Preparing for a New Year requires not just preparation spiritually
but also other areas of our life. Just
as we talked last week (click here if you missed it!) about decluttering our spiritual lives of things that
take our eyes off Christ, and beginning to practice spiritual disciplines even
now versus waiting for January.
This week, I thought we could talk about preparing
physically. The beginning of a New Year
finds many of us making resolutions and setting goals. Many times, we fail quickly and decide to
never set a resolution again. Sometimes
though we last a bit longer, but honestly holding to resolutions for an entire year
doesn’t seem to happen. So my challenge
to you is that we need to start adopting the habits, we want to see in the next
year, now!
What things do we need to do physically?
1.
Rest – for me this is the most difficult and yet
most necessary. Once I’m worn down and
exhausted I’m susceptible to illness and my family always suffers. Rest for me only happens when I’m intentional
and plan ahead to get to bed on time except for the rare occasions I need to be
up late. It means taking a few days occasionally
to sleep past my normal 5am wake up. And
sometimes it does mean taking several days to allow myself to sleep until I
wake up.
2.
Eat healthy – choosing to eat right is just
that, a choice. Is it easy? No not at all. And lest you think that I have
this figured out, I don’t. I struggle
with this so much because honestly it’s just easier to eat junk most of the
time. But we do have to continue to seek
eat well because it is how we take care of ourselves. If we are to be around
for the long term to take care of our families and to do what God has purposed
for us to do then we have to do the best we can to care for the bodies we have.
3.
Exercise – this one fits with #2 pretty closely
I realize, but it needs to be said. Many physical and mental health problems
can be traced to a lack of exercise.
Even a daily walk is proven to help alleviate many symptoms! While it is
difficult to find the time to devote to exercise, once again we have to realize
that we only have one body, and we should care for ourselves so that we can
care for the others – our families, our friends and even our churches.
I hope this provoked some thoughts for you and encouraged
you to make plans to care for yourselves the best that you can in the New Year.
A fresh mind centered on Christ and a healthy body that can handle the busy
lives we all lead can help us get started well.
Phil. 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.
I Cor. 10:31
So
whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I Cor. 6:19-20
Do you not know that your
bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore
honor God with your bodies.
I have found that if I plan for a future date, there is always a reason for putting it off, even when it's set for New Years. To succeed at change in my life, I have to choose "today." Thanks for a thought provoking article.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting Val - I agree choosing today is so important no matter the "calendar day!"
DeleteGreat point that we should start NOW to make desired changes. Rather than focusing on presents at Christmas, why don't we focus on making our present the best that it can be? Rest is also the most difficult for me. It is hard for me to relax while my mental to do list is on an endless replay loop.
ReplyDeleteRest and taking care of ourselves should be a top priority. It is neither selfish nor lazy to do so. In fact, if we don't rest and take care of ourselves, we are less likely to be able to accomplish what we want to do. Even Jesus, who had a big to do list to accomplish on Earth (heal lepers, teach the masses, etc.), took time to withdraw, rest and talk to God. You've just inspired me to go to bed early tonight and get some rest. Myto do list will still be there tomorrow Thanks for the reminder to take care of myself!
I hope you are finding continued success in your intention to rest -it is so important and the hardest for me to do as well!
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