WHAT YOU WILL FIND

Thanks for coming over! If you are looking for some great Bible studies to do on your own or with a group, simple scroll down the right side of the blog and take a look! Thanks for coming by!

The Gift

Good morning Stiletto Peeps! This year I am running The Gift again over at my personal blog I AM (not)! Please come over there, grab you some hot cocoa, and enjoy the wonders of Ariana opening her gifts from the Father again this year!

Tell your friends!

Key #5-- Health of Body

Let's wrap up this study!

As we have learned, or bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. He operates in and through us and we, I hope, have discovered that this truth will affect all areas of our lives. We have come to the one that it should affect as well, but it just seems more difficult.

Let me pose a question: If the Holy Spirit is in our bodies, shouldn't they reflect that?

In other words, are broken, overweight bodies a good reflection of a person under the influence of the Holy Spirit?

Hear me out, I realized that we have an enemy and we are in a broken world that will not receive full, redemptive healing and "new bodies" until Jesus comes back. BUT, if our spirits, minds, heart, and souls can become healthy under the power of the Spirit, what's to say our bodies can't?

Our bodies can, and to some degree should, be a reflection of our humility to God. If we have very broken, overweight bodies that are never attended to, then there is something in our belief system that tells us we aren't worth it...and well, that's just a lie.

Just as brokenness in us can manifest as bitterness or unforgiveness, I believe brokenness and a faulty belief system about who we are can result in a broken and unfit body; a reflection of what we believe about ourselves.

Again, a little pudge is no sin, it's what is in the heart. How we treat our bodies might give us an indication of how much we believe the Spirit owns us and might show if we do love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Some reasons a healthy body is important:

-You will have a better and more healthy mind.

-You will have a better body to follow through with the calling of God.

-You will be using your temple to it's fullest to honor God and his calling.

-You can show the devil who owns your temple!

We know the reasons to be healthy physically. Shoot, Oprah can tell us that! But, think about why God might want our bodies healthy. Give it some time. Weigh the pros and cons to both.

What if your body was under his control?

What if you body was fit enough to do all you feel called to do and be?

What if you could say, "This entire body; heart, soul, mind, and strength are really his."?

Answer those questions and you might find that your sick of the world and the devil telling you how to treat your body.

Some Tips and Tricks

1. Get before Jesus and talk to him about this. Ask him if there is anything you need to confess, change, hear, or understand. Then, take the steps to obey.

2. GET A JOURNAL! I cannot stress enough the value of journaling!

3. Read some books. All sorts of books. Go to the library. Learn, ingest, understand.

4. Get an exercise program that works for you without taking up too much time or thought. We don't want to give our bodies too much attention in the name of "health".

5. Find a friend you can do this with. Talk about it, but don't obsess. Do what is necessary. Intense focus for a season might be necessary, but then get back on task of fulfilling God's calling.

Anything we give thought to that is more than our relationship with Christ is pert near idolatry.

6. Find out what you need to be focused on and how your health can facilitate your purpose. Write it down. "If I was healthy, I could do more with _____________________"

7. Start with some short goals. 2 weeks of _______. 4 weeks of __________. This is about changing our thoughts about our temples. New discipline for the work of the Spirit.

8. Plan your menu. Saves on budget and helps you make good choices.

9. DO NOT OBSESS!

10. Stay humbled before the Holy Spirit of Christ and remember this is so that he is glorified, you are satisfied, and his kingdom multiplied!

I hope that this journey (although I ended it very late!) was one you found truth in. I pray that we are a people that honor God in all ways, in all areas, to the fullest!

I love you guys!!

Resources:

"Lose it for Life" by Stephen Arterburn. Sooooo good!

"The Maker's Diet" by Jordan S. Rubin

"The Seven Pillars of Health" by Don and Mary Colbert

http://www.stickk.com/ A personal goal setting website

Couch to Five K Program http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3?181.shtml

http://www.winsorpilates.com/ GREAT Pilates program. I love it!

THE BIBLE!!

Oops!

Hey everyone! I'm in Colorado this week wasn't able to get this weeks final lesson on! Be sure to come back next week so we can wrap up Keys to Godly Body Image!

Oops!

Hey everyone! I'm in Colorado this week wasn't able to get this weeks final lesson on! Be sure to come back next week so we can wrap up Keys to Godly Body Image!

Keys to Godly Body Image--Key #4 Health of Soul

Keys to Godly Body Image--Health of Soul from Natalie Witcher on Vimeo.

Key Thoughts

Soul: represents our calling. It is the Inner Court where the Holy of Holies, the Holy Spirit dictates our service. It will be at it's best service according to the amount of control we allow Him to have.

What does this have to do with a healthy body image? A lot! How can we serve to our best when we are undisciplined, tired, sick and unable to get our body to match our calling? Health of body and soul are bound together, relying on one another.

How can your love, or lack thereof, of our body help or hinder your calling?

What are you doing physically in your temple to support your soul?

Our enemy is out to destroy the work of God and he will do it by any means possible. We have to realize that yes, he's real, but our distraction with body image is a smoke screen; a way to get our focus off of God and what He has planned for us, and on to ourselves.

Honestly, the enemy doesn't care what we struggle with as long as we are distracted. He's happy with the fact that we glorify something other than Christ, good or bad.

Here's some reasons to be healthy in body and soul:

-to be able to serve

-to be able to care for our children

-to be able to care for aging parents

-stay OUT of the hospital

-help keep our bodies off a bunch of meds

-have sharp minds

-hold back disease

The list goes on and on.

You are a minister of the new covenant. What can you do today to uphold your body so that your soul can flourish?

Keys To Godly Body Image --Key #3 Health of Mind

Keys To Godly Body Image--Key #3 Health of Mind from Natalie Witcher on Vimeo.

KEY THOUGHTS


Remember the commercial, "Your mind is a terrible thing to waste."? Well, it's true. If our minds are neglected and we stuff in them everything but the Word of God, how can we expect to think Godly thoughts about life, much less how we think about ourselves.

Our minds, as Joyce Meyer's call them, are battlefields. It's where the Truth of God and the Lies of Satan duke it out for control. Get the mind, get the person.

Recently I watched a National Geographic documentary on the suspicion of mind control tactics by the CIA years ago. There were people who believed that if programmed long enough with the right force and the right repetitiveness, they could make people do things they didn't want to do and without their knowledge. Fascinating...but impossible.

The mind is powerful enough to overcome influences of that magnitude, but we let the simplest lie of the enemy determine our moods, our views, and ruin our understanding of the Truth.

Don't let the enemy convince you that he has control. Just like the accusations against the CIA, they never really did have control of the person. They caused much damage and pain, but never really took control. If you are a follower of Christ, the Bible says you are sealed in the Spirit. The enemy will cause you much damage and pain, but only you allow him to have control.

Kick him out of your mind with the power of the Word.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive
every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

You have at your fingertips the very weapon that will demolish all things set up against the Truth. Take time to exchange the lie for the Truth and be set free from everything that tells you you're not good enough, not pretty enough, skinny enough, or whatever, and get the truth that you are a workmanship designed to do good works!

You have great purpose and the enemy knows it. Beat him at his own game.

Keys To Godly Body Image --Key #2 Health of Spirit

Keys to Godly Body Image-- Health of Spirit from Natalie Witcher on Vimeo.

Key Thoughts

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19

Now, last week we did the work of dedication, of consecrating ourselves to God. This week, we are going to get out of the way of the Holy of Holies and become people yielded to Christ and to His Holy Spirit inside us. Right? Right.

Yielding to the Spirit will cause us to follow in obedience more easily and more readily in the inner and outer courts. Meaning, the more you yield to the Spirit, the more you will honor and obey him in all areas of your life.

Come back to the concept of the priest leaving the Holy of Holies so that the glory of God could fall.

In what ways do you need to remove yourself from the throne room?

In what ways do you take control of your body that might be His job to lead and guide you?

Consider again the magnitude of the original temple and the indescribable honor to have God come down on in and in it. This is how I want you to view yourself: a vessel, a house, a place where God's Spirit has descended.

In light of this, how do you need to respond?

What does this do to your thoughts about yourself?

About God?

This is where we begin. This is where change starts. Not just for body image, but for all things. Having our lives dedicated to God will, in turn, affect everything We're focusing on body image, so think of ways you could see that playing out.

How could you see your view on body image/health change if ruled by the Spirit?

Keys To Godly Body Image Week 2-- Dedication!

Ummm, sorry, it's so not shorter than the first week. It's about 7 min. So, I lied. There, now you know. :)

Keys to Godly Body Image---Dedication from Natalie Witcher on Vimeo.

KEY THOUGHTS

Dedication. Any thoughts? Any ideas on how you can dedicate your temple to God? What does that look like for you personally?

Here's a great prayer to use that Solomon used when he built the temple:

2 Chronicles 6:19-21

Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

Remember, YOU are the temple of God, and having a statement like this will help you stay focused on the things of God and not the things of the world. Remember, Solomon built the temple for one purpose, God's glory. If we keep this our purpose, we will find that much of our perspective will change.

You might start eating differently. You might do different things. Maybe you turn off the TV more often. Get out and walk. Whatever it looks like for you, you will be different. You will learn to honor yourself more and your physical body if you have a clear understanding concerning your temple as Solomon did the one he built.

God's glory.

If this is our focus, what changes can we make? In what ways does this inspire you to reconsider how you look at yourself?

Be like Abraham: offer yourself as a sacrafice

Be like Araunah: offer yourself freely to be used by God

Be like David: humble yourself and repent. Make it cost you something.

Be like Solomon: dedicate yourself to the renewal of your temple from the inside out.

Now, offer your own prayer of dedication.

Keys to Godly Body Image--Introduction

Keys to Godly Body Image--Introduction from Natalie Witcher on Vimeo.

Key Thoughts

If you’re like me, you know there is plenty out there to teach us how to be healthy. There is plenty out there to guide us in the way of exercise and food. I want you to use those resources, but I want more than that, for those resources to be just that…a resource.

What I want you to find life-changing is the Word of God! Take note of the verse I used just now in the video and then answer the questions below. Either answer them to yourself, or go ahead and leave me a comment.

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him.” 2 Chronicles 2:5,6

Now, we are not going to “build” the temple. If you’re breathing, God has already done that. Our focus is on giving it back to Him. I want you to take a look at your whole self: heart, soul, mind and body, and see if you could say, “Yes, I want a temple that is great because my God is greater than all gods.”



Can you say that?

Are you at a place where you want Him to be honored just because He’s God?

How can you begin today?

The last part, “Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him” will become a wonderful place of freedom for us. You see, God is the builder in us now! He has given us a tool for His glory! He is the one who has placed His Spirit in us, we then, become the ones that humble ourselves before Him and bring “sacrifices before Him.” How that looks in all practical ways will be uncovered more and more as we go on our journey.

What does it mean to “burn sacrifices before him” now as a New Testament follower of Christ? What does that have to do with us being a temple?

Okay, next week: The week of Dedication! UGH! Just kidding!