As the holiday season takes shape, and people are wondering what to give, it will be in order for us to consider that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and it’s the best gift we can offer to God, for He is not satisfied merely with material gifts. Those wise men who brought frankincense and Myrrh to Jesus at His birth, also gave Him their lives, without which the material gifts would have meant nothing.
Thus, to give Jesus our entire lives, fulfills the true essence of the gospel, and this truth is borne out in several passages of scripture, where God requires a more complete sacrifice than mere externals, which includes the entire person. Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that we are bought with a price, and as such, we ought to glorify God both in our body and mind. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
The purpose for healthy living, for exercising and for dieting and being fit, is not to display our bodies at south beach to receive the accolades of people, but rather to render God and to our fellow men, quality service for as long as possible. The “long life” which God promises to those who obey was not meant to be a life of ease, pleasure and inaction; instead, the example of Jesus should be our model, as He went about doing good, using His physical powers for the upliftment, and benefit of the human family.
Thus, the health message we espouse ought to be the means whereby people are helped in practical ways, and our service is not to be hindered by the common diseases the average John Doe may suffer from. As was stated previously, a peculiar people should have something peculiar about them, and therefore, we are under solemn obligation to live, and make manifest to the world, what we preach.
It is God’s will that His people should prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper, because the redemption purchased for us on Calvary, addresses the restoration of the entire man, not only the area that deals with the spiritual. In addition to this, it is important for all to remember that whatever affects the physical body, ultimately affects the mind, for the two are an indivisible whole. This fact is clearly demonstrated in the following passages. Let’s read:
Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
A close sympathy exists between the physical and moral nature of man, the one affecting the other. Therefore, the study on how to lose weight is just as much a part of the gospel as any other part, for it is the will of God that our bodies and minds be always consecrated to Him in entirety. Thus, the Christian should seek to honor God at the pulpit and at the table. With this in mind we will delve into several important pointers which will enable us to lose the extra weight and remain in a healthy condition.
[1] Prayer.
With the Christian, the first step in losing weight is not to study diets and foods, nor to turn to weight watchers for counsel, because God has given us the mighty Counselor in Christ Jesus. While the wisdom of this world may at times be helpful, in weight-loss, yet it is important for us at the outset to have Jesus in the driver’s seat, if our purpose is to maintain a successful regimen.
There are valid reasons why prayer must be the first step, for whenever people place themselves under the guidance of God, everything else downstream will usually fall into place. One of the most nagging problems we encounter is that of being consistent, for according to recent studies, 80% of those who start an exercise regimen at the new year, lose their steam by February. Some of the reasons given are a lack of continued motivation, or a lack of will power or it may be a change in one’s life circumstances.
That’s why prayer is the first and ongoing step, for will power, consistency, drive, and motivation to do the right thing all comes from God, for the Christian. It is Christ who imparts that indomitable spirit that does not take defeat for an answer, but instead is able to surmount hurdles, challenges, and varying circumstances that will certainly be a part of our experience.
To maintain a weight-loss program is quite difficult to do without Christ because we will often find that the on again/off again syndrome takes a toll. Thus, the more this occurs, is the more our morale will be weakened, to the point that we lose the confidence to achieve our goals. Especially does the difficulty to be steadfast increase when we are in social settings, where the temptation to indulge appetite might be stronger because of the gravitational pull of friends.
Principle does not take holidays, so, whether in a social environment, or on the couch watching TV, we will be given both the strength, and motivation to resist. Christians aren’t supposed to be creatures of circumstances, for God can enable persons to be consistent and motivated, whether we live in the sunshine state, or whether we live in the Rockies.
God’s power is not regional in nature but is rather available to all who will persist in prayer, bringing every challenge, and difficulty to Him for resolution, and following His guiding cloud wherever He leads the way. Again, this is why we reiterate, that the very first step in weight-loss for the Christian must be prayer. Let’s read:
Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every-thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The Problem of Feelings.
If we depend on our feelings for motivation, we are destined to fail, guaranteed. There are those days when we wouldn’t feel good, there are days when it’s cold and rainy outside, and there are oftentimes when workout partners will not show up. The Spirit of God who works within us to will and to do of His good pleasure will give us both the strength and will to carry on with a steady even tread, in spite of the vicissitudes we may face.
Let it be known that anything good that is worth us accomplishing, will be met with stiff resistance from our own bodies, for it is always easier to go with the flow downstream than to swim upstream towards a worthy goal. Again, a change in our diet may trigger withdrawal symptoms, and the first days of exercise may cause us pain. But we should press on, trusting in Christ and doing the right thing, for in due season we will reap if we faint not. Let’s read:
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Patience.
One of the challenges some will encounter likes in being impatient, for we currently live in the “Now” generation, where the desire for quick results has become the norm. Most popular diet plans now on the market have that one element of quick results as a selling point. And very many people have been deceived into believing that there’s a magic wand out there that can undo years of weight gain.
Thus, many people become discouraged in the food fight, because the fad diets didn’t deliver on their promise. Small increments add up to great gains, for Rome wasn’t built in one day, and climbing Jacob’s ladder takes place round by round. If we are looking for some magic pill to lose weight, it’s not going to happen. For the Christian, it takes continued prayer, sweat, appropriate diet, and well-directed sustained efforts to achieve worthy goals.
Thus, those advertisements on TV which promise rapid and unrealistic weight-loss are to be avoided, because of dire side effects both to body and mind. In fact, losing weight, by itself is not a worthy goal; instead we should all aim for a permanent lifestyle change that can be sustained over the long haul. It takes time to put on weight, and it will take time to lose it all, let no one be deceived about this. Let’s read:
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Responsibility through choice.
The laws of sowing and reaping apply equally to diet and weight-loss, for we will get out of diet what we put into it. We consist of what we eat and whatever is taken into the stomach, of that will our blood, and flesh consist. Good food makes good blood, and bad food makes bad blood.; it’s that simple.
It was proven in Daniel’s day, and again through studies done in our day, that a diet of fruit, grains, vegetables, and nuts are superior in making good blood. That’s one of the main lessons taught after his companions and himself were put to the test. Let’s read:
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Genesis 3:18 And thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
The choices we do make are our own responsibility and the accompanying results are also ours. The same God who created fruits, and grains, created oysters and crabs but there is to be a differentiation in what is best suited for food, and what is not. Now that we have the knowledge before us and the facts upon which we can make rational conclusions, the choice is ours, because God honors our freedom of choice, even when it goes against His ideal will. This truth is clearly stated in His word. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 12: 20 When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
21 Thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the Lord hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
22 Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.
23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
The truth is that because of the freedom of choice we may also eat the blood too, for there will be no angel to prevent anyone by force, from eating what they choose. Crabs, oysters, and blood all fall in the forbidden category, yet God permits folks to eat of these freely, even though it’s not His will. However, the laws of actions and consequences do follow their natural course, often with little, or no interference from God, especially when the light from His word is streaming live on the matter in question.
No one can force anyone to eat anything that will exacerbate the problem and there’s no valid excuse to deviate from our goals. The choice is completely ours. Fast food chains can advertise, they can solicit, or they may entice us with mouth-watering images of such foods that cause us to drool uncontrollably; but they cannot force one item of junk food down our throats. With our own hands, and mouths we’ll either succumb or resist, because the choice is ours. Let’s read:
Acts 10: 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Why does Peter continue to resist the voice of God, even after he was advised not to call anything from the sheet unclean, and why after three times he still refuses to eat? It is because the choice is ours, for the kingdom of God does not have the use of force as a core principle, and thus, the choices we’ll make are our own personal responsibility.
Daily exercise.
When God took the children of Israel out of Egypt, He caused them to do a whole lot of walking, for it was a part of His plan in getting them to maintain a healthy way of life. Moses was a mountain climber, and everyone, both old and young were caused to do significant amounts of aerobic activity by walking thousands of miles over a forty-year period. This in turn helped to produce the inevitable results. Let’s read:
Psalms 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Nehemiah 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Therefore, in our day when so many of us are now logged in behind the computer for most of the day, and where sedentary work has for the most part led many to sit for hours on end behind the desk; in our day, where online shopping has caused very many to stop going to the mall, thus avoiding a whole lot of walking; in our day where grocery chains are now delivering goods inside our homes, and drones are dropping purchased items in our backyards;
In our day, where the existence of Uber Eats and Grub Hub has resulted in many thousands being couch-bound, and where elevators, and escalators have taken over from stairs; in our day, more than ever before, we will need to revisit the exercise plan God put the ancient Hebrews on, for it is warranted now more than ever.
Every little bit counts, and even if we may not be able to do forty-five or thirty minutes per day, as the case might be, it’s been shown by studies done recently, that even fifteen minutes would make a big difference.
Daily exercise is necessary for a number of reasons; for weight-loss, for blood circulation, in preventing clogged arteries, in avoiding muscle deterioration, and immobility, in avoiding arthritis, in building our immune system, in keeping our blood sugar down, in burning fat, in being able to enjoy a restful sleep, and in a host of other beneficial ways, daily exercise was, and is a part of God’s plan for weight-loss and well-being.
There are literally no down sides to exercising, if it is done appropriately and regularly, because it formed a fundamental part of God’s original plan for man, even before weight-loss was an issue. Then after sin entered our world, it became even more important in removing poisons, and impurities through sweat, and keeping our minds from evil. Let’s read:
Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.
Therefore, if we’ll purpose in our hearts to put into place a reasonable, sustainable, and achievable goal of weight-loss and well-being, the aforementioned points will need to be prayerfully considered, and by the grace of God, success will be the inevitable result. As Christians we are to glorify God in body as well as in mind, and therefore, as we seek to do so, it’s fitting that we should encouraged in The Lord, with words expressing His best ideal for us. Let’s read:
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
God Bless!