God with your body?
_____ Eliminate diets
_____ Get moving
_____ Learn to rest
More from the Girlfriends
I know it is hard to deal with temptation when it comes to treating our bodies in a godly way. Need help? Check out Mary’s book, Fit for Life. It will help you explore four areas of fitness and health - spiritual, physical, mental and emotional. Within each one of these areas, Fit for Life examines principles relating to rest, diet and exercise.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
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Originally published Monday, 10 July 2017.
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