Lessons Learned in 3-D: Stay in Shape
This week, I’ve been digging into the Bible with a group of friends online and considering what the Bible has to say about being “Intentionally Focused” on our health. I am learning that being healthy requires more than just getting to the gym a couple of times of week. My emotions, my thought patterns, my relationships, and my habits all help shape me.
Here in no particular order are 5 things I learned this week about being a healthier me:
1. I am God’s holy dwelling place, so I need to maintain my temple well so that I can bring Him maximum glory. (Angela, thanks for the nudge in your VLOG at Good Morning Girls.)
2. When emotions get heated and discernment is cloudy, it’s best to “hit the pause button.” (Great advice here for singles and marrieds alike from David at Intentionally Yours.)
3. Healthy friends help foster healthy habits. Check out this Scripture:
Keep your eye on the healthy soul,
scrutinize the straight life;
There’s a future
in strenuous wholeness.
But the willful will soon be discarded;
insolent souls are on a dead-end street.Psalms 37:37-38, MSG
4. If I get lazy and stop investing in others, I will develop a selfish attitude of entitlement that God must chasten. Joe at Redeemed reminded me that “To stay prepared for service, I need to serve frequently.” (I loved his post titled “The Warm Up.”)
5. I need to engage in a little self-examination so that I don’t stray from God’s path for me. Courtney at A Work in Progress shared a beautiful Lenten activity for slowing down and re-focusing on Him: “All this I give to you.”
Q4U: What did you learn this week?
I am sharing “Stay in Shape” and joining like-minded sisters this weekend at Saturday Linky Love, The Weekend Brew, Whatever is Lovely, and The Friday Five.
I like your pause to examine what you have learned each week.
Thanks, Wanda. I actually got the idea from Emily Freeman. She does a monthly linkup on her blog — it’s mostly fun lessons, but I thought about it a bit and realized that doing a weekly post like really fit for my space here. — Life has been a bit crazy since December, so I haven’t done these posts. Now that life is starting to settle down a bit, I am hoping to get back to doing this more regularly.
Lyli, I really needed these reminders this morning. I am working on getting healthy in my body, but I feel so out of shape in my soul. I’m looking forward to spending time with the links you provided. Thank you!
This is an area of weakness for me, too, Ingrid. I’m asking God to show me the way to make some wiser choices about exercise, stress level, etc.
“I sail on hope.” What better things can be said than that?
Thanks, Natalie. Somehow your comment ended up under the wrong post. (not sure how that happened?)
It is amazing how God puts hope in our hearts in the midst of the storm. Isn’t it?
#1 really spoke to me with my journey of letting go of this eating disorder of mine. I have not been treating my body as His Holy dwelling place. Grateful for how He is leading me to freedom. Much love to you. Happy Saturday!!
Yay, Beth! Hugs and prayers.
I appreciate the reminder that when I’m upset about something I need to stop and check in with what is going on inside…I find that when I’m hungry, angry, lonely or tired, it’s harder to deal with life in a healthy manner! Taking care of myself helps me to serve God and others better. Enjoyed your post, friend!
Holly, that connection between physical and emotional is a powerful one. I’ve been trying to do better with getting to bed earlier. It makes a difference.
What a gorgeous photo & post! God bless,
Laurie
Laurie, thanks for stopping by! 🙂