The words "New Start" are actually an acronym for the eight great principles of good health that God has given us to live by. So simple and yet so profound! God has made our bodies in such a wonderful way and it's imperative that we take the necessary preventative measures to keep our "temples" in the best health possible.
Take a moment to listen, as I break down these eight great principles to good health!
(N)utrition - Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases (like heart disease and cancer), and promote your overall health. Using nutrition to remedy and prevent sickness and disease is much better than taking medications for the rest of your life! Let’s Eat 2 Live…we must be mindful of the foods that we eat, proper nutrition is vital.
(1 Corinthians 10:31) "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
(E)xercise - God intended for us to live a full life…but that’s pretty difficult if we can’t even get out of the bed in the morning! In order to perform well, not only must we fuel our bodies with proper nutrients. We must also strengthen our bodies with proper exercise. (1 Timothy 4:8) "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
(W)ater - Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight , it is a vital nutrient for the human body and a necessity for human life. The human body can last weeks without food but only days without water. Because our body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. If you're not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine. If it's clear, you're in good shape. If it's dark, you're probably dehydrated. (John 4: 14) "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
As the physical water is vital for human life, Jesus Christ is the living water…He gives and sustains our life!
(S)unlight - Don’t shun the sun, but soak up a few rays safely to reap some excellent benefits for your health! Exposure to sunlight during the day is crucial to your wellbeing. It is a natural energy source. The sun provides us with Vitamin D, which protects against inflammation, lowers high blood pressure, helps muscles, improves brain function, just to name a few. Sunlight also has a huge impact on depression, quality of sleep, and can even increase weight loss because people tend to be more active when the sun’s shining bright. Without the sun, the earth would be dark and cold and life would quickly disappear. Just as the sun is critical to physical life on earth, Jesus Christ (The SON) is critical for all life. (Isaiah 45:6) "That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else."
(T)emperance - Means to have moderation and restraint. We should avoid all things that are harmful to us and be moderate in the use of things that are good! (1 Corinthians 9:25) "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."
(A)ir – (Genesis 2:7) "And the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul." (Ezekial 37:5) "Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:"
It is clear that God is indeed the “Breath of Life”…maintaining a good quality air source on earth is also vital to life, as without it we would not survive. Avoid things that pollute your air source, i.e. smoking! The scripture also likens air or wind to the Holy Spirit…(John 3:8) "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
(R)est - Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. We must have a healthy balance in work and rest! (Ecclesiastes 5:12) "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet..”
(T)rust God - (Proverbs 4: 20-22) - "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."
Good health comes from having obedience to God’s commands and putting our trust completely in Him!
Each morning we wake up and we are given a new opportunity, a present to be in the presence of God… a "NEW START", to be better, to learn, live and grow in the Lord! We don’t know how long we have left in this life, so instead of turning up for the world…try growing up for the Glory of God!
I encourage you to keep your temples strong and ready for all that God requires us to do on this earth. It is imperative that we possess a healthy mind, body, and spirit, in Jesus name!
Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
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