When it comes to being a model of the accomplishments that are often associated with good physical, mental and spiritual health, there are a lot of things that I am not.
Here is what I am: I am a typical middle aged American who is swimming upstream against the current of time and culture to maintain a level of physical, mental and spiritual fitness so that I can respond energetically and effectively when God says, “So now, go! I am sending you.” God hears the prayers of His people and He is at work in the world. And for some reason, which seems puzzling to us at times, He calls us to be participants and partners in the work that He is doing. Consider, for example, how God responded to the oppression of His people as slaves in Egypt for over 200 years: …”I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey… So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:7-10 Notice the points of God’s response, as said to Moses:
Just like to Moses, God often says to us – I’m going to do something and I’m going to do it through you! Thankfully, God does not require our perfection. Just like Moses, we have insecurities and weaknesses that God will gladly work through to accomplish His will and bring glory to Himself. “Who am I that I should go…?”, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me…?”, “I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and tongue.”, “…please send someone else.” (Exodus 3:11, 4:1, 4:10, 4:13) But God does ask that we participate and participation involves active engagement of our body, mind and spirit. This summer, I have been experiencing some “So now, go!,” moments. My 90-year old mother informed me that she had decided to move her and my disabled brother out of our family home of 50 years and into a retirement community. The call was clear – “Go!” But that “Go!” required some things of me. It required:
As think back on that week, I am very grateful. I am grateful for every single investment I made as a typical middle aged American swimming upstream against the current of time and culture to maintain a level of physical, mental and spiritual fitness so that I can respond energetically and effectively when God says, “So now, go! I am sending you.” I was grateful for the promptings and the strength God gave me to:
All of these seemingly insignificant, daily investments helped me to be able to respond energetically and effectively when God said “So now, go!” How about you? God is at work in the world and, at some point, God is going to ask you to get up and go. It may be to participate in a work of God that is miraculous and historic, like Moses. Or it may be to participate in a typical milestone of family life, like my mother’s move. Either way, are you praying about what God might want you to do or invest in so that you can be prepared for your next assignment? Are you making good and consistent investments in your physical, mental and spiritual health so that you can respond energetically and effectively to God’s next assignment for you? If not, what needs to change? For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 If you have a question or comment about this blog post or any other information on this website, please click here.
Comments are closed.
|
About the AuthorHello! My name is Ginger Hill and I am a Christ follower and a n employee wellness professional. I am passionate about helping myself and others to live a healthy lifestyle and I believe that good health is essential in helping us to do the good works that God has called us to do. Because I am a work in progress, I write these blog posts to encourage myself and I share them with others in the hope that they may be encouraged as well.
|
"But the godly will flourish...Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green."
Psalm 92:12,14 (NLT)
All Contents Copyrighted © Ginger Hill and Good Health for Good Works 2017-2022. No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted,
unless otherwise indicated. You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Provide a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate.
2. Quote extracts (with context) from the website with attribution to www.goodhealthforgoodworks.org
Psalm 92:12,14 (NLT)
All Contents Copyrighted © Ginger Hill and Good Health for Good Works 2017-2022. No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted,
unless otherwise indicated. You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Provide a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate.
2. Quote extracts (with context) from the website with attribution to www.goodhealthforgoodworks.org