“Health is the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Most of us are very familiar with this quote spoken by Mahatma Gandhi. And for most of us, it rings true. Because we know that good health is valuable, most of us pay attention to the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly health decisions that we make to attain and preserve good health for as long as we can. Making good health decisions requires wisdom. To what sources of wisdom do you go to when you need to make a health-related decision? Almost any good Christian would say that the first place they go with any health concerns is directly to God. After all, we all have heard that part of Psalm 139 that describes how we are “woven” and “knit” together by a God whose works are “wonderful.” For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139: 13-16 This passage of scripture highlights several important truths that, if accepted and applied, would have a great impact on why and how we make our health decisions. Truth #1: God created you. You were His idea from the very beginning. Truth #2: God created you and put your together. Your body was woven and knit together by God. Truth #3: God created you and put you together in a purposeful way. He created and put you together with the full knowledge of the days that were before you. He knew every detail of the potential of who you might be and what you might do. Truth #4: God created you and put your together in a purposeful way with unimaginable creativity and skill. His works are wonderful, and you are fearfully (awesomely) and wonderfully made! Compare these truths with what the world tells us about how we should make our health-related decisions: Deception #1: Your worth is based on the attainment of the current standard of health and fitness. “My New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, so I can fit into those size 2 skinny jeans that I saw in that magazine.” Deception #2: Your evaluation of your health and fitness begins by comparing yourself to the current standard or to others. “I’m going to start that new intense exercise program because, when I look in the mirror, I want to see thin hips. I want to look like Lisa. She looks so cute in her skinny jeans." Deception #3: Your progress in your health and fitness is dependent upon looking outside yourself to find the next new plan, strategy, product. “My last diet plan didn’t work, but I’m confident in Dr. X’s plan to drink two shakes and four dietary supplements each day, eliminate two food groups from my diet and eat two specific super foods each and every day without fail.” Deception #4: Your ultimate goal in the pursuit of health and fitness is your own satisfaction and sense of fulfillment. “If I run in that marathon, I will feel like a winner!” According to Romans 12:1-2, we will be able to make and carry out God-centered decisions when we fully offer ourselves to God and align our thinking with the truths of His word. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2) Just as in every other area of the Christian life, our health decisions should be made according to the wisdom of the Weaver (the One who has woven and knit us together) rather than according to the ways of the world (its pattern of thinking and behaving). If we really want to live out the beautiful truths of Psalm 139:13-16, then our health decisions will be rooted in:
Gratitude – we will acknowledge and seek God as a master craftsman whose works are wonderful! Our health decisions will come out of a place of gratitude rather than dissatisfaction. Respect – we will acknowledge and seek God as our Creator, Maker and Subject-Matter expert when it comes to our bodies. When making health decisions, we will first seek God’s wisdom and engage the mind He gave us before we run to the internet to find the next new promise or product. Submission – we will acknowledge and seek God as the One who does His work with a purpose in mind. Our health decisions will be primarily aligned with fulfilling God’s purpose for our life rather than fulfilling our own personal desires. How about you? Where do you find the wisdom that you need to make good health decisions? Are you making your health decisions according to the ways of the Weaver or according to the ways of the world? If you have a question or comment about this blog post or any other information on this website, please click here. Comments are closed.
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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.
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"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)
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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