How to be Healthy

The other day I decided to go on a run in the rain. While I was out there, breathing in the fresh scents of the trees, feeling the water droplets on my face, and hearing my own breath - I felt alive. I ran past another runner on the trail of the lake, and we both smiled at each other, as if to share in this mutual feeling of joy that comes from running in the rain. That previous morning, I had enjoyed a sweet time of encouragement with the Lord. Though the situation we face is a difficult one right now, in my time of stillness before Him, I felt overwhelmed by his great love and encouragement.

I realized that day how the Lord has taught me quite a lot about what it means to be "healthy." And I guess, I feel compelled to write this because I believe there is so much falseness out there for what it means to be defined as a healthy person. There is this subculture arising that is obsessed with extreme exercise and dieting. So I thought I would write this post, about what I believe the Lord is revealing to me of what it means, actually, to be healthy - READ: NOT skinny, NOT muscular, NOT anything overly focused on the physical, but some ways in which He changes our inner being. The habits we can choose to increase His influence in our lives and decrease the negative impact of certain things in the world. In Ephesians, the Lord encourages us to "Be very careful then how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (5:15-17)

So here are a few things/habits I have adopted or removed over the past couple of years to be more careful with how I live, to make the most of every opportunity, and to better understand the will of the Lord (by the guidance of the Spirit!). May this help you to think of your own habits and encourage you to be more proactive on examining your life. So that you can make decisions that will strengthen your wisdom and faith in the Lord.

5 Ways to be Healthy:

1. Do not think about being "healthy!"

What do I mean by this? Well basically, just what it says... don't THINK so much! Now, this is something I want to learn more, definitely. But I do believe this health-obsessed culture is quite un-healthy actually! We are human beings who were created to work hard, to eat and be satisfied, to let our bodies rest. I really believe obsessive thoughts on being healthy hinders most people from actually becoming healthy! Much of who we are starts with who we are in our hearts and minds. If our mind is preoccupied with thoughts of working out, being healthy, denying ourself such and such food - sooner or later we will be simply exhausted. I know this from experience, friends. Worse yet, if our hearts focus on our bodies and this physical world alone, we will end up quite empty. That can lead to a myriad of other things. So instead - please, think and allow your heart to be preoccupied with things of greater value.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" Colossians 3:1-3 

2. Commit to prayer

There is really not any other way to a "healthy" lifestyle than to commit yourself to talk with the Lord. This is obviously directed to brothers and sisters in Christ. However, I say this because I know there are many followers of God who can easily get sucked into thinking exactly the same as non-believers, and I believe that is very un-healthy! For the church to think and live life exactly as the world does, but only with a Christian cap on, misses the point completely. We ought not think as the world thinks, and our eyes should be focused upwards as we live our lives. I think some have misunderstood the line of "Well I am not of the world, but I am still in it!" and use it as an excuse to allow the Narrow Way to be just a bit wider. Let us not be like this! Let us be real and true. Let us be people who commit to pray to the Lord and allow His Spirit to teach and shape us into the ones we really are in Him. This I believe, is the key to real and full health (I am not talking physically now, but spiritually and in a form that is eternal).

3. Make the world your gym 

Okay so I used to be a gym-goer (gasp!). It actually was not until I moved to Northern Ireland that I explored the world of activity outside of a gym and found that it is so beautiful. You can miss so much if you keep your activity limited to fitness equipment and weights. The Lord has given us all the desire to work and be active, he has given us life - not only physically but spiritually! I know our culture today encourages certain methods of training as "better" or more "efficient," but I don't believe this is true or good. Find out what you enjoy, what gives you energy and is fun for you! Obviously, I understand that I live in Norway and its one of the most beautiful and active countries, so I know if you live in Texas and its 110F the last thing you want to do is run outside. But what I mean is, don't feel you have to be something you are not. Not only in training, but in life! We all have different gifts, skills, strengths, weaknesses, bodies, looks, etc. (Think of 1 Corinthians 12 and the various yet important parts of the body). So take the time to find out who you are in these things - so you can use your strengths, acknowledge your weaknesses, and have peace in the one you are.

4. Get rid of your iPod... and your TV. 

Okay, okay, now I have lost some of you. But wait!! Hear me out. These two things were a leap for me (and one of them just recently as I lost my iPod and have been forced into this realization!). And yet...this is actually important and its something I want you all to think about. The impact of TV and music and media in general is HUGE, massive in fact. The decision to remove television from my life was one of the biggest and most fruitful decisions I have ever made. Now I don't want you to box me in as an ultra-conservative Christian at this point, for those who know me, I hope you see that my desire first and foremost is simply to a live for the Lord and to know Him. I am willing to do whatever to encourage that to fruition. Our time is limited, and for those who work and are involved with friends/family, you know the hours are quite few actually. There is so much more that we could do with our time than to sit in front of a TV screen. But more than that practical end, there is so much more to gain when we are not allowing ourselves to be constantly bombarded with the spirit of the world that comes through lyrics and messages of certain music and TV shows. I am going to take it a step further (if some of you are still with me...) and say that we ought even to be careful with that which we deem "Christian" or holding "Godly values." I mention this, because I have some dear friends who believe this - and I understand the mentality because I grew up in it and I know it is hard to think outside of. However, just because something has a Christian label or Godly values does not necessarily mean it should get the "green light" to have an influence in our lives. All I want to say, is THINK friends! Be careful and acknowledge the impact the music and television you listen to and watch has on your lives. The last thing I want to do is to build a wall of hostility about this within the church, but merely want to encourage you to stop and pray to the Lord about this and just ask the question - "Is what I am listening to and watching beneficial for the Kingdom?" and be willing to take the step, no matter what it means, when you get an answer.

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" Psalm 139:23-24

5.  Have a friend!

The Lord has placed a great desire and longing in our hearts to love and fellowship with Him and others. This is not always easy and I don't mean to use the buzz word "community," but in this world it can be easy to isolate ourselves. Especially with social media and crazy work hours and busyness, at the end of the day all you want to do is sit and watch TV for hours (okay sorry I won't go back to that) ... but we were made for more! Obviously, this will look different for different people. If you live in the US you likely live near some kind of church that has small groups and all sorts of activities - if that is you, I say be careful not to turn church into merely a social/relational activity and remember the point of it all (to have relational activity with the Lord!). For those of us who live in Europe, or at least for me in Scandinavia, it might not be so easy to find strong Christian fellowship. BUT take heart! The Lord is always near. Remember the classic and so good song -- What a friend we have in Jesus, all our griefs and sins to bare, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share! Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer! What sweet sweet truth this is. My second greatest friend is my husband. He helped me to see things for how they were, was stern with things that I needed to let go of, and continually encourages me to be strengthened as a child of God. If you are able, find one or two people who you can really be honest with. People with whom you can share your weaknesses, who can learn who you are, and can encourage you to pursue a "healthy" life of faith and righteousness. However, more importantly than even that, continue to pursue and turn to the greatest friend you have - the Lord, who can always be called on and found.

I hope you can find encouragement in these 5 things that I have learned and that I believe has helped me to become more "healthy" in the way that I live and think and who I am in my heart. I still have a long way to go in my pursuit of a "healthy" or better yet, Godly, lifestyle. But may we all be willing and proactive to turn our eyes from what is seen to what is unseen and so find that which truly makes us alive and well - the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

The Narrow Way

The Way is narrow and difficult. We know this. We are told that the righteous will have trouble. We are told that we must carry our cross and follow him (saying it and not even realizing the magnitude of such a statement). So why then, do we get so distraught, so upset, so frustrated and confused, when things do not go our way? When life is hard and we feel tired and in some ways, disappointed? 

I feel this is our tendency, or at least mine. We read about the Israelites, traversing through the desert after the Lord has redeemed them from brutal slavery. They had cried out to God for Him to rescue them, to be taken out of the oppression of the Egyptians and He does just that! He rescues them and He works mighty wonders by His hand and He shows His power and sustaining love for them, not just in taking them out but from the weeks and months before where He shows Pharaoh who is really in control. But then…only a couple of chapters later we read about these Israelites, whose prayers had practically JUST been answered and what are they doing? They have the nerve to whine to God! They say “God where are you? Have you left us in the desert to starve?” (cue whiny voice) and later when He does provide they complain about a multitude of other things: demanding meat instead of the miracle manna that God provides, demanding a king because well…everyone else has one. And we read this and we just think come onnnn, are you really so ungrateful?! Did you really already forget the saving grace of the Lord who redeemed you from slavery, has provided food for you, is leading you day and night, AND has promised to take you to a land flowing with milk and honey? And we just want to reach into the story and shake them and say “wake UP!”

And then…oops. That is kind of like us too... isn’t it?

The Lord has brought us out of slavery. He redeemed us from all that brought us down and the lies of this world. He has provided for our every need. Even better than the Israelites of that time, He has now given us His very own Spirit, right within our hearts, by which He leads us day and night. He has promised to take us to a land, a New Earth, flowing with milk and honey and eternal joy. And how do we respond? A few chapters into our lives, when we grow parched from the toil of the desert, when our own selfishness and ignorance clouds our perspective, we completely forget all that the Lord has done for us and is still doing and we say “where are you, God?” “Have you left us here to die?” 

Someone shake me so I can wake UP!! 

How far this response is from the one that the Lord desires. Several times in my life, in my journey with the Lord, I have had this ignorant response. If I am honest, I have not been able to hold on to the perspective I ought to have in the deepest trials and frustrations of my life. In fact, I tend to be very black and white with my faith in these times. If the Lord is silent..MAYBE he doesn’t even exist! MAYBE this is all a lie! I did grow up in church after all, and I have this question and that one and that one. And I must find answers or ELSE I might walk away forever! Yes, maybe I will do just that…

But oh Praise my Heavenly Father! He never lets me get too far. He pours out more grace to me than I deserve, I must truly admit that. I feel ashamed just admitting this kind of response I have had, but it is true. Am I the only one? ... But the thing is, I have tasted the goodness of the Lord. I can never go back. There is nothing in this world that I want, nothing that appeals to me outside the glorious love and friendship and majesty of God. So in my Father’s incredible patience, He shows me little by little, again and again, that HE does hear, even my cries of ignorance, even my cries of frustration and hurt. I have before become tired of faith and have tried turning my back on it, but that has brought nothing good and never does last so long. So I realized, I must have a different response. I will not be like the Israelites, who as soon as Moses was out of sight for longer than they were comfortable, decided they would make themselves a nice, shiny golden calf. And they would worship that calf and be happy like the rest of the world who worships such things… No, I will no longer have such a response because (like the Israelites) that really never got anyone anywhere. So instead, in the times of parched desert land, when I feel exhausted, frustrated, and wondering “Where are you God?” I have decided to continue and really commit myself to the Lord, even still.

And so, I will even more come to the Lord. And cry out to Him. And let Him know my frustrations and hurts and longing to feel His safe place of refuge that He promises for all who come to dwell in Him. I will read His Word and ask for His Spirit before I do so. I will get on my knees, head bowed and I will talk to the Lord, and do my part. And I will wait for Him to come. In His way, in His timing. 

Do you know what I have found?

When I do this, He does come. He IS a place of refuge for those who seek the power and safety of being in the palm of His hand. Recently, I have been reading through the Psalms knowing it is a sure fire way to find living water when my soul is weary. And though I have read through these scriptures many times, and the lines are familiar, there was something I noticed this time while reading. I noticed, that David and I have some things in common. He can be a bit black and white too, actually, a person of extremes. One minute, he is crying out to the Lord “Where are you?!” “Don’t you hear my cries?” “Do not be silent any longer!” and the next line He is praising the Lord, talking of the love relationship He has with His God, and saying that he will place his trust in the Lord! So I saw, that though I might tend to be a bit black and white, a person of extremes, both sides do not have to be in opposition. I can have BOTH cries - “God, where are you?! Do not be silent!” AND “God, I will trust you. And I love you because of who you are!” 

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 

YET you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 

In you our ancestors put their trust, they trusted and you delivered them. 

To you they cried out and were saved; 

in you they trusted and were not put to shame." 

Psalm 22:1-5 

I find great relief and peace in this. That I can still trust the Lord, and be on a journey to grow in knowing Him, and be in a loving relationship with my Father while I still am so far from complete understanding or perfection. But that is why it is called “The WAY.” It is not “the finale” or “the finish line” (yet, at least). 

But I am encouraged to feel affirmed that I AM in fact on The Way. Why? Because it IS hard, and dare I say, at times, even feels like carrying that cross. It is full of burdens and frustrations as I seek to follow the Lord with my whole being, with everything in me. So, like David I cry: 

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." 

Psalm 51:10-12