Eat.Pray.Move.
By Susan Zurcher
Susan is a wife, mother, and Christian writer who continues to be amazed by God’s grace in her life. When not writing to edify and encourage women, you can find her hiking or reading and looking to fill in the gaps in her social calendar.
PRAY. EAT. MOVE
As the years have passed, I’ve discovered I have three requirements for peace and sanity amid the chaos called life: An active and vibrant relationship with God, nutritious food, and regular exercise.
PRAY
Beginning my day with prayer and Bible study allows me to acknowledge who God is, who I am, and receive His wisdom and guidance to start my day on the right foot. If I neglect to lay all my worries and concerns at His feet, I feel off. I find this essential for my recovering Type A personality that has a bent toward anxiety. If left unchecked, I’m vulnerable to enemy attack, and my day is most likely to unravel in an endless battle of spiritual warfare.
EAT
Food. We all need it. It is beautiful, smells and tastes good, but is so gosh-darn easy to overconsume. For me, it is sweets that get me to overindulge. I developed my sweet tooth (teeth) at a young age, and I’m afraid I have passed it on to my children. Sugar isn’t bad in and of itself (some would disagree), but like most things, too much is. The real issue isn’t eating sugar; it’s when I use it as my drug of choice instead of taking my worries and concerns to the Lord. When I make wise food choices, I feel good mentally AND physically. My mind is quiet and clear, and I can focus on the Lord and His will for my day. When I overeat, the enemy moves in for the kill. Thoughts of guilt and condemnation come rolling in like a hurricane, crashing over me again and again until I feel I have beat myself up enough to stave off another bite – until the next time. It is a vicious cycle, and the breadth of destruction from something seemingly so insignificant is widespread. So, we need to focus on putting good food into our bodies to receive the good life God has intended for us.
MOVE
God made our bodies to move. We all know the benefits of exercise: weight control, mood elevation, increased energy, reduced stress, etc. (there is a plethora of research on this!). For me, exercise does all this and more. Just knowing I have exercised makes me feel better! Yes, I always feel better physically, but doing the right thing just makes me feel good. This is true in all areas of life! Exercise helps drain the tension and anxiety that has built up in my body and releases endorphins. It also helps me feel strong and vivacious – especially as I get older. Once again, it helps clear my mind and foster a worshipful attitude, thanking God for the body He gave me and its ability to move. It truly is a privilege. I then feel available and ready to tackle His good plans for my life.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV
Does my resolve in each of these areas always rival Daniel’s who worshipped through fasting, refusing to defile himself with food from a foreign king (Daniel 1:11-13)? No, but I certainly feel much better – and am much happier with myself – when I obey God’s laws for good health. Just one more reminder God has our best interests at heart.
In what ways do you do to stay centered and on track?
