Diagnosis of the Heart
Why do you turn to God?
Though this may be a vague question, it should stir your heart to ponder.
For many, the reality of their interactions with God is that they praise Him when He performs glorious work in their lives, and they curse His name when He appears to have left them stranded. This is not the reality of God’s love for you. He is there every step of the way, regardless of your situation.
I would like to take a moment to tell you what brought me into the world of health and wellness as an Allied Health Pre-Physical Therapy major, as a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist and as an educator in fitness and nutrition in my practice. My health story began when I was thirteen years old. During my freshmen year of high school, I was teased a lot for my weight and hated wearing bathing suits because I was self conscious of my belly. I had a habit of eating something every time I walked by the kitchen even when I was not hungry. I was the only one of my siblings who didn’t play any sports. Instead, I attended dance and gymnastics classes, but did not compete. The summer between by freshmen and sophomore year, I made the decision to eat only when I was actually hungry, to eat dessert or sugar in moderation, and to start working out at home with my mom, as she has always made her health and fitness priority. Just in the three months of summer, I lost 25 pounds. My goal was primarily to feel better about myself. I was amazed at how my body responded to the changes I made. He created by body to be a place He inhabits and restores! He loved me unconditionally when I had unhealthy habits, and He honored the work I put into my health and blessed me beyond what I had imagined for myself.
Looking back, I realized that it was not only my efforts to improve my health that allowed me to be successful.
I contribute my success to the fact that I acknowledged the issue at hand and trusted Him to work in my body.
This is what I want you to take from this. It takes both of those components: the willingness to put forth effort and the faith to trust God with your body. Through that experience, I am now able to enjoy the health I maintain and to motivate and encourage others to cherish the bodies God has entrusted them with and to show Him love by caring for their bodies.
With that said, I should mention that my story does not have any great loss, suffering or misfortune that has changed the trajectory of my livelihood, but many have. Isaiah 25:4 states “For You have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the ruthless ones is like a rainstorm against a wall.” This will always be true. I became a Corrective Exercise Specialist and Pre-Physical Therapy major in order to improve the quality of life of the clients I work with. I have had the incredible opportunity to serve individuals that either have medical conditions or physical injuries that affected their daily life. In addition to the technical approach of physical healing, it is imperative that the mental and emotional healing take place at the same time. This mentality is demonstrated beautifully in Philippians 1:20: “ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
Deuteronomy 33:27 says,“the eternal God is your refuge,and underneath are the everlasting arms.He will drive out your enemies before you,saying, ‘Destroy them!’” Those who call God their Father praise Him amidst the pain and they seek His refuge without cursing His name. They sing His psalms and thank Him for His mercy.
Personal reflection:
1. Write down two occasions in the past month and two occasions in the past year where you have either praised God or been disappointed with the circumstances of your health?
2. Do you have any friends or family members that have experienced what someone would call a negative health incident? I would encourage you to chat with them and hear their story. Do you feel you would have responded the same or differently towards God in that situation?
3. What aspects of health in your daily life can you acknowledge before God and put forth the effort to address on your own or with a professional? List at least three here.
Goal setting and sharing:
List 3 goals that you would like to accomplish (at home, at work, with family, etc) that will allow you to live out your purpose in regards to trusting God with the health of your flesh:
