Week 3: Prayer for Stamina and Spiritual Strength
This study, First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ study, continues to be a source of soul refreshment in the pursuing wellness journey. The focus on Christ and our spiritual life proves to be a great adventure in exposing how we think and act in regards to our physical health.
The concept from this week built on the principles from last week. We should "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33) not only because of the blessings the Lord promises in response to our obedience, but also because we should not "worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).
The solution to worry is prayer. It is the heart's response to anxiety--to cast our anxious thoughts unto the Lord and allow the ONE that cares for us to carry our burdens (1 Peter 5:7). It is humbling ourselves before the Lord, admitting that we are not in control and trusting Him with every detail of our lives (1 Peter 5:6).
It is also likely that our health and wellness struggles are directly related to our state of worry. What do we do when we are anxious? Most of us eat! What do we do when we are sad? How about comforting ourselves by eating a half-gallon of ice cream while curled up on the couch watching a chic-flick? It is the rare soul that chooses the healthy meal option and a walk around the block to combat the pressures of life.
Doesn't it make sense to pursue an intimate relationship with our very own Creator rather than an unhealthy habit to solve our worries and our health struggles? Prayer is just the first step, as we seek God through daily conversation with Him. Whether we write out our thoughts, humbly sprawl out on our face on the floor, or raise our hands in worship, God will listen to the cry of our heart. He wants to hear from us, and wants us to still ourselves to listen to Him.
Share with us, either in a comment below or a link to a post at your blog, how this week's homework was used by the Lord in your life to expose your thinking and lifestyle choices. Also take a minute to jot down your responses to the accountability questions below. Then get going on Week 4: Joyful Obedience is the Pathway to Blessing.1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Accountability Questions
- How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
- What goal have you set for this coming week?
- If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
- How can we pray for you?
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
My Personal Response
Accountability Questions
- How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
My goal, for the second week in a row, was to record all the food I ate. I wrote down for every day, but because I have not been following the menus or measuring my food, I've been unable to track the portions, etc. But what I can tell is that I am not eating a balanced diet or enough healthy food. - What goal have you set for this coming week?
I'm going to look at the shopping lists and menus and try to follow as closely as possible this week. - If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
I did not lose any weight last week, and I suspect that is the same for this week, although I've yet to get on the scale. - How can we pray for you?
I would love to have others pray for me to have a greater understanding of what it means to humble myself before the Lord and trust Him more fully.
Posts
2 Comments:
1. How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
My initial goal was to make sure that I eat a healthy breakfast every morning, which I tend to neglect due to prioritizing sleep over breakfast. I have been doing a really good job at eating breakfast every day. Usually it consists of oatmeal and yogurt or cottage cheese. However, my favorite is a piece of toast, topped with a tablespoon of peanut butter, banana slices, and a little drizzle of honey. Yum! :)
2. What goal have you set for this coming week?
My goal for this week is to do something physical every single day… and by physical, I mean more than just walking to the fridge.
3. If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
My overall goal is to lose 50 pounds… but at the moment, my initial goal is to lose 30. This would place me at a weight that feels much healthier and more comfortable. At the end of week 3, I have lost a total of 12 pounds. That’s a little misleading though because my weeks have stretched more out into months. So, in 3 months, I have lost 12 pounds.
4. How can we pray for you?
I actually need prayer for a personal situation right now. Sometimes I have a hard time believing that God wants to bless me. I am so used to things “going wrong” in my life that I almost come to expect it… I’ve found myself yet again in a situation where God has taken my best-laid plans away from me, perhaps just to put them on hold while He refines my heart… or perhaps to cut them off forever because they would not have been fruitful. The hardest part is that I had believed these plans to be from Him to begin with, so it’s hard to reconcile my current position.
I feel incredibly depressed. I know I am supposed to have joy that God is moving in my life, which then makes me feel guilty that I am depressed. For me, when I feel like this, “stress eating” isn’t a term I relate to. It’s more like “stress fasting”. I lose my appetite and can go an entire day without thinking about eating. When I do eat, it often comes out very soon after in diarrhea, which doesn’t exactly encourage me to eat more.
So please pray for me that I can exercise patience and contentment as I wait upon the Lord, that I can learn to still my heart in order to hear the Spirit’s whispers, that I cast my anxiety upon Him daily, and that I can find joy in the obedience.
I know you aren't using Mister Linky anymore so I am posting my week 3 post here:
http://staceykrull.blogspot.com/2009/07/pursuing-wellness-pray-for-spiritual.html
I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend.
Stacey : )
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Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa