Devotions from Judy’s heart
We need to give good care to our physical bodies for our spiritual journeys are taken in our physical bodies. Maybe it doesn’t seem very spiritual to show concern for our bodies but when we are all tensed up and tired, it has an effect on our spirit also. Instead of a cup of caffeine, maybe we should have a good rest! It’s important to give good care to our bodies for the physical and the spiritual are connected. All of us need rest and a healthy life style and to honor our bodies that are made in the image of God. Dorothy Bass said, “As the place where the Divine Presence dwells, our bodies are worthy of care and blessing and ought never to be degraded or exploited. It is through our bodies that we participate in God’s activity in the world.” In the past I have not given a lot of thought to my body but lately more and more I have been trying to take better care of it by getting a little more sleep, lots of nutritious food, daily exercise and drinking more good water. I was pleasantly surprised and rejoiced when it showed on my DEXA scan that my bones recognized the difference and have improved and gotten better. Ruth Barton wrote that we need to listen to our body, to rest it, and honor it as a place where God makes His presence known. She calls it a spiritual practice. As we care for our bodies, it helps us realize that we are finite and vulnerable. When we ignore our bodies, we are really telling God that we don’t value the gift He has given us. When our bodies become sick, they try to heal themselves and my dad’s body served him well until he was 100. But one day our bodies will fail and we will go home to the Lord and receive a new body. It will happen to all of us but for as long as we are on this earth, may our bodies feel loved and cared for. Instead of being full of knots and tension, may we may we listen and give our bodies relief. We need to nourish them daily with the Word of God. Even while we walk and exercise, we can use it as a time to talk with the Lord and give Him all our concerns.  Our bodies are the place that the Holy Spirit dwells. Paul said in I Cor 6:19 (God’s Word), “Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.” Let us not let our temples get run down but work together with the Lord to be healthy.
Challenge for today: Do some form of exercise today and also nourish your spiritual home with the Word.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy