An Unhappy Temple

A couple of years ago I was afforded the opportunity to attend one of my church's many physical-fitness boot camps. The trainer's vision was to promote a complete lifestyle change: mind, body, soul, and spirit. She wanted us to come out transformed! Two of her favorite scriptures were: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). and ...with God all things are possible...to them that believe (Mark 10:27 emphasis added). During those six-plus weeks, I did things that I've never done and thought I never could do. Even now, when I run or workout, I can hear Doella saying, "PUSH!" or "YOU CAN DO IT, RONI!" One time during cool-down, which was something like yoga, she said "Listen to your body." Now, I was familiar with listening to the preacher, the teacher, the Holy Spirit, the Word of the Lord but not my body. Because I trusted her knowledge and heart concerning my physical, mental, emotion, and spiritual health, I started listening. I realized that my headaches, constant fatigue, occasional shortness of breath, etc., were statements from my body. My body was letting me know that I needed to make some changes for it to be happy again. What I put into my body ultimately determined what I would get out of my body. I realized that I would not be effective in LIFE if I didn't treat my body right.  Paul poses a question in I 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?  For this very reason alone, we should take better care of our bodies. We clean our homes, cars, churches, offices, inside out because those are places that we dwell. We can get way more work done when our surroundings are clean and neat, right?  Well, why not treat our bodies the same way, since it is the dwelling place for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Who fills us with the attributes necessary to make us better people. While on my morning run I listened to my body...and it's not happy.  Before I could get down four blocks, I was already tired and ready to stop. My body was letting me know that it wasn't happy and I knew why. I have not been eating, drinking, nor sleeping right. Yes, I've been praying, meditating, and fasting but those all benefit my spirit man. I must do the right thing by my body so that it will be a healthy place for my spirit to dwell, thus making me more effective to do the work that I've been called to do. We focus so much on the outward man with clothes, shoes, hats, earrings, purses, make-up, etc.; yet, we neglect the inner us...physically and spiritually.  If you know that you have an unhappy body, then change what you're doing to it. It's definitely talking; but are you listening? 

Peace, Blessings, and Favor