health – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Sermon – How Christians Can Solve Their Health Problems by Mark Finley

The Season of Stillness – Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ ” —Mark 6:31, NIV

Rest Is An Essential Component of Maintaining Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical Health. Rest is the healthiest habit we can form to maintain optimal health and wellness.

Fortifying the soul: Rest is essential for strengthening the soul and receiving wisdom from God.
Finding peace: Rest can help people find peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Finding rest in Christ: Rest comes from learning of Christ and co-working with Him.
Restoring health: Rest helps with physical and mental health, and is a remedy for fatigue, stress, depression, and burnout.
Preparing for spiritual practices: Rest allows people to quiet their minds for prayer, Bible study, and meditation.
Developing self-control: Rest helps people develop self-control and choose right from wrong.
Enjoying nature: Resting in nature is beneficial for the mind and body.

Fatigue easily escalates into an unhealthy stressor. If mental and physical stress is sustained [due to insufficient rest], eventually, we push our minds and bodies into a Crisis Mode, and the first needful system that begins to fail is our Immune System. Created in the image of God is our catalyst for renouncing the worldview, “Keep going!”

Pushing our minds and bodies beyond healthy limits prevents us from receiving the spiritual blessing of Jesus’ Supernatural Strength. God instituted rest. In fact, we have 24 hours of Sabbath rest to redirect our focus away from the demands of our rigorous lifestyles. Rest is required to establish a lifestyle of prayer and meaningful worship, and to maintain a consistent schedule for daily Bible Study.

Spiritual Growth and Transformation is a daily process that requires our cooperation with Divinity. Our goal is to use our earthly lifespan to prepare for Eternal Life. Do not allow success, money, or tangible acquisitions to push your body into overdrive. Our earthly lives are temporary. Allow yourself a weekly season of stillness, Jesus will release His healing power of Restoration, and the Holy Spirit will replenish your mind, body, and soul. Peace and blessings.

Praising God Promotes Health, Happiness, and Healing

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – September 6, 2024

“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” —Psalm 89:15, NKJV

The Result of Trusting God: “I am content, grateful, happy, joyful, and hopeful because my Heavenly Father loves me.” If you can proclaim these words then you fully understand God’s abundant love, His Sovereign power, and believe in His faithful promises of Divine intervention, provisions, and protection.

God is Love! God accepted the loving and voluntary gift of Jesus, His only Son’s life for you and me. Depression, anxiety, and worries in the Christian believer’s life not only reveals the lack of faith and trust in God’s love and power, but we also fail to appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice of the Plan of Redemption to save our souls.

The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written so we could learn of Jesus’ Righteous Character and His earthly life. From studying the Scriptures, we find that Jesus was hated by the Jewish leaders who constantly plotted to kill him. Jesus prayed for the strength to persevere despite the constant rejection He faced and with God’s power, our Precious Savior completed His earthly mission.

The Holy Scriptures reveal Jesus as patient, loving, kind, and compassionate Savior who was on a spiritual mission to save all who would believe. Christ’s heart overflowed with love for humanity, always performing more miracles of healing than He taught and preached sermons.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS” —Matthew 11:29, NASB

NOTHING TENDS MORE to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much as a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? The Ministry of Healing

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” —Hebrews 10:38

Who are the “Just?” How can we maintain a spirit of gratitude and praise especially when our circumstances are challenging? By Walking in Faith!

The just are the righteous believers who trust God and wait for His perfect timing. If you want someone acting in your behalf, whether it is health, family issues, or finances, only God has all the knowledge, wisdom, and power to bring us victory despite our challenges. God expects us to depend on Him for spiritual healing as well as resolving the adversities of life.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” —Psalm 27:1,14

David wrote the Psalms which are songs of praise. Yes, many times, he was discouraged because his enemies [including his sons, except for Solomon] plotted continually to take his life. Yet, David never lost hope. In the Psalms, he expressed despair but always transitioned to praising God by expressing faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We have one opportunity (our earthly lives) to exercise complete faith and trust in God and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit so our character can be changed into the likeness of Christ. For the gift of His precious blood, we have more than enough reasons to be happy and joyful, and to live a life full of praise and contentment, daily preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming.

“I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.” —Psalm 13:6

God, we commit to faithfully trusting You with our lives. Thank You for the gift of Jesus to redeem us from the consequences of sin. And we praise You because You are always faithful. We pray for a new heart filled with courage, love, faith, and trust. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Courage to Achieve Optimal Health

Today’s Devotional, October 10/16/2023 [Original Publish Date: July 5, 2021]

During my nursing career, I worked in various areas, but Behavioral Health was my favorite. Performing the Intake interview, which included medical and psychosocial history, never ceased to amaze me. The two factors that all patients shared:

1. “I know my situation is bad, but what can I do, I cannot change my circumstances.”
2. Their past or background held them captive, and they repeated the same counterproductive habits every day with consistency.

An interesting fact that has me perplexed is that most individuals take care of their plants and animals better than they care for themselves. I have a neighbor with a beautiful pedigree dog with chocolate brown hair that shines like the sun. His first love (Puppy) is well-taken care of with toys, several walks a day, swimming in the river 2-3 times a week, and from the description of the food that Puppy eats, the cost of his food is my monthly food budget. One more fact, Puppy has a night-time dog sitter while his owner is at work. What a life!

Now let’s compare the lifestyle of Puppy’s owner: He is a chain smoker, drinks every day, eats from fast-food restaurants three times a day, never exercises, and works the night shift [research shows shorter life spans]. Since my neighbor lives alone without family in Florida, I often wonder what would happen to Puppy, who lives a rich and famous lifestyle, when his owner collapses from poor health.

I live in a glass house, so I am not throwing stones. Even so, at some point in life, I had to face the fact that I would die a premature death if I did not change my bad habits. My academic achievements and RN nursing license meant absolutely nothing regarding my addiction to self-gratification. I was not an emotional eater. I simply loved the great taste of the food. And it was not the cheap fast food that is the craze of our nation. No, no, no, this was the high-fat, high-cholesterol meats like pastrami, corned beef, beef bacon, and lamb. Never really cared for steak, but I loved veal [the baby animals]. And the desserts, especially the variety of cheesecake, if it was created, then I had eaten it.

In 2017, my physician told me that he was very concerned about my health because of my non-modifiable risk factors and abnormal lab work [Diabetes and High Cholesterol]. When I heard that I was certain to have a heart attack sooner than later and that I may not survive, the reality of my “do what makes you feel happy” lifestyle had to cease and desist.

There were two concepts that I was totally unaware of, and I did not learn until recently:

1. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. “Without the desire to change, the courage to change, and a plan for change, we will not change.” (Johnson, 2021)

I could not apply the learned theories of anatomy and physiology and health principles that I learned throughout my lifespan because I did not possess the “desire to change.” When I desired to eat healthier, I did not have the courage or plan to change destructive habits. For whatever reason, even while studying the Bible, I was unaware of 1 Corinthians 10:31. Where are the sermons on keeping our minds and bodies healthy?

Fact: Our bodies were created in the image of God to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

We have discarded healthy behaviors for doing what makes us feel good and tastes great. And BIG PHARMA–pharmaceutical companies accommodate and feed our desires by developing and promoting their never-ending supply of pills. If we have the diagnosis, they have the drugs. We must stop our uncontrollable behaviors!

Identify the behaviors that are the root of your diagnosis of an unhealthy mind and body. Yes, we have the choice to live healthy by loving and taking care of ourselves. Begin today! Our past should not cripple our future! Pursue optimal health at all costs.

Our taste buds can be retrained. Discover fruits, vegetables, legumes, and the joy of cooking. Leave the cell phone, gaming, television, and laptop alone. Get outside. Take a walk, and use your five senses to see the beauty of nature around you. If you live in the concrete jungle, find a scenic park. Do what is necessary to boost your endorphins and serotonin [research these hormones]. It takes exercise and bright light to make our minds and bodies thrive. Take control today! It’s still a beautiful world!

Prayer: God, we need to change our mindset. We realize that our behaviors are destroying our health. We ask you for the strength and wisdom to develop a life-altering plan to achieve optimal health. As we use courage and knowledge to change our lifestyles, please give us the desire to include you as our Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson (Edited version)

Optimal Health Requires Daily Movement

Optimal Health Requires Daily Movement Devotional Reading and Podcast

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” –3 John 1:2

Happy Sabbath! This morning during worship the devotional spoke about God’s original plan for us to have daily physical exercise. I got dressed and went for a walk. Truthfully, it has been one week, since I walked long enough for it to be beneficial to my internal organs. I prayed and thanked God for a sound mind and relatively healthy body. And yes, I feel great!

“Inactivity is the greatest curse that could come upon most invalids. When invalids have nothing to occupy their time and attention, their thoughts become centered upon themselves, and they grow morbid and irritable.” EGW

This quote uses strong words to emphasize the negative impact of living daily without physical exercise. God created our bodies to have an anatomy–structure without excessive weight and muscular definition so the physiology–function of our cardiovascular [heart] and respiratory [lungs] systems function properly and nourish our internal organs for the duration of our lives.

Advanced technology has resulted in a sedentary society of individuals plagued with an increase in mental health issues, out-of-control emotions, and declining physical health. Screen time has decreased our ability to cope with life’s normal issues. The work-life balance is tilted to the side of overworking.

Most people are so stressed their lives are not enjoyable. We are pushing ourselves beyond God’s limits for the human body. If you are exhausted by the end of the day you cannot wait to get home to relax, engage in screen time and fall asleep then your lifestyle is unhealthy.

The cycle of inactivity is detrimental. One false belief is that a person who is at their normal weight does not need to exercise. Whether our weight is normal or abnormal, every person needs daily exercise for at least 20 minutes. Without sustained movement, eventually, the body becomes deconditioned resulting in a decline in one’s health.

We cannot change the non-modifiable factors including hereditary diseases such as High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. Some individuals have maintained healthy lifestyles and still end up with chronic diseases. Changing our lifestyle is a modifiable factor that we can accomplish.

There is a major difference between a person whose diagnosis is uncontrolled because of their counterproductive lifestyle choices and one who has the same diagnosis that is controlled due to a healthy lifestyle. Reaching and sustaining optimal health requires daily exercise which is just as important as eating nutritious foods and taking prescribed medications.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:14)

God created the mind and body to maintain a harmonious relationship. What exactly does that mean? Healthy minds require healthy bodies! Compromised physical health results in a domino effect–a person’s spiritual health declines as well as their mental and emotional health.

We cannot maintain a relationship with Christ when we are sluggish. Falling asleep when studying the Bible or listening to a sermon in the church whether in-house or virtual indicates that our minds and bodies are not in balance, known as homeostasis.

Getting started. If you have chronic diseases consult your physician first. Stay hydrated with water and avoid intense sunlight. Dehydration requires medical intervention! Walking outdoors in nature in the early morning hours is best. If you live in the concrete jungle, rearrange your schedule to walk in the park. God gave us nature to remind us of His love and goodness.

Psychologists and Naturopathic practitioners agree that nature nurtures our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Even if you have a gym membership or treadmill at home incorporate nature walks unless wintry conditions prevent outdoor exercise. Can’t exercise outdoors until spring? Watch a nature documentary while you exercise. Even when not exercising, incorporating nature documentaries into your screen time still provides a boost to our mental health. Our earth still has many beautiful places that we can explore virtually.

Daily physical movement for at least 20 to 30 minutes in nature enables the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to function at an optimal level, stabilizes one’s emotions, is the cure for laziness, and enables us to have a greater appreciation of God who created our wonderfully made minds and bodies. Get moving!

Prayer: God, we thank You for creating our wonderful minds and bodies in your image. Give us the strength and wisdom to change our sedentary lifestyles and improve our overall health by exercising and embracing our gift of nature.

Beginning the Journey to Achieving Wellness

Beginning the Journey of Achieving Optimal Wellness—This is part one of a six-month series that will be published monthly until June 2023.

One afternoon, I was at Whole Foods enjoying my huge vegan salad. Two tables from where I sat were three children eating their apples with the biggest smiles, expressing whose apple tasted the best. Truthfully, I have never seen children so excited about eating fruit. It was evident that candy or sugar was never a part of their childhood.

Most people who have the chronic diseases of Obesity, Diabetes [Adult-onset], High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol acquire them by eating foods that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Yet, with proper nutrition, these diseases can be brought under control allowing the person to enjoy optimal health.

There are so many misconceptions about achieving optimal wellness. Reaching your peak mental and physical health will never happen with quick-fix diets or exercising until you’re ready to pass out. People who have great health have made an intentional commitment “to do no harm” to their minds and bodies. Achieving and maintaining optimal health requires strength and perseverance. It is a lifelong journey.

When you decide to change your lifestyle, the most significant info that you need to know is that you are the enemy and your body will sabotage your efforts. Food cravings cause most setbacks. Love ice cream? Purchase a blender, and silicone popsicle molds, and make your own with your favorite fruit, agave, vegan whip, almond, or coconut milk [unsweetened], add nuts, coconut pieces, etc.

Misconception: Learned behaviors and taste preferences are almost impossible to change. We agree that food provides enjoyment! Our upbringing has everything to do with our food likes and dislikes and how we prepare our food. The children who enjoyed their apples as if they were slices of apple pie were given nature’s candy–fruit from infancy. Change is possible and will happen if your goals are realistic.

Many of us did not grow up on fast food. Yet, we have made these disease factories a billion-dollar industry. Sadly we have compromised our very existence to enjoy bad health in a bag containing a 1500-calorie meal packed with the recommended amount of sodium for two to three days.

Great News! Our tastebuds can be retrained!

Fact: You are entering a warzone against yourself. Changing your tastes from unhealthy to healthy foods requires continuous strategic planning and implementation. The first thoughts are definitely overwhelming. So, am I throwing away all of the food in my refrigerator? No! Before we subtract food, we are going to bring in some healthy additions.

Choose a fresh, dark leafy green vegetable [kale, collards, mustards, chard, or spinach] that you like or think that you can learn to like because you will eat a large bowl at least once a day. In fact, you will begin dinner by eating your leafy greens. Spinach and kale make great salads. Adding a couple of small slices of [one-inch width] cornbread or cutting two thin slices of a tasty but healthy deli-baked bread will give you something to look forward to and establish the healthy habit of eating veggies that are low-calorie but high in-nutritious value.

Why leafy dark greens? They are power-packed with nutrients that produce a rapid mind and body response of achieving one giant step on the journey to wellness.

Prep and technique for cooking the greens will probably be different from the method you are accustomed to using. Restrictions: No pork products. If you must have meat, use a smoked turkey leg that has been boiled for 20 to 30 minutes to get rid of excess sodium before its added to the greens.

The secret to great-tasting greens is to sauté diced garlic, red onion, and red pepper in olive or avocado oil in your pot first. Add three inches of spring water, add the greens in layers, add salt sparingly to each layer of greens, and put your smoked turkey in the pot. Cover and cook for at least one hour. Greens should not swim in the water–too much water causes loss of their nutritional value. Spinach should not be cooked using this method.

When beginning the journey, you may crave junk food, not because you are hungry, but because random eating between meals is a habit. Eat a bowl of greens!

Two behaviors are guaranteed to sabotage your efforts to change your current lifestyle. 1. Eating while watching anything electronic, including your cell phone–just turn it off. 2. Not eating at the table with a sturdy chair. Do not eat in a recliner, sitting on the sofa, or in an easy chair. All promote the habit of overeating. No table? Buy a nice wooden tray table.

Set up your meal times as if you are in a restaurant. Hopefully, your family can join you at dinner to celebrate your decision to achieve optimal health. If you live alone, then celebrate yourself.

Your assignment: 1. Pray for God’s help. The struggle of changing to achieve optimal health is real. It takes structure and discipline to reduce the intake of high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods that provide little to no nutrients. 2. Keep a daily journal. If you failed to reach your goals for today–do not be hard on yourself. Identify what caused you to eat the entire pie. Next time buy one slice of pie from your local supermarket. Set daily realistic goals that can be accomplished. 3. What is the one food that you would like to keep in your dietary intake?

For example, love macaroni and cheese? Choose one day on the weekend to have 1-2 cups of mac and cheese. Do not cook a large pan or you will eat all of it! Setting limitations by using portion size on foods containing too many calories will enhance your body’s natural response to losing weight.

Along with losing weight, I lost Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Shortness of Breath, and Painful Knee and Ankle Joints. My High Blood Pressure has been stable for two years and I only take one pill.

As you feed your body with the proper foods you will enjoy an increase in mental alertness and physical strength. The greatest joy of enjoying better health is looking at the new you in the mirror! You will have yourself to thank.

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.” –3 John 1:2

Italian Stuffed Collard Greens

2023: Invest in Your Health

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

Today I researched holistic health strategies as related to achieving the wellness of optimal health. Did you know that home cooking your food is the number one preventative against poor health?

For many, cooking involves the use of air fryers and microwaves. Yet, cooking on a stove and using a conventional oven allows one to receive the highest level of nutrients for digestion and assimilation on a cellular level in the human body.

What are the guidelines for choosing healthy foods? Moderate in calories, low salt, low fat, and no processed sugars. 2,000 calories per day should provide necessary nutrients for the average adult.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the building blocks for maintaining a Be Ready Stay Ready Immune System. The colors green, orange, red, yellow, and purple should be consumed daily. Complex carbohydrates along with adequate protein from legumes, fish, and poultry will leave you energetic and change your perception of life in general.

Be creative. Personally, I do not care for one pot meals. Who says our plate has to be limited to only three varieties of food?

Healthy eating is part of having a healthy lifestyle. It is not a diet. Your mind and tastebuds require retraining to achieve optimal health.

Change is intentional. A healthy lifestyle requires an alteration in our thought processes along with strategic planning. Because our choice of food is from learned behaviors, we require Divine Intervention to change from eating foods that supply little nutrients.

Our health is of the utmost concern to God. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He healed many who had mental, emotional, and physical illnesses. When we consume foods based on taste or habits our bodies will fail us by succumbing to chronic diseases. We were created in God’s image to live long, productive, joyous lives.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19

Involve God in your desire to take care of your temple. Pray for help! Develop your goals. Purchase a journal. Eliminate time-consuming distractions. Learn your body’s rhythm. When are you hungry? Consider taking a mid-afternoon snack to work to prevent raging hunger that results in ordering fast food on the way home.

Be intentional with your food choices. Purchase your food weaknesses in smaller sizes–one pint of ice cream instead of a half gallon. Consider making your own ice cream with fruit. Shop for food on a full stomach–the junk stuff will be less appealing.

The most exciting part of pursuing optimal health is the body’s response–high energy, weight loss, mood stability, increase in mental acuity, and the overall feeling that comes from your accomplishment of loving you.

The only way for us to achieve optimal health is to lovingly care for the fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies gifted by our Heavenly Father.

I have achieved and maintained optimal health for two years. Go ahead! It’s a great way to live!

https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/health-benefits-of-home-cooking.html

The Courage to Achieve Optimal Health

Disclaimer: The content that you are reading may be offensive to your current mindset.

1. “I know my situation is bad, but what can I do, I cannot change my circumstances.”
2. Their past or background held them captive, and they repeated the same counterproductive habits every day with consistency.

An interesting fact that has me perplexed: Most individuals take care of their plants and animals better than they care for themselves. I have a neighbor with a beautiful pedigree dog with chocolate brown hair that shines like the sun. His first love (Puppy) is well-taken care of with toys, several walks a day, swimming in the river 2-3 times a week, and from the description of the food that Puppy eats, the cost of his food is my monthly food budget. One more fact, Puppy has a night-time dog sitter while his owner is at work. What a life!

Now let’s compare the lifestyle of Puppy’s owner: He is a chain smoker, drinks every day, eats from fast-food restaurants three times a day, never exercises, and works the night shift [research shows shorter life spans]. Since my neighbor lives alone without family in Florida, I often wonder what would happen to Puppy, who lives the rich and famous lifestyle, when his owner collapses from poor health.

I live in a glasshouse, so I am not throwing stones. Even so, at some point in life, I had to face the facts that I would have a premature death if I did not change my bad habits. My academic achievements and RN nursing license meant absolutely nothing regarding my addiction to self-gratification. I was not an emotional eater. I simply loved the great taste of food. And it was not the cheap fast food that is the craze of our nation. No, no, no, this was the high-fat, high-cholesterol meats like pastrami, corned beef, beef bacon, and lamb. Never really cared for steak, but I loved veal [the baby animals]. And the desserts, especially the variety of cheesecake, if it was created, then I had eaten it.

In 2017, my physician told me that he was very concerned about my health because of my non-modifiable risk factors and abnormal lab work [Diabetes and High Cholesterol]. When I heard that I was certain to have a heart attack sooner than later that I may not survive, the reality of my “do what makes you feel happy” lifestyle had to cease and desist.

There are two concepts that I was totally unaware of, and I did not learn until recently:

1. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. “Without the desire to change, the courage to change, and a plan for change, we will not change.” (Johnson, 2021)

I could not apply the learned theories of anatomy and physiology and health principles that I learned throughout my lifespan because I did not possess the “desire to change.” When I desired to eat healthier, I did not have the courage or plan to change destructive habits. And for whatever reason, even with studying the Bible, I was unaware of 1 Corinthians 10:31. Where are the sermons on keeping our minds and bodies healthy?

Fact: Our bodies were created in the image of God to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

Our taste buds can be retrained. Discover fruits, vegetables, legumes, and the joy of cooking. Leave the cell phone, gaming, television, and laptop alone. Get outside. Take a walk, use your five senses to see the beauty of nature around you. If you live in the concrete jungle, find a scenic park. Do what is necessary to boost your endorphins and serotonin [research these hormones]. It takes exercise and bright light to make our mind and bodies thrive. Take control today!

It’s still a beautiful world!

Prayer: God, we need to change our mindset. We realize that our behaviors are destroying our health. We ask you for the strength and wisdom to develop a life-altering plan to achieve optimal health. As we use courage and knowledge to change our lifestyles, please give us the desire to include you as our Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson (Edited version)

Enjoy the Here and Now

SHOUT the Cry of Victory 30 Days of Prayer Day 25–Preparing for Eternal Life One Day at a Time

The Lord cares about our lives now; He wants the best for us now.

In reading the story of Creation following the completion of days 1-5, we are told, “and God saw that it was good.” But on day 6, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” In Genesis 1:31, it is evident that God was abundantly happy and well-pleased with the final results of our earthly home. Only who would enjoy this more than wonderful place?

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26-27.

Although our earth is no longer a Garden of Eden, we are constantly reminded of God’s love of aesthetic beauty and tranquility. We can explore the endless boundaries of the geographical phenomenon of nature. The plant and animal kingdoms were created for humanity. Only the human body, which is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, places one in awe over the earthly home that the Master Designer lovingly gifted to us.

The kingdom Plantae includes organisms that range in size from tiny mosses to giant trees. https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant/Definition-of-the-kingdom. The foliage, species of flowers, the grassy coverings, most trees, and the vast majority of plants belong to this category, shrubs, vines, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Does God want us to enjoy our lives? Yes, He does! We are made in His image with the ability to utilize five [highly complex] senses to appreciate our earthly home. The animal kingdom includes all species of mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, and more. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Genesis 1:29. We have the blueprint for the original diet, which provides a variety of healing nutrients.

So why aren’t we enjoying the here and now? We have become addicted to our home environment fixated on virtual technology. The hoarding of material possessions has nearly wrecked our sanity. We worry about money, careers, the opinion of others, success, etc. The statistics of Mental illness has far surpassed the COVID-19 pandemic–970 million people have a mental illness or substance abuse problems. We are taking a pill to function in every aspect of our lives, and Big PHARM is well-pleased.

You may not agree with my statements. However, I worked as a Behavioral Health nurse for many years. The Intake Assessment of 99% of patients with mental health disorders including morbid obesity revealed that they rarely enjoyed the benefits of nature or outdoor activities. Anxiety, depression, food and substance abuse addictions, and a variety of mental health challenges would improve with the adjunct therapy of time spent in nature.

It is time to challenge and change our current lifestyles. Get out of your indoor home and explore your outdoor home. God has provided everything that we need to enjoy our lives. We have God’s promises that He will supply all of our needs. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?'” Matthew 6:31. Simplify your life by eliminating the toxic people, counterproductive places, and the overabundance of things [inanimate objects] that leave us empty, and always provoke the desire to have more.

Human Effort + Divine Intervention = A Victorious Outlook and Outcome

“We must live a twofold life—a life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work. The strength received through communion with God, united with earnest effort in training the mind to thoughtfulness and caretaking, prepares one for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances, however trying.”― Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing

Prayer: Please, help us, Lord, to have eyes to see and hearts to believe. Give us the strength to discard unhealthy habits and to live with a spirit of gratitude. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Here’s to Your Mental Health: Desire a Peaceful Life?

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4

As I read this verse, I thought of the many comments on social media from Believers who are distracted by the annoying things of life that we have no control over. The annoying stuff has sticky fingers that will grab our minds, and before we realize it, we are entangled in a web of nonsense and stressed out. Most of the time, we are unaware of how and why our lives are in disarray. We cannot control time, but we can use it well. Nor can we restrict other people’s words, actions, and behaviors, but we can choose to eliminate unloving, toxic relationships.

Yes, each new day brings challenges. Even so, we possess the resilience to handle those challenges. We simply have to teach ourselves to overlook the petty [little] things and reserve our brainpower for tackling the essential issues. Expenditure of our time and energy on matters of priority results in mindset changes, chaos disappears, and we transition into peaceful living.

Honest reflections: Say a prayer of commitment to identify and develop strategies to eliminate all distractions and nonproductive habits. List the little things that wreck your inner peace. Then list your habits [habits are not considered little things] that must change, such as setting things down wherever and then when the item is needed you cannot find it. Always rushing and arriving at work with 1-2 minutes to spare? One of the most important habits that sets the brain in motion for an organized day is to make your bed every day.

For families: Insist on everyone making their bed. No, the little ones will not get it right, but it is a vital teaching moment to establish a life-long habit. Also, every person cleans up after themselves. Expect resistance from children, but meet resistance with the no-option approach. You are teaching structure and discipline that will be required in every aspect of their lives. Think about your employer and their policies–there is minimal leeway on the expectation to adhere to the workplace rules. Your home is not a military base. But it should reflect cleanliness and a neat appearance.

Time to implement the action plan: With the advancements in technology, we rarely use our hands to write. Purchase a journal with an artful cover and identify a quiet place where you can relax in solitude. Taking the time to journal awakens a tired brain–thinking clearly produces deep thoughts. And writing enhances eye-hand coordination. Take a large desk calendar and make it a wall-hanging. Write in your daily goals, eliminate the guesswork, which provides a sense of control and empowerment to accomplish as much as possible. Remember to be flexible.

Sources of contention: Always running late? When working, I commuted at least 40 minutes from home to my job. I allowed 60 minutes just in case the unexpected happened. My clothing was prepared for the week and left-over dinner was packed along with other goodies in my soft cooler the night before.

If you have ever wondered how organization, structure, and discipline could change your life, read the Creation story in Genesis. God does everything with intent and purpose. Since we are created in His image, we have the innate ability to actively pursue a lifestyle that reflects godly habits. Our spiritual health is greatly impacted when we cannot overlook the annoying stuff. Without organization we invite chaos and confusion into our homes, which should be a safe haven and comfort zone.

The mind-body sympathizes with each other. If we expend all of our energy for unimportant issues, when life-changing events occur, we completely fall apart mentally and emotionally, and experience physical exhaustion–total burnout. How does this happen? Our relationship with God has weakened. We did not have time to study the Bible, our prayers were fast and meaningless, and we assumed responsibility for too many cares and burdens.

Pray, make a plan, present your plan to God in prayer asking for His divine intervention. Also, take frequent mini-mental breaks throughout the day. A short walk during the work-day or lunch alone in your vehicle can boost your energy level. We have five senses. Look around your environment at the trees or flowers, even look up. Are the cottony clouds hiding the sun? When you need to regroup, take a day off to have fun. Whether you make plans for your day or you desire spontaneity, ask yourself, “What can I do besides sleeping in for most of the day?” Find a reason to laugh, and most importantly, thank God for His blessings of grace, and mercy. Here’s to our Mental, Emotional, Physical, and most importantly, Spiritual Health!

Bible verse: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

Prayer: God, we need your divine intervention to restructure our lifestyles. We have neglected our worship with you and for that sin, we ask for forgiveness. Thank you for the ability to incorporate change into our lives. And thank you for fearfully and wonderfully making us in your image. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson