Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 4:8a
For bodily exercise profits a little…
The book, God in My Corner, tells the inspiring story of George Foreman, a two time heavy weight boxing champion of the world. At the age 45, he became the oldest man to win the title. According to Foreman, his comeback attempt required him to get rid of some excess ‘George’. In the years he was out of boxing, his weight had blown up from 220 to 315 pounds. Getting back to the exercise regimen wasn’t so easy and he thought he looked ridiculous to everyone who saw him working out. Nobody, except his wife, believed the overweight George could reclaim the title. But he persisted with his workouts, and eventually worked his weight down to 229 pounds. The flab was fun to put on, but difficult to put off. Not only was his championship hopes imperiled by years of not exercising and bad diet, his health was equally so. George persisted, kept fit, won the battle over his health, and got his title back.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, our eating and physical habits are the two most important personal health factors. We cannot afford to be careless with either. God’s power and Word at work in us is not a license to live careless lives. We have a role to play in keeping healthy and that includes rest, exercise and a good diet. The truth is, an unhealthy eating habit and a near lack of physical exercise have the potential to adversely affect our overall well being.
These are not luxuries, they are necessities. Several medical conditions are attributable to a lack of discipline in fostering healthy diets and lifestyle. Medical researchers conclude that regular exercise can help reduce the risk of heart disease, some type of cancers and type 2 diabetes.
There is a proliferation of information on and off line on how we can keep our diet balanced and healthy. We would do ourselves a world of good to avail ourselves of them and find the discipline to adhere to them. We can’t just go on eating without any recourse to our health.
Today, make a commitment to mind your diet. As Paul said, bodily exercise does have profit, do not neglect it. Keep in shape. Try walking or jogging regularly, get a treadmill if you can afford it. The Lord will give you wisdom and grace to do this effectively, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate and Memorize:
“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12: 11
Prayer/Confession:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the finished work of the cross and for the power that sets me free from sickness. I ask that Your precious Holy Spirit strengthens me in my resolve to be disciplined with eating and physical habits. I make a fresh commitment today to exercise and to eating right, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
