Tag: body

The Call to Memory

“Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;” 1 Corinthians 2:6-7

Remembering

Before you were born, you were inspired, breathed, and known by God.  Every bit of information that is your intricate genetic makeup is known and stored within you by God.  You are of a reverberating lineage; one that is vibrant and resounding in space and time. Who still remembers? 

As human beings we think, we develop, and grow.  We acquire knowledge, we reflect on things, we seek answers to questions, we form ideas.  Our knowledge about the world is robust, but the things not yet known are wide and varied; curiosities about the nature of reality that will take you to the very limits of your intellectual ability.

Understanding

Perceiving beyond our knowledge of the natural world with finite sensory experiences is not rational by any means of material standards. It is going beyond all reasonable doubt to its certainty; to confront all of that which is unreasonable doubt.  It is maneuvering paradoxes and coming to that which is the belief in God as the first cause.

Innatism suggests that the mind is born with knowledge, ideas, and beliefs. Memory that transcends our experiences.  Could there be memories encoded before birth?  An intangible faculty of memory stored prior to all mind body experience.

Although the mind is not a blank slate at birth, we need our senses and experiences as keys to unlocking what is stored knowledge and intellect, and even remembrance.  Things that are innate to you are things that you naturally identify with through sensation, reflection, and memory.

Grasping

As human beings, we grow in wisdom and knowledge that springs from an inquiring mind. There springs an eagerness to know how the world works. And God sustains this developmental process all the way through.  There are however many traps, in this world of duality– in a world that increasingly contradicts what is good and true as fallacy, to further us from our intuition and knowledge of our intrinsic value.  

It is as though the world is trying to remember what is true as we grasp at illusions.  The good is absolute, but the world debates the moral good and argues for moral relativism.  How then can we remember eternal truth? 

By sensing it as it connects to memory. 

Knowing

Memory is your brain’s capacity and function to encode, store, retain, and recall information from sensory experiences.  The collection of our experiences since birth and our innate sensibilities.  Every experience and memory shapes us in purposeful ways.  And although specific memories may be forgotten, those memories that truly shape us are never completely gone. 

Sensing

We sense what is true from hearing what is good and true.  From sensory to genetic memory. Firstly, with unaided intellect, then being appropriately receptive to make sense of what’s out there. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness” Romans 10:10. 

There is a call to remember. But who remembers, and who does not?

“For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.” Isaiah 52:15

The Electrically Excitable Brain & Body

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 1:13 

Electrical Currents

Electricity, current, frequency; flows through us and is all around us.  Our brains and bodies busy with electrical activity, electrical signals running messages throughout.  We are all very charged, and full of energy, and it’s all very stimulating inside and out. 

The caution here is to be aware of interactions that agitate our internal states from normal; creating too much disturbance or excitement. 

Modulate

Think of the body’s excitatory potential and also of its inhibitory effects, and the body’s stabilizing functions. Our bodies are incredibly stabilizing. 

Now think of the things that are conflicting and abnormal; things adversely impacting mood, inducing stress, or causing ineffectual activity, misfiring cells etc.- The things that are stimulating in a dreadful way.  Think of the things in the environment that communicate with our internal environments with the potential to overwhelm our senses; the things causing out of control overactivity, and causing an overworked brain and body.

Our make-up functions properly without deficiencies and without disorder, with proper cellular communication. Deficiencies and disorders are divergent to our make-up.  Therefore, eliminate deficiency and prevent disorder. 

Back to Normal

The direction here is to outmaneuver the amplified frequencies increasing in nature for a more peaceful, quieter, brain and body- one that is active, but growing and developing in a healthy way.  Circumvent the overexcitement of the day- day by day.

The Beautiful Quality of Homeostasis

 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Maintain Peace, Resist Change

Your body’s constant is to seek to maintain homeostasis.  It self-regulates to survive, keeping the balance between the body and environment.  Your body’s built-in goal is to maintain optimal functioning by regulating responses to internal and external stimuli to benefit your health.  The body’s Soul purpose resists anything that interferers with its divine order.  That is the fight.  Your body’s delegation and mandate is to resist the world and its exacerbating influence.  

How do you support the harmony your body so dutifully calls for? Are you actively bringing peace into your environment? Are you counteracting harmful influences and negating chaotic effects?  Are you prioritizing your physical health, mental health, and spiritual health? 

Natural sense for peace

The external environment offers stimuli that may or may not be to your benefit. Sensory stimuli for visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory systems, all introduce change to your body.  And it is your body’s gift of duty or divine order to measure these changes to your benefit. 

Your state of being is naturally opposed to harmful changes. Your body naturally reacts to stimulus in healthy ways under healthy conditions.  In a way, this is a sense for peace in your internal environment.  

In a world of wildly swinging pendulums, where people are attracted to extremes, it is good to know and understand that at least your body fights against harmful effects for balance and stability. It is good to know and understand that your very being seeks peace. 

Jesus Christ: The Anchor of the Soul

True Health

Your body, soul, and mind are connected in a very special way. In a way wherein one cannot thrive without the other.  When we are weak in mind and spirit our body does not do well.  We feel physically weak and lose strength, exercise and good nutrition would take a back seat to our discouraged state, taking care of our body would not be a priority, we eat too much or have loss of appetite and eat too little, we develop unhealthy habits to cope, and making a doctors appointment would be the last thing on our list. Our body would simply go lacking from the things we need to keep it healthy. When we are weak in body and spirit, our mind does not do well. We feel depressed, our self image deteriorates, we do not feel good about ourselves, stress takes a toll and we get sick easily, we lack or are confused about our purpose, the meaning of life becomes lost and we become less positive and more negative.

Because the health of our body, soul, and mind is important to our overall health and well-being, and these three components are inextricably linked, we need these three areas to be in harmony as much as possible.  The key to achieving this harmony is the anchor of the soul. 

The Anchor

Anchoring your soul in truth equips you to become more empowered and resilient.  Anchoring your soul in truth gives you a clearer understanding of your individual journey and meaning in personal life events. Anchoring your soul in truth allows you to walk the path to become your best self. This will enhance your desire for a healthy body, a deeper and deeper relationship with God, and you will be more happy, hopeful, and peaceful.  You’ll have more joyful relationships with deeper connection that enables you to uplift and be uplifted by others.  You will be more capable of carrying out your God given purpose.

Stress management and the Bible

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” 

Philippians 4:8-9

Manage Stress

Stress is a part of life and it can wreak havoc on our body, soul, and mind if we do not know how to cope with it in our daily life. Stress is the result of pressure, strain, or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances, or circumstances you feel are out of your control. Stress can be overwhelming and can cause anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, pounding heart, insomnia, and premature aging among others. One of the best things we can do for ourselves when encountering stress is to manage it in healthy ways.

Change Perspective

God shows us the way to consider stress. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”(James 1:2-4). Changing your perspective on stress and knowing that God is in control, that He loves us and wants the best for us, can enable us to look at the stressors in a different way which can be freeing. Once we’re able to see the stressors in a different light, we are better able to make use of stress management tools like relaxation techniques, physical activity, communicating your feelings or counseling, time management techniques etc. 

We also need to keep ourselves mentally and spiritually strong and resilient before stress occurs. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). We need to know who we are in Christ, strengthen the areas in which we are weak, and put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). We need to be prepared with the truth that God has our back no matter the stress of the moment. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Start. Trust that God loves you and wants the best for you. Pray and meditate before, during, and after stressful moments so you have an understanding of each event and can take lessons from it. Make use of stress management techniques like controlled breathing, positive thinking, time management, exercise, doing something you love, treating yourself, talking to close friends and family, and more.

Disease prevention and the Bible

Be Proactive

We live in a world where disease is a part of life, directly and indirectly. Whether its chronic (noncommunicable) diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer- or infectious (communicable) disease caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites- we should maintain an awareness of how to protect our bodies against disease. We need to be proactive in preventing disease by reducing our risk, increasing our healthy behaviors and eliminating unhealthy behaviors. Remember, God formed us and breathed life into us, making us a living soul with a purpose (Genesis 2:7). God needs us for His very divine purpose, so we need to respectfully take good care of our health.

Be Aware

There are many unhealthy behaviors that make our bodies more susceptible to disease including not getting regular checkups or knowing our health status, overeating junk foods or fatty foods, smoking, too much alcohol, avoiding physical activity, uncleanliness or improper hygiene, sexual promiscuity etc. We need to target these behaviors and change them. In addition, we need to be knowledgeable and equipped with the resources to do so.

Healthy behaviors are promoted in the word of God. Following these teachings encourages disease prevention. Notice that when we indulge in things that are not Christ like i.e greed, laziness, irresponsibility, drunkenness, or indulge in things that are known to be negative, it adversely affects our bodies. “fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3: 7-8

Start. First things first. Know the status of your health. See your health care provider for regular check-ups. Health screenings, exams, and laboratory tests are important in disease prevention because it can help find problems before they start or they can help find problems early when your chances of treatment and cure are better. Also, be aware of your body and pay attention when it’s not feeling well or not working properly. When something feels off or out of order, know how to counteract it with nutrients, vitamins/minerals, rest, medicine etc., and talk to your medical professional to learn what your body specifically needs according to your health status. Finally, gain knowledge and an understanding of disease statistics and how it relates to you in terms of your age, gender, and genetics. Awareness is important.

Healthy foods and the Bible

“Because He holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.” 

Colossians 2:19

Nutritional Foods

The way you nourish your body is an essential factor in taking care of your body. God provided us with an abundance of nutrient rich sources to help our bodies grow healthy and strong for the very purposeful work He has planned for our lives. As the gospel says, “I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food” (Genesis 1:29). The food that we eat is meant to do good things for our bodies. That was what God intended. However, the majority of our food has now become unhealthy and lacking in nutrients due to being altered, manufactured, and processed for different reasons including being quick and easy, cheap, and getting more for less. These shortcuts equates to greed, neglect, and laziness for many of us, and these qualities are not of God. The fact also is that some consumers of these products purchase because of socioeconomic reasons, and cannot help it. Healthier alternatives like fresh fruits and vegetables are either not as available in certain communities or are too expensive. Everyone should have the option to eat healthy the way God intended and we should not opt for unhealthy foods because manufactured ingredients make it more appealing to our senses.

Purposeful Eating

We know food can be a rich and satisfying thing for our body but we have to be aware that depending on how we utilize food, it can work against us, negatively impacting the harmony of our body with our soul and mind. Food can be harmful not only when it is nutritionally unhealthy but also if it is associated with an eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia), and if it is used for emotional eating (turning to food for comfort, not because you’re hungry). However, if we are conscious of the purpose of food for being a delicious and nutritious gift from God which should be used to maintain a healthy body, and follow what the gospel says, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) we will be on the right track. Also remember as you feed your body also feed your soul and your mind “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Start. In order to begin achieving your healthy food goals you must pay attention to your nutrition. Learn about the foods you are eating and why certain things are bad for you and good for you. Read your nutrition labels and let that information guide your purchases. Cut out unhealthy foods and substitute with healthier alternatives. Learn about the health benefits of different foods and the types of things they are responsible for in the body. Be well informed about your nutrition and apply it to your eating habits.  

Exercise and the Bible

“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God” 

1 Corinthians 6:19

Exercise Regimen

An exercise regimen is an important inclusion to your way of life if you want to improve and maintain your overall health. Having this routine is not only good for your body but it is also good for your soul and mind. People who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and improved self esteem. This is due to the release of endorphins in the body that trigger positive feelings. Exercise also reduces risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. God wants us to maintain a healthy body strong enough to fight diseases and resilient enough to heal from hurt. We are God’s loving creation and we should appreciate how intricate and remarkable our bodies were made, and how intelligently it functions. The specific way God built our bodies enables us to strengthen it through exercise and physical activity. God means for us to be active and purposeful, that is why our bodies react positively to physical activity and poorly to inactivity. Finally, the act of exercising in itself is good affirmation for the soul. By taking care of it, it confirms your belief and love for God.

Start.  A good way to maintain a continuous exercise regimen is to choose something that is enjoyable and something that you can handle, whether its running, walking, swimming, strength training, or a combination of all. Then create a flexible schedule that you can stick with. Set your goals moderate at first and set goals in which you are optimistic of not giving up. As Paul says in the gospel, “run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). When you begin to incorporate this routine into your life, do it not only for yourself, but as a living sacrifice to God. As it says in the gospels, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). This is a part of your success.