HEALTHY HABITS

 
 “ Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosperity.”  3 John 1:3  ( As our soul health is prospering so can our physical life )

“ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:7-8  ( If we seek Gods ways and wisdom we can have healthier bodies and stronger bones ).

These verses and many others in the scripture teach us that if we are healthy in the spiritual sense then we will be more healthy in the physical sense as well. In fact the closer we walk with God and adhere to His principles we will be healthier in our emotions, mind, body and soul. Let me share a few Healthy Habits from the Bible with the purpose of encouraging each reader to seek to be healthy for the Lord’s glory and your own good.

1. HEALTHY PEOPLE EAT HEALTHY FOOD
Daniel 1:15: At the end of the ten days their countenance appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the operation of the kings meat.  ( Eating God’s ways make healthier bodies than eating the ways of the flesh.)

The scriptures are loaded with facts about healthy eating. We need to agree with God and study his word and eat accordingly to stay as healthy as possible. What we take in is one sure key to how our bodies and minds function.  Decide to help your body by taking in good food, lots of water and resist taking in the things that are harmful. Remember the primary goal of being healthy is for God’s glory and so we can be more fruitful in the kingdom of God!
 
 
2. HEALTHY PEOPLE THINK HEALTHY THOUGHTS
Luke 11:34: The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy whole body is full of darkness.

Make no mistake  what we focus on will land in our mind and eventually affect our bodies. Either in negative ways or positive ways.  How e think is so important to the health of our soul, mind and body, Philippians 4.  Never forget, “As a man thinketh so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7

 Unhealthy focus – bad life
 Healthy focus – good life

Proverbs 4:20-23:  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. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.


 3. HEALTHY PEOPLE EXERT ENERGY AND ENJOY REST
Two things are needed in energy management – rest and exercise.  We must feed our soul, mind and body and we must work them as well as rest them.  For the person who sits  8 hours without movement is the equivalent of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily. The lack of exercise is very unhealthy to our bodies and our minds!  

Psalm 127:2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  The Lord exhorts us to work had exercising our bodies but not worrying will we have enough. Don’t sit up late worrying. Go to bed early enough so as to sleep in peace. Get exercise and get proper rest.
 
1 Timothy 4:7b-8: Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 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.  Yes, body exercise profits our body and it actually helps us sleep. and all this helps our souls to prosper for all eternity.


4. HEALTHY PEOPLE ENLIST SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: Two people are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor: For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto the him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Life is healthier when we do it together. The devil is a liar and seeks to tempt us to think we will be better without others. That is simply not true. Partnership in life is the healthier way of living!
 
Hebrews 10:25: And let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.


5. HEALTHY PEOPLE DEPEND ON GOD
Luke 17:19: And He said unto him ( a sick man) , Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
 
The fact is we cannot live healthy lives without the Lord Jesus Christ help. We wont even desire to do so and if we did we would not know how to do it. Jesus came to make the sick whole. He has the power, principles and the plan for such. May we seek him daily and yield to His Spirit as He brings health to our soul, mind and body for His glory and our good.  He will lead us to proper provision, purposeful work and powerful rest!

My heart is saddened with the tragedy this week in Las Vegas. The killing of innocent people. The great argument will become is it a gun problem or a culture problem. The answer is it is a HEART PROBLEM. When the hearts of men are not turned to God the enemy (Satan) has his way. The thief is come to steal, kill and destroy. His mission is to bring fear, doubt and anxiety to humanity. He is the master terrorist. May each believer do what it takes to defeat the enemy, may we pray! Make a special time daily to pray for our nation to find its way again. And that way is JESUS! Find a a special prayer meeting to begin attending weekly. For all our Liberty Baptist Church family join one of our weekly prayer times. The time is NOW to participate in prayer for our nation!

I read an article Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries wrote this week concerning this event and would like to share it with you as I found it very helpful. Hope it helps answer some question you may have and that it will help you answer some questions being asked you as a Christian.


The Mandalay Massacre
Why did God allow such a horrible thing to happen?

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you."

—1 Peter 4:12



A 64-year-old man armed with more than 10 rifles shot and killed 58 people in what is being called, “the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.” Hundreds more were wounded.

The question that comes to mind at a time like this is. . . Why? Why did God allow such a horrible thing to happen?

A Barna Poll asked, “If you could ask God one question and you knew He would give you an answer, what would you ask?” The most common response was, “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” If you are sharing the gospel, it won’t be long before someone asks, “How could a God of love allow tragedy, pain, and suffering?” C.S. Lewis said that the “problem of pain is atheism’s most potent weapon against the Christian faith.” More people point to the problem of evil and suffering as their reason for not believing in God than any other. It is not merely a problem; it is the problem.

So, why does God allow tragedy? If God can prevent such terrible tragedies, why does He allow them to take place? Here’s the classic statement of the problem: Either God is all powerful but not all good, and therefore He doesn’t stop evil—or He’s all good but not all powerful, and therefore He can’t stop evil.

The general tendency, of course, is to blame God for evil and suffering, transferring all responsibility to Him. So let’s look closer at the core question: If God is so good and loving, why does He allow evil?

The first part of this question is based on a false premise. People who express those words are essentially suggesting (or saying outright) that God must meet their own criteria of goodness. But who are they to set standards for God? When did they become the moral center of the universe? God isn’t good just because that’s my opinion of Him, or because I personally agree with His words or actions. God is good because He says He is! Jesus said, “No one is good—except God alone” (Luke 18:19 NIV).

God is good, whether I believe it or not. He and He alone is the final court of arbitration. As Paul said, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4 KJV). And what is “good”? Good is whatever God approves. And it’s good because He approves it! “That’s circular reasoning!” Well, maybe, but everything begins and ends with God. I think of it more as biblical reasoning. In Isaiah 1:18, God invites, “Come now, and let us reason together” (NKJV) or “Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out” (MSG). You see, God’s thoughts are above our thoughts. There’s no higher standard of goodness than God’s own character—and His approval of whatever’s consistent with that character. So God is good. Period.

Now let’s come back to the second part of the question. Why does He allow evil?

Remember that mankind was not created evil. In their original state, Adam and Eve were innocent, ageless, and immortal. But from the very beginning—from the time that God gave life to Adam and Eve, man has had the ability to choose right or wrong. He made his choice (and then his choice made him!).
Had man never sinned, there would have been no resulting curse. But now it’s too late. Romans 5:12 says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the [entire human race]. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (NLT).

What this man in Las Vegas did is pure evil. The point to keep in mind here is that humanity—not God—is responsible for sin.

So why didn’t God create human beings to be incapable of sin? If God hadn’t given us a free will, we would merely be puppets on a string, remote-controlled robots that bow before Him at the touch of a button. God wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love cannot be genuine if there’s no other option. You and I can choose to love God. And if we’re realistic, we have every reason in the world to make that choice.

Most of us can accept the idea of suffering in general, especially when it happens as a consequence of bad behavior. When bad things happen to bad people it seems appropriate, fitting, understandable. So, its’ not suffering that troubles us; it’s undeserved suffering.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Even more, why do bad things happen to godly people? There are times I just don’t know why God does or does not do certain things. I, like you, am mystified by a lot of it. So here is my answer: I just don’t know!

Listen: being a Christian does not mean you will not suffer. We may ask the question, “Why me?” but we could more easily ask, “Why not me?” As 1 Peter 4:12 tells us “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (ESV). Our trials and sufferings should not be seen as strange but expected. Jesus Himself assured us that there will be suffering in our lives: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV).

Here is what we need to know: we need to prepare for suffering. Suffering will come; it’s not a matter of if, but when and how much.

As you read this, and you do not have any suffering or tragedy, I would say, “Rejoice, and enjoy it!” But know that hardship will come. Here is the bottom line: you are either coming out of a storm or headed into another. “People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire” (Job 5:7 NLT). It’s just a matter of time. In this life, the only way to avoid suffering is to die. So like the diligent squirrel gathering nuts for winter, store these truths in your heart.

As Randy Alcorn says in his book If God Is Good, Why? “Most of us don’t give focused thought to evil and suffering until we experience them. This forces us to formulate perspective on the fly, at a time when our thinking is muddled and we’re exhausted and consumed by pressing issues. People who have “been there” will attest that it’s far better to think through suffering in advance.” In other words, be prepared ahead of time!

Our hearts go out to the families of those that were killed. We need to pray for them.

We thank God for the courageous first responders who are still on the scene. And we pray for the hundreds of wounded people. May God extend His comfort to them.

Events like this remind us that life is short and eternity is real and very close. This is why all of us should always be ready to stand before God. And the only way to be ready is by having put your faith in Jesus Christ.