Our society in the west seems to be more and more divided health-wise. The healthy ‘my body is a temple types’, ‘couch potatoes’ and my group, the ones that bounce from one to the other at irregular intervals.
As I contemplate my upcoming marriage, a ‘quick-fix tone-up’ seems to be increasingly essential if I don’t want all the shots in wide angle. But crash diets are an ugly thing and so the subject of what is healthy living raises its head. For it can also mean three things. The first would be the popular view, a balanced diet with your 5-a-day, regular exercise, nothing to excess.
Taking the fitness fanatics aside, this seems a sensible and balanced approach. A toned and fit body would be the sign this is done well.
The African view would probably be somewhat different. They are unlikely to need gyms for exercise. Every calorie is saved for work and even the daily chores – such as walking several miles to the well or river and back. A balanced diet would be enough food and water to support you through the day. Survival is the mark of a healthy lifestyle.
The Christian view is somewhat different again. We believe that a healthy lifestyle starts (and ends) with a healthy relationship with God. Stimulating the mind through the bible and prayer is essential. Taking care of the body that God gave you so that well-being can flow through your entire life. Christian healthy living means a fully healthy life. As Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.”
And I have found it is true that when one of the props suffers, so do the others suffer. It is hard for a Christian suffering pain to keep spiritually whole in their prayer and relationship. When a Christian leans on God and is able to conquer the pain it is always a remarkable testimony. As to the mind, from experience I can say that headaches debilitate my attitude about everything. And if I miss my quiet times, all of life tends to go a bit squiffy.
I ask you to consider the people of East Africa in this light. Survival is the first goal, but surely we can afford to be ambitious on their behalf. After all, our God is a great God. Let us pray not just for survival, but for a long-term solution, for real life and vitality to spread throughout Africa. For God’s love to live in their hearts and truly healthy living to be the norm where once chaos reigned.
Prayer...
Thank you, Lord for eternal love for the people of East Africa. Thank you that even now your plans are in motion for a world of peace and the return of Your son.
But, Lord, we ask for full health for our brothers and sisters in Africa. We ask for enough food and water, not only for survival, but for a healthy and balanced diet, to build strong bodies for Your service. We ask for peace, to enable clear thinking and devotion to You without fear. We ask for Your spirit to be poured over them in waves, to build and firm a relationship with You that cannot be shaken in this world or the next.
We ask all of these things in order that Africa is transformed for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
Bible Verse
Matthew 22: 36-40
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
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