Body
It is already Day 4 of Change Journey 2014. In the posts for days 2 and 3, I only discussed spiritual things, but the physical is very important as well. Romans 12:2 says that we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. In I Thessalonians 5:23, Paul expressed his prayer for the Thessalonians. He said, “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.” When writing to Gaius, John said, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (III John verse 2) These verses show us that God is concerned about our whole being. The health of our body is important to Him, as well as the health of our soul and spirit.
I will try to catch up a little by going over the tips for physical help for the last few days.
Day 1
Record water intake. Water helps to dehydrate. Without enough water, we don’t have enough energy and we may feel hungrier. Every person’s need for water differs. Some people, like me, need more water as we tend to become dehydrated more easily. However, most adults can determine adequate water intake by dividing their body weight (in pounds) by 2. The result is the number of ounces they should drink daily. For example, a woman who weighs 130 pounds should drink about 65 ounces of water daily. It doesn’t need to be consumed all at once. Dividing it into 8 to 12 servings daily should help to keep the body hydrated all day long.
Day 2
The tip for day 2 is quite simple. At each meal, try eating a source of protein and either a fruit or vegetable. Protein provides the building blocks for the body’s cells, and fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and minerals.
Day 3
Keep on working on the goals for days 1 and 2
Day 4
Add "little meals" or snacks in between regular meal times. This has several benefits. It helps to ensure that the body and brain stay nourished. It helps keep us from getting so hungry that we overeat at regular meal times. Eating small amounts throughout the day may aid in increasing stamina and reducing mood swings and brain fog.
Snacks should also include a protein. Along with the protein they might include a fruit or vegetable or even dried fruit. An example would be nuts and dried fruit or cheese and dried fruit. A good portion size might be ¼ cup of dried fruit and one ounce of either cheese or nuts.
Spirit
Today’s Change Journey verse is Isaiah 48:17, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”
Such sweetness and assurance is found in this verse! Consider these thoughts.
The LORD
My Redeemer
The Holy One of Israel
My God
He teaches me to profit. He teaches me this through His word. “2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:2,3)
He guides me in the right way, in the way which I should go.
Here are some ways I thought of that I can apply this verse to my life.
When a stressful situation occurs or an interruption to my work, instead of worrying about it or becoming upset about it, I should think about what God is trying to accomplish in my life. Instead of viewing it as a hindrance, I should see it as a part of God’s design for finishing the whole picture of my life. He is trying to make me more Christ-like, to conform me to the image of His Son. “28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28,29)
God will teach me which goals are not right. He will help me lay these goals down and pick up His goals in their place. Rather than deciding how I think things should be, I should let God guide me and lead me down His path and work out the plans He has for my life.
Goal: Every time I have a hindrance today, I should stop and ask the Lord to show me how this works into His plan for my life, instead of getting frustrated over a change to what I think my day’s plans should be.
What are some ways you think of to apply this verse to your life?