God’s Word, Healthy Diet, Fitness and Weight Loss

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

To understand how to live a healthy lifestyle we must first define what a healthy lifestyle is. We were created in God’s image. God in three persons. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. For us that means Mind, Body and Spirit. To live a healthy lifestyle we must then be healthy in mind, body and spirit. We are not segmented individuals. The health of our mind effects the health of our body and spirit. If we are stressed and worry about things, our body reacts and this negative mental activity adversely effects us. Conversely there are many studies that show laughter helps greatly in the healing process. The same is true with our spirit. For spiritually, if we are at peace, this peace can override what a normal person might view as a stressful situation and therefore move us from stressful into peaceful situations. Many doctors and health care workers will tell you that they have seen miraculous physical improvements following prayer. This lets us know to truly be healthy, we must be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

We get clues to a healthy lifestyle when we read the first 2 chapters of Genesis. For in the beginning after God created man he said it was very good. I take this to mean that when God created man he put everything in place for us to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So let me touch a few points for us to understand what God has done that we might live a healthy lifestyle.

In The Beginning God

We must first acknowledge God. This is first and foremost in our Spiritual and total health. Without  acknowledging God as the beginning and the creator of all things we start with a void and will never have complete health. Just as important, we must recognize that it was the Spirit of God that hovered over the entire earth and through God’s Spirit the power of His Word was made manifest. So Spiritually, we must recognize God, His Spirit and His Word.

Now physically what God created over the first seven days has a direct impact on our health. If we honor His creation as intended we maximize our health and well being.

Day 1 Light:

This is a separation of day and night. In the day time there is light. During the night is darkness. In light there is work. In darkness there is rest. No matter when we sleep we cut off the lights and when we work we need the light. This separation of light and dark represents, among other things, a time to work and a time to rest. We need both. Rest and physical activity. Jesus said in the gospel according to John that we must walk while we have have light, before darkness overtakes you. This is both a spiritual and physical reference. Physically speaking light is the time to work. Spiritually light is a reference to the goodness of God while darkness represents the evil of Satan. As we walk we have the physical activity God created light for and we rest or sleep during the night. The bottom line is to have a healthy lifestyle physically we need physical activity and sleep. This is the first thing God put into place.

Day 2 Sky:

God said let there be … Sky. The sky represents all the molecules in our atmosphere. Ultimately the sky or atmosphere, will be our air. We need fresh air to be physically healthy. Before God created man he made sure the air was in place to sustain our healthy lives. This air is mandatory for life. For healthy life.

Day 3 Water and Land:

Though in the beginning when God created the earth it was covered with water, until he gathered waters and separated the dry ground from the seas the water nor the ground was suitable for man. After a time and preparation, the water and land where established for man. Water makes up from between 55% to 78% of our bodies. Water is essential to sustain our life and essential for all of our organs to function properly. Without adequate water our bodies shut down. With almost but not quite enough water we experience many different diseases. Just as chemicals and minerals act and react to water for our overall health. The same is true for land.  Land was here from the beginning and earth is who we are. For without spirit we are but dirt (earth or land). The connection to the land also connects us to all life, especially plant life. Then God said “let the land produce vegetation:” the key to our physical health.

Day 4 lights (Time):

On this 4th day God essentially created a measure for time. He created the sun and the moon. The sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night. Interestingly, the most essential vitamin to the operation of our organs and all of our internal systems is “Vitamin D”. Sunlight is the source of “Vitamin D”.  “Vitamin D” causes our cells to rejuvenate themselves. We may think that cells do this automatically, but with “Vitamin D” deficiency comes numerous disease all due to the lack of the light of day. Again, God emphasizes day and night. Physical activity and rest.

Day 5 Fish and Poultry (Birds):

This day God created fish in the sea and birds of the air.  All before he created man. I can only say that the fish and birds where created before man. Even though God did not give us the fish of the sea or the birds of the air to be food. They will become an important part of our food system.

Day 6 Animals and Man:

The words are interesting. They say let the land produce living creatures. Just as man is from the dirt of the land so are all living creatures. After fish, birds, and finally animals were made God said let us create Man in our image.  Then God gave man dominion of all living creatures but told man ” I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” He also gave plants as the source of food to all animals God saw what he had made. The first 5 days he said it was good. After God created man and gave him dominion over the world He said it was very good.

Day 7 Sabbath Rest:

As God finished His creative work in 6 days He blessed the 7th day and made it Holy. On this day we are required to rest. The Sabbath is physical rest and spiritual rest. Physically, we rest after every days work but the sabbath is a day free from work. More importantly, Sabbath is Holy, Sacred and Set Apart. The Sabbath rest is a period where we rest from our labors and focus on the Holy. There is none Holy but God. Therefore this is the day that the focus is to seek God and His righteousness and your labor will not be in vain.

Now with an overview of the 7 days of creation how do we live a healthy lifestyle.

1. Acknowledge God First
2. Physical Activity
3. Rest – Sleep
4. Fresh Air
5. Drink Plenty of Water
6. Plenty of Sunlight
7. Eat Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Whole Grains, Nuts and Beans
8. Prayer, Praise and Worship

These 8 points are the keys to a long and healthy life mentally, spiritually and physically. If we believe that God in His infinite wisdom created earth to sustain us He would give us the best for us. I believe He Did. Now we mus live accordingly.

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What is Fasting Really About?

Lent is coming up soon and I want to fast. I want to lose a few pounds. I think I will give up red meat or chocolate. Maybe I will just give up meat on Fridays. I am going all the way this year. I will try the “Daniel Diet.” That sounds like a nice biblical fast. But Why? Why do I even want to consider fasting? It seems like a lot of hard work and self sacrifice. Maybe I’ll just give up desert. Yeah, I can handle that. But what is fasting about anyway? Truly fasting is not about weight loss or eating healthy for a short period of time. Many people think fasting is about giving up something you like that you know is not good for you. HMMM.
I know it is not good for me, but I need a special occasion to give it up for a little while. Is this how Christians called to live? Is this truly the meaning and biblical purpose of fasting. In the bible there are 3 main reasons to fast:

1) To repent and seek God’s forgiveness
2) To seek God’s help
3) To seek a closer, committed, and submissive relationship with God.

I want to focus on seeking a closer, committed, and submissive relationship with God. If you read the entire 6th chapter of The Gospel According to Matthew you will notice 5 seemingly unrelated themes – Giving to the Needy, Prayer, Fasting, Treasures in Heaven, and Do Not Worry.
Though they seem unrelated they are closing tied together. In Isaiah 58 God emphasizes the fasting he respects is taking care of those in need. So when we read Jesus teaching his disciples the importance of giving to those in need and giving for the sake of love not to impress other men, in essence Jesus is teaching an important tenet of fasting.

Tenet #1: Fasting is giving to those in need out of love and not out of show.

Throughout the bible we see that fasting is also associated with prayer. When Jonah went to Nineveh and preached their impending doom the king tore his clothes, put on sack cloth, fasted and prayed commanding the people to do the same. When Esther decided to go to the king to save her people she asked Mordecai ask the people to join her for 3 days of fasting and praying. So we see Jesus teaches is disciples to effectively pray before he teaches them about fasting. Can I submit that effective prayer is the second tenet of fasting.

Tenet #2: Effective prayer is necessary for an effective fast.

True fasting is connecting with God and taking your prayer to the next level as you truly seek Him. Even as we pray Jesus taught us to start with honoring and worshipping God. We start by submitting ourselves to Him and we pray that His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our fast is to remove self. Our fast is to deny self. Our fast is to recommit to God. Our fast is about a direct relationship with God and has nothing to do with people who sit next to us in church. We are not trying to impress anybody. So Jesus says do not be like the hypocrites. Wash your face, fix your hair and straighten out your clothes so that it is not obvious you are fasting. This is between you and God is tenet #3.

Tenet #3: This is between you and God, period!

The things you do for God is between you and Him and only those things will last. Approval of man is temporary. Earthly treasures are temporary. The position of authority is temporary. Only the things you do for God will last. You cannot serve 2 masters. Fasting focuses your attention on God and His Will. Fasting helps us to realize that God requires us to put nothing before Him. This is the main reason we deny ourselves, to put God first over all things. As you fast remember the 1st commandment; “You shall have no other gods before me”. This is the forth tenet of fasting.

Tenet #4: Have no other gods before me.

Many times the cares of the world make it hard for us to truly seek God. We worry about the rent, food, clothes, how our hair looks etc. We worry about our daily needs and this is understandable. As we grow in Christ we realize worrying hinders our growth. But be encouraged. God is the creator and sustainer of the earth. The earth is His and the fullness thereof. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The Lord IS your Shepherd and in Him there is no want. If he takes care of the birds and the flowers how much more will he take care of you His Child? As we fast, as we seek a closer relationship with God he wants us to be comforted and not to worry. God wants us to seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and he will take care of all our needs. To seek His Kingdom reflects us building a closer relationship with God and becoming submissive to His Will. To seek His Righteousness goes back to how we treat our brothers and sisters. God says Love Him first and foremost and to love each other as we love ourselves. This is the 5th tenet of fasting.

Tenet #5: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

So true fasting is not about giving up something that we know is not good for us. True fasting is not about a special diet. True fasting is not about losing weight.

A true fast is seeking God’s forgiveness, God’s help, or God’s relationship.
The five tenets of a true fast are:

Tenet #1: Fasting is giving to those in need out of love and not out of show
Tenet #2: Effective prayer is necessary for an effective fast.
Tenet #3: This is between you and God, period!
Tenet #4: Have no other gods before me.
Tenet #5: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

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