Wellness In Every Aspect

  This morning, I was blessed to be able to enjoy a brunch with the ladies at our church and to hear from our special speaker, Melanie Sasek. Her topic was Building Faith in God's Purposes, and she spoke on the inevitability of change, and how God uses it in our lives. It's funny how God can use a stranger to speak to me about things I didn't even know I needed to hear or be reminded of, and to get my focus back to where it should be.

What does 'wellness in every aspect' mean?

 I've written before that it was a particular health problem, Oral Lichen Planus, that set me on this journey to improve my health. Over a year ago I wrote,

 "It may sound strange, but in a way, I'm thankful for this little 'thorn in my flesh'. For years I have just ignored my health, and joked that what I didn't know would eventually kill me!.........Now I have a constant reminder that my body will NOT be ignored...what better incentive to keep me on track!?"

Not only was I forced to stop ignoring my health, but it was also a reminder that there are many things in this life that we have no control over. 

Our health is one of them; whether because of genetics or environmental issues or simply because we live on a cursed earth, illness is not something we can totally avoid. Living our lives well does not mean that we will be free from all illness or discomfort. It does mean that we endeavour to live a lifestyle that doesn't  predispose us to contracting illness or exacerbate existing health conditions.

1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 But more than that, for me it also means living a life dependent on God.

 I'm trusting in God's plan and purpose for my life, and accepting that anything that comes into my life is for my learning and my growth, and for God's glory. It's meant to draw me into a closer relationship with Christ, and to be more dependent on him. It's in my weakness that I realize my need for Christ, and that it's only in his strength that I can do anything.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 I realized that lately, I haven't been so thankful.

 I'd started to take my overall good health for granted, and was resenting this one pesky area that was still an issue; even saying, "If it wasn't for this one thing, life would be great!" How easily I can fall back into old patterns of thinking. How quickly I'd forgotten that it was this little 'thorn in the flesh' that put me on this journey to wellness, and without it I never would have made the changes that so greatly improved my health in other areas. As much as this 'thorn in my flesh' had helped me to focus on improving my physical health, I hadn't appreciated how much it could benefit my spiritual health, if I allowed it to. This 'one thing' may cause me some physical discomfort, but in the grand scheme of things it's pretty minor, and I need to remember that God wants to use every part of my life. 

Psalm 119:71-72 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

When I surrender my will to God's, he can use every trial and difficulty.

He uses everything I experience in this life to bring growth and maturity; to cause me to become more like Christ. But this isn't just for me...God expects me to take what he teaches me and in turn reach out to others, and help them through similar difficulties. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Our pastor has been teaching from the book of Jonah. Last week the topic was Seeing God In Jonah. We were challenged to see God in everything; to look back over the previous day and be intentional about looking for him. It's only when we truly become aware not only of God's presence, but his hand in every aspect...whether in our surroundings, the weather, circumstances or incidents, that he becomes 'real' to us in our day to day lives, and we realize our utter need for him. 

Jeremiah 29:11-14a For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:

It's only when we surrender to God every part of ourselves; physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, AND our circumstances that we can truly say we are Living Our Lives Well. 

Read the series: My Wellness Journey

Follow us on Facebook: Living Our Lives Well

For women who would like some encouragement or accountability for your own journey, we have a support group: the Christian Ladies Network