Are you Desperate to be Healed From Your Pain?

LEARN

Are you desperate to be healed from your pain?

I get it. It is not a fun path to be in constant disorientation and discomfort, and because of the pain it is easy to go straight to fixing what you think is broken. It is easy to see suffering as a narrow doorway of only grief, and purposelessness where you long for the door to be opened so you can starting living your life again- living that life that is filled with filled with purpose and joy. In our pain we can struggle to see that both suffering & joy, and pain & purpose can be met together.

When we are in pain, we naturally want to do anything we can to get out of that suffering. However, before we begin to talk about how to fix our pain, we must first confront our pain. It is in confronting the reality of our pain that we are able to not be motivated by the fear of the pain but see it as something God is using for our good. This confronting of pain was something as a Biblical Counselor I knew, but as Jaime I did not fully understand until I had no choice but to face it.

I am just one person, and my experience is obviously different than yours, however I relate with those of you struggling with chronic illness and various forms and levels of pain. I relate to the uncertainty, frustration, and flat out difficulty in how it can effect EVERY part of your life. I suffer with you and for you in that, and more importantly God is also suffering with you. He suffers for us while also growing us closer to Him. He knows your pain, and is able to heal us yes, but more importantly save us. He is with us in our suffering and the first thing we have to do is recognize our suffering. We must fully confront where we are at so we can actively participate in the day God has set before us and the purpose He has for us even in our suffering.

KNOW

So however you are suffering today whether it is physical, mental, relational, financial, spiritual...

YOU ARE NOT ALONE and YOU ARE NOT WORTHLESS.

GOD LOVES YOU and HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU.

In fact it is quite the opposite, HE LOVES YOU.

DO

If you are dealing with illness or suffering of any kind and have not confronted the reality of the situation, I ask you to consider doing so. Consider what it might look like to see where you are and what you are navigating instead of only wishing it was gone, or waiting until it is fixed.

How might this shape your current experience in working through your pain? Then if you do decide to walk through your pain, I also recommend you open up to someone so you are not dealing with it alone.

And lastly, but most importantly, bring those burdens and feelings to God. God knows all and sees all. So even when we feel nobody else understands what we are going through, He does.

How to Glorify God with Your Body?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

LEARN

As Christians, we are called to love, serve, and honor God. When thinking about the practicality of this, we often think about what our relationship with God looks like and how we are serving those around us. 

An important topic that occasionally slips under the radar is how we love, serve, and honor God with our bodies. Our bodies are a blessing from God and it is important for us to take care of them. It is easier for us to serve others and honor God when our bodies are functioning properly. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of the body God has provided us with (apart from things beyond our control such as illness and accidents). 

KNOW

Our intentions for anything we do, including taking care of our bodies, should be to glorify God. If our intentions for physically caring for ourselves is to look or feel good, we must take a step back and remember that our bodies are meant to be a temple for God.

About six months ago, I was diagnosed with certain food sensitivities: dairy, gluten, eggs, cocoa, tarragon, brewers yeast, and bakers yeast. Luckily, my sensitivity is not enough to send me into anaphylactic shock, but it is enough to give me hives and rashes all over my arms and legs. When I first found this out, I did not take it very seriously. I thought to myself “I’ve been eating these foods my whole life, it can’t be that bad.” 

For a few months, I continued eating everything I wasn’t supposed to and my body was paying for it. By doing this, I was telling God that my own satisfaction through eating whatever I wanted was more important than the temple (i.e., my body) he has provided for me. I was stubborn and didn’t want to be inconvenienced. It took some time, but I finally realized that, by eating whatever I wanted, I was not honoring God. Once I changed my mindset and my focus was to honor God through everything I do, it got easier to stay away from those foods. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a daily struggle to avoid all of these things (especially cocoa - no chocolate!) but I find peace knowing that I am now feeding my body foods that provide nourishment and that I am able to honor God through this.

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Be in the Right Mindset

Take a moment and meditate on why you are taking care of your body. Are you trying to live a healthier life in pursuit of honoring God? First and foremost, we should be honoring God with our bodies and everything we do with them. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Keep this verse in mind during the day as you are pursuing a healthier lifestyle.

Nourish NOT Punish

In today’s culture, it is easy to become obsessed with health and fitness. It is easy to over-work your body and restrict your calories when your mind is in the wrong space  Be mindful about what you are putting in your body. Many people think that eating a certain amount of calories or meals a day can lead to a healthy lifestyle. I want to challenge you to take a look at what you are actually putting into your body. Answer this: would you put diesel gas in a car that runs on regular gas? The answer would (hopefully) be no. Just because it is gas does not mean that is good for the car. In fact, putting diesel gas into a car that does not need it is harmful to the engine. This is the same for your body. Putting “food” into your body (or restricting food) is not enough to be healthy. We need to be fueling ourselves with foods that are nutritious. Eat when you are hungry but be mindful about what you are choosing to eat.

Listen to Your Body

God created our bodies to send us signals all the time. It tells us when we are hungry, tired, sick, and so on. One thing that we do not often pay attention to is our bodies response to food. Take a second to think about this. Some common symptoms of food intolerances/allergies include: bloating, fatigue, rashes (eczema), and upset stomach. Do you notice any of these symptoms after you eat? If you are not sure if you react to anything, keeping a food journal can be helpful. Jot down what you eat and how your body feels throughout the day. If you notice that you get an upset stomach every time you eat dairy, it may be time to reconsider the amount of dairy in your diet. 

Be Weary of Toxins

Unfortunately, there are so many toxins in our food and beauty products. Just because something is sold at a store does not mean it is safe for your body. Do your research and make easy, practical shifts in the type of food and products you buy. Read the ingredients list before you buy it! This goes for both food and household/beauty products. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, look it up or don’t buy it at all!

Move

Many jobs today involve sitting at a desk for 8 hours and getting up for the occasional snack or bathroom break. The lack of movement throughout the day can be so detrimental to our bodies! Moving gets our heart beating and blood flowing. This can be as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of simple movement a day.

How do I Use my Breath to Calm Anxiety?

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4

LEARN

Take a deep. Breathe out. Ahhhh. It’s easy to forget to breathe isn’t it? I mean, we are breathing right now, but we don’t think about it. When we take a moment of stillness to be with the Lord, simply becoming aware of our breath can help focus the mind on truth and relax the body. This is especially helpful when anxious thoughts tempt us to panic. 

KNOW

What type of breather are you?

Try this experiment. Sitting up or standing, place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Now take a deep breath in.

Did your abdomen go in or out?

If your abdomen went in on the inhale, you’re only filling the upper part of your lungs. If your belly relaxed and expanded on the inhale, you are breathing form the diaphragm. This means your lungs are expanding and drawing in more air, releasing more carbon dioxide with each breath. Notice a baby and how their bellies move up and down on each breath, they are filling up their lungs and are natural belly breathers.

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How to breathe deep

Sit in a chair or stand.

Place one hand on your abdomen just above your navel.

Place your other hand on your upper chest, just below your collar bone.

Inhale deeply through your nose and try to gently make the hand on your abdomen move. You want your belly to expand like a balloon with air.

Relax your abdomen. Your upper hand should move only slightly on the deepest part of the inhalation, gently filling the upper part of the lungs with air after the lower part of the lungs are filled.

Exhale gently through the nose. This is considered a complete deep diaphragmatic breath. 

Put into practice

When anxious fears come into your mind tempting to rob you of your joy and peace in Christ, here are a few simple steps you can take. 

Take a few moments to sit still before the Lord, handing over all your worries in prayer. 

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Use deep diaphragmatic breathing to help your body return to a place of rest 

5 seconds of inhale into your lower and upper lungs, 5 seconds exhale = 10 seconds
Do this three times through = 30 seconds 

As you breathe, meditate on Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

You can also do the following stretches while meditating on the corresponding scriptures

The Angel
“For He will give His angels charger over you to keep you safe in all of your ways.” Psalm 91:11

This stretches the spine and shoulder muscles, builds abdominal strength, and endurance.

The Reed
“A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.” Isaiah 42:3

This stretch releases and opens the front of the body and strengthens the endocrine system. 

Don’t forget to breathe. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Is Jesus Better than a Beach Body?

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 6:35-40

LEARN

Over the past year I have been seeing more and more Christian health coaches on social media talking about how getting fit has literally changed their lives. That they now have purpose and identity and they are living into their full potential for Christ. I don’t doubt they mean well when they share things like this, but what they are claiming is far from Biblical truth and this is why.

The slogan for a popular fitness company that uses health coaches to promote their products and live out their vision has a very worrisome motto. Their motto is “to help people achieve their goals to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.” Now, I am all on board for what they do in helping people lead healthy lives and achieve their health goals, but I do not agree they are helping people lead fulfilling lives. We know that Biblically the only fulfilling life is one that is focused on Jesus as the source of our identity, not fitness. It is not fitness that will fulfill you, but Jesus.

THE LIE THEY ARE SPREADING:
A healthy & fit body gives you fulfillment and identity.

THE BIBLICAL TRUTH WE SHOULD BE SPREADING:
A healthy and fit body can be a means to glorify God, but fulfillment and identity is found in Christ.

We must be watchful of the things we allow to seep into our thoughts that aren’t Biblical. Even if they are well-intended. I have no doubt the women posting about their fitness makeovers are more confident in their bodies, but confidence and happiness are not the same as having joy and ultimate fulfillment. Their confidence is only as deep as their bodies are fit, and their happiness I assure you will waver if it is not grounded in the joy of the Lord.

Just the other day I watched a documentary on Netflix about a man who did a bunch of triathlons in one year, but was left unsatisfied so he decided to do 50 triathlons in 50 days in 50 states, and run to raise money for a charity. Wow! It really is quite the human accomplishment to attempt something like that and do it for a good cause. But what stuck out to me even more than his drive was the WHY behind his motivation and the sacrifices he took in order to do so. He was not a Christian, and the documentary wasn’t focusing on the spiritual implications of his WHY but it made me realize how lost people are when they buy into lies. As Christians we are called to sacrifice our lives for God, and in Him we find fulfillment, but here in this documentary I was literally watching someone almost kill themselves because they felt it would give them purpose. He seemed to believe that this accomplishment would fill the void of “not enough” when he completed it. I don’t want to spoil the rest of the documentary for you, but I am curious if he did finish what he set out to do that he now feels satisfied, that ultimately all the pain and putting his family second over this goal he had was worth it. I saw dedication yes, but at the cost of sacrificing his responsibilities as a father, husband, and even to his own body for what gain? For what consequences in the future? For what existential purpose? Watching that documentary made me more aware of the importance we have as Christians to share the Gospel. To give people hope and purpose that is more than just our measure of fitness. That people can have what they are looking for - lasting fulfillment, contentment, and any sense of identity that is worth identifying with if they turn to Christ.

I also want to say this to you who may also feel this way. You don’t need triathlons, or a perfect body, or perfect health to fulfill you, you need Jesus. So go run the marathon, go workout at the gym, go eat healthy, these are all good things to do for fun, or for health, or to be a good steward of your body, but don’t do those things in hopes of finding fulfillment; In hopes of having that craving of “more” finally be satisfied, because it won’t. That craving will only be stopped when your hunger and thirst is met through the bread of Life, Jesus Christ!

KNOW

Do you believe that Jesus is better than anything else? This song below is one of my favorite songs and is such an important and powerful song to sing that we need to not only declare but pray that our hearts believe that Jesus truly is better!

Jesus is Better
by Austin Stone Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTewCIvR7Og

In all my sorrows, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
In all my victories, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Than any comfort, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
More than all riches, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our souls declaring, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our song eternal, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

DO

-Read the word and meditate on scriptures about your identity and the fulfillment that is found in Christ.

-Pray that God will reveal himself to you and give you peace in your soul

-Find a Christian mentor who can help you, one that understands it is Jesus that ultimately fulfills us. (If you are in need of a Christian Health mentor reach out to us at womenbecomingwhole@gmail.com and we will match you with one!)

What do Christ and CrossFit Have in Common?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

LEARN

As Romans 12:1 states, we are called to offer our bodies as a sacrifice to the Lord. I find this verse to be particularly helpful when it comes to the topic of exercise. This takes the pressure off of whether working out is good or bad and brings the focus back to where it needs to be. Are you working out as a sacrifice to God?

Because we are sinful, we are really good at twisting something good and God given into an idol. Fitness is one of those areas that can turn into an idol if we are not careful and honest about why we do it. For a long time I worked out purely because of how it would make me look. The only motivation I had was the prospect of changing my reflection and attaining the body that would finally make me desired and worthy. I would work extremely hard only to be disappointed at the end of the day when I still did not look like a Victoria Secret model and the same body that I loathed was staring back at me in the mirror.

I started CrossFit about two years ago and it was such an eye opening experience. There were no mirrors anywhere and all the girls were all different shapes and sizes. It is a completely performance based sport and it was so refreshing. The lack of mirrors made me realize how much time I was wasting picking apart my body instead of thanking God for giving me a strong, capable body that works and moves! I began taking my focus off myself and placing my focus on Christ for the first time in my fitness journey. As cheesy as it sounds, the trials of the extremely difficult workouts I was enduring were translating into my perseverance as a Christian outside of the gym.

As long as you are working out to glorify God, I strongly believe that engaging in physical fitness is wonderful for both your body and mind. We are called to be good stewards of our bodies and exercising regularly is one way that we can strive to be obedient in that area.

Just like there are bad reasons to work out, there are also bad reasons to forgo working out. Laziness or poor time management are often two reasons for people skipping the gym. There are, of course, seasons when we will not be able to work out as much as we would like to and that is okay. It is important to be honest with yourself about why you don’t work out and discern if that is a God glorifying decision or if it is a lack of self-discipline.

We are all in different places when it comes to our physical abilities. You don’t have to run a marathon tomorrow, but you can start taking care of your body today. Stay grounded in God’s word and honest with yourself about why you show up to the gym. If your motives are not pure, ask God to change your heart. He is so faithful.  

KNOW

1. If you could work out but your body would never change, would you still do it?

2. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what motivates you to go to the gym?

3. When you opt out of the gym, what is the main reason?

DO

This week, journal about your exercise experiences. How did you feel while you were at the gym? Did you find yourself fixating on your own reflection? If you couldn’t make it to the gym, did you feel a sense of anxiety? Reflect on all of your emotions that come up surrounding your workouts or lack there of this week.

Is it Sinful to be Fit?

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

LEARN

To be or not to be exercising is a question that comes up in my mind everyday. There is a long legacy of athletes in my family. My mother’s father was a football coach growing up and my grandmother taught swim lessons while also enjoying watching and playing many sports herself. Both my Mom and Dad grew up as athletes playing sports throughout their lives. My Dads love for sports continued into college where he played football for Tulsa University, and my mother also attended Tulsa and was a cheerleader. Now at age 85 they both are still very active! Being raised in a family of four girls my parents were good at keeping us busy growing up. Funny story - my Dad at bed time would have us do push ups and sit ups before jumping into bed. Looking back on my childhood I remember early morning swim team practices where many times I just wanted to sleep in, and also going skiing in snow blizzards while wondering why are we skiing in this? But through it all, it instilled in me an exercise discipline that I still have today, and gratefulness for the opportunities we were given to experience many types of sport activities.

I find this topic of exercise interesting to ponder on because we can see all around us how some people focus too much attention on their physical bodies and neglect their spiritual growth and godliness, while others focus too much on spirituality and neglect the physical temple that God has given them. I believe we can all agree that both these practices are not pleasing to God and out of balance. You know the saying... what would Jesus do? I began to think about that and wondered how Jesus exercised. Well...I think it was walking!

KNOW

The bible does clearly show us that we are both physical and spiritual beings and we are to take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) but also warns against vanity (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-4). We see above in 1 Timothy 4:8  that God does tell us that exercise is valuable, while also saying that godliness has value for all things! We all know what exercise is but what is godliness?  Bible.org shares “Godliness is a personal attitude toward God that results in actions that are pleasing to him. This personal attitude toward God is what we call devotion to God. The practice of godliness is an exercise or discipline that focuses upon God. God centered actions as well as attitude, living no longer to our own will and lust. In 2 Peter 1:5-8 we see a cascade of helpful supplements to practice along with our faith - virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection & love. For me self-control and steadfastness really jumps out.” When it comes to your physical and spiritual life what actions can you practice better that would be pleasing to God and give him glory?”

DO                                                                                                                         

If you find your balance tethering more on the spiritual side try what I call the Walkie Talkie exercise. Enjoy a walk and talk with a friend or with my best friend Jesus! If you find your balance tethering more on the exercise side try taking a time out with pulling up a chair and pouring yourself a tall glass of living water by  reading the bible! In either case practice listening to the still quiet Holy Spirit inside you that wants to guide you down a more joy-filled healthy path.

What does it Mean to Live Life for the Glory of God?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

LEARN

If we are to do all things, even the seemingly insignificant things of eating and drinking for the glory of God what does that mean for our pursuit of a healthy lifestyle? It’s obvious that society emphasizes that we should be healthy and strong. It is also clear that God commands that our bodies be cared for well because they are His temple (1 Cor. 16:19). Though we see similarities in both societal and biblical directives for the care of our body, the motives behind them are world’s apart. Behind the voices of society, there are hearts, a group of people with motives that tells us why we should be desiring this kind of lifestyle. Our why behind everything that we do determines if we will bring God glory while doing it. Confronting our why is the beginning of understanding if we are worshipping God or ourselves.

In Jeremiah 17:9 the Lord calls our heart “desperately wicked”. One can assume then, that it is wise to examine the motives behind goals we make. Is the goal to workout or change our diet ultimately to look a certain way, to gain attention, to be attractive, to find our inner confidence? We may hear from time to time the health benefits of a strong body but what we will most likely see advertised in this world is the physical physique we can have by working out and sticking to a diet. Since we are flawed humans it is easy for our why to be for our own personal glory. Most of us are easily enticed by the vanity of “getting fit.” When the most common thoughts we have are how we want our body to look, it reveals that we want the glory of looking good more than the health of our body. The last thing we tend to think about is actually the most important part of us in need of health, our soul.

To workout for the glory of God means our heart or soul is in a posture of worship towards God. It is not worshiping the workout, the diet or how we look. Though we may be pleased with how we look, feel and what we accomplish, this has to be secondary to the joy we have through using what we’ve gained to serve God. A heart worshipping God may workout and recognize that this workout is possible because of what God has provided- it turns to thank and praise God. It uses self-discipline to meet goals and finds the strength to be disciplined by relying on God through prayer and faith. The strength gained through working out is a tool to further Gods kingdom. Working out allows us to experience more energy, and with that energy we can use it to read God’s word, be a healthy mom, wife, daughter, and most importantly a good steward of His temple. Being healthy and strong is a privilege and blessing that we can pursue as a means to make God look great. When this is our aim, our goals will reach beyond strong muscles, good blood pressure, feeling good and result in the health of a God glorifying soul. This kind of healthy pursuit is one that will count for eternity.

KNOW

To pursue working out, feeling good and looking good more than the pursuit of God reveals who we are really worshiping- ourselves or others. To glorify God while we do anything means putting that anything second and the glory of God first.

If you were to number God and working out in order what do you think you prioritize more?

Do you believe God is more important than your workouts?

DO

Plan your week effectively with intention to make God look great. Using the same commitment and self discipline you have for working out or eating well, use it also to read your bible at a set time for the majority of the week. If working out takes up most of your days and leaves time with God second, pray diligently. Each night before bed write a prayer in a journal. Pray over your heart, ask God to make you a good steward of your days that you may place him first before all things.

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Can We Love God and be Into Health & Fitness?

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

LEARN

When we think of the Christian faith, most of our conversations revolve around how to love God well by growing in relationship with Him and serving others. You don’t usually hear conversations about exercising for the glory of God, and if it is brought up, it is often a divisive topic. Much like any divisive topic, we tend to position ourselves in one camp or another depending on what our preference is. In terms of health and wellness I think the two camps can be summed up as - the “health nuts” or the “not-so health nuts.” A general summary of both views can be summed up like this…

“The Christian Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture references:
“Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and STRENGTH.” (Luke 10:27)
”So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
”Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Belief: Focusing on our health and wellness is a way we can honor God and be the best version of ourselves.
Frustrations About The Other View: Not-so health nuts are lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined.
Potential Drawbacks: To overly focus on self and under-focus on God.

“The Christian Not-So Health Nuts Camp”

Main Scripture References:
”For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)
Belief: Focusing on our spiritual life and relationship with God is the most important, and focusing too much on self detracts from that, especially since our bodies will be fully restored in heaven.
Frustrations About The Other View: Health nuts are vain and self-focused.
Potential Drawbacks: To neglect stewarding their bodies in the present time to glorify God.

So as you are reading this, being persuaded one way or another, or getting fired up again about your thoughts on the topic, I would ask you to to take a deep breath and think instead on this question. Can the issue about whether we should exercise as a Christian really be answered through agreeing with one camp or the other?

I believe the bible would say no. A healthy, biblical perspective seems to be the sum of both understandings where we are to cautiously examine our sinful tendencies to focus on self. Focusing on self can come in the form of idolizing your body, but it can also come in the form of neglecting your body for your own comfort or pleasure. The extremes of both views ultimately lead away from our main purpose as Christians, that purpose being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

So with that purpose in mind, instead of trying to figure out where you stand on the issue, why not figure out what your motives are for wanting to exercise or not exercise. Our desire to glorify God should always shape our motives and actions. The best way you can do this is to ask yourself 5 things. These 5 things you should ask yourself not just when it comes to exercise but throughout your day as you are working towards being a purposeful Christian. If you can remember before anything you do in life, to pause and reflect on who, what, where, when, and why, you will be able to more fully understand and work towards thoughtful living on mission for God.

KNOW

1. Who? Ask yourself who am I doing this for, really? (Am I doing this for myself, for another person, or am I doing this for God.)

2. What? Ask yourself what am I doing this for? (Will this action draw me closer to God, or will this action draw me closer to getting my needs or desires met.)

3. Where? Ask yourself where you should be doing this? (Is this thing at this place going to be a place where I could fall into temptation with lust, laziness, binging, etc. and if so how can I have better accountability to not fall into temptation in order to glorify God)

4. When? Ask yourself when is an appropriate time to do this? (Am I prioritizing exercise, friends, t.v., jobs, etc. over my relationship with Christ? )

5. Why? Ask yourself why do I want to do it? Is it because I want glory, acceptance, fulfillment, connection, status, _______________ / or is it because I want to glorify God with my actions.

DO

Pray over your motivations to workout or not workout and ask God to forgive your for being selfish. Then re-read the main scripture passage from this blog and reflect on this week how you can be glorifying God more fully with your life.

How do I Detox With Diatomaceous Earth?

A while back, a friend told me about her experience with taking diatomaceous earth to supplement her holistic lifestyle.  

Me: "Dia-what?!”

Her: “Diatomaceous earth- it’s like dirt that you drink and it cleans your body out like an air filter.”

That’s all I needed to hear; I love trying new things and I will eat, drink or do almost anything if I think it will optimize my health and bring me closer to the type of body that God intended for me before the Fall.

What is it?

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is a fine powder produced from soft, silica-obtaining sedimentary rocks. They come from the fossilized remains of diatoms, microorganisms found in the world’s oceans, waterways, and soils.

What makes it unique?

• It’s rich in silica: a mineral essential for health bones, teeth, skin, hair and nails.

• It has a very strong negative charge, which attracts it to positively charged bacteria, parasites and viruses, and helps eliminate them from the body.

• It’s very hard, which gives it a beneficial abrasive quality.

Uses

Diatomaceous earth has many uses, and I encourage you to research them more if you decide to try it.

Popular uses:

1. Facial scrub or mask. Mix with water or honey to make a paste, spread onto your face (avoiding eye area), let sit for a few minutes, then remove. DE contains other minerals that can be absorbed through your skin, supplementing a mineral rich diet, which is vital for bone health.

2. Cleans teeth. DE’s abrasive nature helps remove plaque, tartar and stains from your teeth, two of which can present health concerns if not addressed. Sprinkle over your toothpaste and brush.

3. Strengthen bones. Silica works with calcium to increase bone strength and higher silica intake is associated with higher bone mineral density.

4. Strengthen teeth. Silica hardens tooth enamel and can remineralize teeth.

5. Connective tissue and skin health. silica is necessary for collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, and one that provides strength, flexibility and resilience to connective tissue.

6. Strengthen hair. Silica’s mineral content can promote more nourished and healthy hair.

7. Strengthen nails. Silica is essential for strong, healthy nails (I noticed stronger nails and hair within days!).

8. Detoxing/parasites. The negative charge of DE attract it to positively charged bacteria, parasites, and viruses. It’s cylindrical shape causes the pathogens to get trapped inside and carried out of the body.

Parasites?

Yes, parasites. They are almost everywhere and impossible to avoid. This is what convinced me to try DE in the first place, and it was well worth it. Parasites are pathogens that create a waste material that is poisonous to the body. You can contract parasites through contaminated food and water, undercooked meat, sushi, unclean fruits or vegetables, and more. You can even contract parasites through the bottoms of your feet and by touching anything that has been contaminated with parasite eggs: phones, door knobs, cutlery, and more. As you can tell, they’re impossible to avoid (but washing your hands helps!), so before you get down about possibly having a parasite, the good news is detoxing with DE may help or rid you of symptoms that have been plaguing you without explanation, such as:

• Skin irritations such as rashes, hives, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis

• Unexplained constipation, diarrhea or other symptoms of IBS

• Digestive problems

• Leaky Gut Syndrome

• Aching muscles or joints/Arthritis

• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion

• Brain fog

• Depression and anxiety

• Iron deficiency or anemia

• Vitamin deficiencies

• Chron’s Disease

• and more

The by-products parasites emit and the symptoms they present can influence how you feel, think and act. When I detoxed from unwanted parasites and toxins, I was relieved of unexplained fatigue and brain fog that frustrated me and influenced me to sinfully act out toward others. Using DE is one tool I use to stay one step ahead of my tendency to sinfully give in to my frustration and restore my body (as closely as possible) to the state in which it was intended before the Fall.

How to take it

Take DE on an empty stomach. I recommend starting slowly with 1 tsp mixed in water and working your way up to 1-2 TBS.  If the chalky consistency bothers you, you can add to another beverage like a smoothie (but remember that parasites feed on sugar, so drink sugar containing beverages sparingly).

Detox reaction

Some people experience a die-off reaction, which may present as mild flu-like symptom for a couple of days. As your body kills off parasites and yeast, they release by-products that are best removed through your sweat glands. Sweat. I highly recommend exercising or sitting in a sauna or hot tub to rid these toxins faster and prevent them from recirculating in your body. If this isn’t an option, take a break from the DE for a few days and remember to stay well hydrated. Activated Charcoal. I also recommend supplementing with Activated Charcoal from coconut shells, which can be found online or at your local health food store. It also has a negative charge and binds to unwanted toxins and removes them from your body. This is a great way to help your body in its elimination process. I do not take charcoal at the same time as prescription medication or other supplements (wait 2-3 hours after taking), as it binds to the good and the bad stuff.

Food grade vs. Non-food grade

Make sure you’re using food grade DE. Non-food grade DE has a crystalline structure that makes it unsafe for us to ingest or inhale, and is often used as a flea powder and for pest control.

What to buy

Any food grade DE supplement. I use Sila Live brand, but I have also seen more affordable brands with great reviews on Amazon.

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this information is not intended to cure any illnesses. If you have any major health concerns, consult with your doctor before beginning any protocol.