DeAnna Discusses Self-Discipline and Health
January 13, 2010 by DeAnna Smothers
Filed under News and Events
Suggestions to make the new decade your healthiest
We know that being fit and losing weight are typically high on most people’s goals for the New Year. The big question is not “Do you want to lose weight?” but rather, “How do you nurture self-discipline and willpower?”
As God is our witness, we all know that praying to Him for strength, wisdom and obedience on the subject of health is very important and foundational to achieving our goals.
The flipside of this, however, is that God gives each of us the gift of choice. At every moment we have the gift of saying yes or no to every last thing in our life: healthy eating vs. dishonest eating; a loving nature vs. a critical spirit; a fit, strong body vs. a weak, ill vessel.
The key is having the discipline to make the choice that God wants us to.
Based on my own walk with the Lord and my own struggle to regain my health, I have found that the following three activities help keep me healthy and Christ-centered:
Go to a quiet place to pray, rest and listen to God daily.
Scripture says in several places that Jesus routinely went to the mountain where he had a quiet place to rest, pray, and listen for the Father.
To really affect change in our lives and transform it by “the renewing of our minds,” (which then leads to the renewing of body and spirit), I find that several times a day, even if just for five minutes, I need to stop my mind, go within, breathe and remember my goals and pray for strength to overcome temptations.
This regular practice helps me become the observer of my thoughts and choose which ones are honest before I place my belief and actions behind them.
Engage in activities that force you to exercise discipline
Of course, my favorite way to do this is through a yoga class. When you come to a yoga class three times a week, it focuses you and keeps you aware of your health goals; this is crucial to your success. We must remain conscious of what we are doing.
Remember to begin very slowly so that you don’t get too sore. Starting out in “boot camps” and exercise that is too harsh to begin a new lifestyle is a formula for failure. You will get sore when you begin exercising, but if you don’t overdo you can take a nice hot bath and perhaps an ibuprofen and you will be fine to continue. Just don’t quit! Just remember, you’re sore if you do nothing, your sore if you’re an athlete. So which way do you choose to be sore?
With God’s support, make a point to exercise for an hour five to six times per week (I suggest combining yoga three times per week and walking at first; you will be taking steps toward purifying your mind, body and spirit. You will begin to see victory over the enemy who would seek to destroy you and the plans God has for you. Plus, you will feel and look awesome!
Read and reflect on what the Bible says about discipline and health
Proverbs 8:32 (The Message)
So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don’t squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.
Proverbs 12:1 (The Message)
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!Proverbs 13:18(The Message)
Refuse discipline and end up homeless; embrace correction and live an honored life.3 John 1:2 (King James Version)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
The rest is up to you
The formula for being healthy and fit mind, body and spirit is pure and simple, eat well, exercise, spend time quietly alone to regroup with God (several times a day), and keep pressing on toward the prize our Savior has for you. Being healthy is VERY important to God. Once you get this, then it’s like anything else you choose to be obedient about and the rewards are truly outstanding.
Let’s all pray for each other to have the quiet time, discipline and heart for a serious upgrade and transformation of our lives this decade. Happy 2010!
Love,
DeAnna
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