One for All and All for One!

In 1 Corinthians 12:20, 26 we are told that the Body of Christ is made up of many "members" even though it is one body. I'd like to focus on this principle, which is true of our bodies. We can all agree there are different cells, organs and systems that together make up our physical bodies. We have to also factor in our experiences, emotional makeup, personalities, thoughts, beliefs and perceptions. These also affect how healthy we are. Each of us is a complex, multifaceted, Designer original! For instance, your emotions affect your physical health as surely as the food you eat! In fact, 85% of illness originates in our emotions. If you believe you are unhealthy - even if you have nothing wrong with you - that belief will be self-fulfilling - it's been proven time and time again.

Ok, on the surface this may seem like a "duh" rather than an "aha" moment. Which one of us can pray and worship God wholeheartedly when our head is splitting or our back is aching? It's very clear our physical condition impacts both our spirit and soul, which is our mind, will and emotions and vice versa. If you are upset with one of your children or worried about something, you may experience the effects of that anxiety and tension in the form of a neck ache or upset stomach. Conversely, just try to sit quietly and read your devotional when you are angry or hurt by something your spouse or a friend said - it is nearly impossible! However, what has amazed me about the deeper truth of this scripture is that our bodies are created to work as integrated systems - each part works in concert with the others. When we are truly healthy, we are experiencing this harmony of cells, organs and systems.

Our God is very big on wholeness (shalom - nothing missing, nothing broken). Referring to the Body of Christ, this scripture points out that even we who make up His little toe are just as important as those who comprise His heart. It holds true physically as well. (Just stub your toe and you'll agree!) This was brought into sharp relief recently when a friend was experiencing dental problems. She had an infected tooth that was causing problems not only in her mouth, but in her sinuses, head, neck and eyes as well! Research now shows that gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular problems. Left untreated, that bacteria has been proven to directly cause heart problems. Another friend related that her cousin was advised by her dentist after a checkup to contact a cardiologist immediately as she had advanced gum disease. She ignored the warning until she began experiencing alarming symptoms several years later. By then, her heart was so damaged, her only medical recourse was a heart transplant. Imagine, the impact of one tiny tooth! This may sound extreme, but I assure you it is true. Perhaps a more obvious connection is how dental health affects digestion, particularly for the elderly. Missing teeth may cause the inability to chew food properly, which negatively impacts your ability to properly digest your food. Without proper digestion, your entire body suffers. Some health practitioners, particularly those versed in Chinese medicine, even see a connection between your dental health and your respiratory system.

We truly are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). God created every cell of our bodies for a specific purpose, just as He created each one of us to fulfill a specific plan and purpose with our lives. Let's honor God by caring for these amazing bodies He so carefully and lovingly created for us!

Take a Step:

Is there a spirit or soul issue that is affecting your physical health? Are you dealing with a health issue that is impacting your spirit or soul? If so, I would encourage you to get help in dealing with the issue so that you can enjoy true wholeness. If you have no idea where to begin, send me an email at ann@threedimensionalvitality.com and I would be honored to help you take the first step.

Until next time, I wish you vibrant health!

Ann

Health is Wholeness - Part Two

Last time I talked about overflowing, abundant, 3-D life. I would like to continue explaining why approaching your health holistically is the best possible thing you can do. I mentioned last time that I base my approach to health in part on John 10:10. Here is my other foundational scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through (separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God); and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete (and found) blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (Amplified Bible).

You can clearly see God is concerned with all three aspects of your being. They are interconnected, overlap, impact and influence each other. For instance, you may have inherited a predisposition for a particular condition. Let’s say diabetes. But heredity only accounts for 20% of the probability that you will have that condition actually manifest in your body. Lifestyle and nutrition account for the other 80%! So your will – deciding what foods to eat and which habits to form – is a key player in determining your health and quality of life.

The Centers for Disease Control have said that up to 85% of all illnesses stem from your emotions. Choosing to keep your emotions under the control of your spirit is critical. (We walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7) Further, research has borne out that 87-95% of physical and emotional illness originates in the thought life! (As a man thinks, so is he Proverbs 23:7). Scientific research clearly bears out the wisdom of God's Word and of approaching your health holistically.

Today I would like to expand on the word "peace" or shalom in the Hebrew. It's a beautiful and rich word that includes much more than simply absence of strife. Shalom means: healing, deliverance, safety, preservation, pardon, restoration, wholeness and soundness. I've heard it described as "nothing missing and nothing broken; everything fully functioning in your life." That's a perfect description of real, vibrant Bible health! Peace - Bible peace - is an integral component of vibrant health and we are privileged to have been given Jesus' very own peace (John 14:27).

Step to Take:

If there are areas in your life or health where you do not have peace (wholeness, soundness, restoration), commit them to God. Ask Him for the wisdom to know where to begin making lasting changes.

Until next time, I wish you vibrant health! Ann