READ THIS
One of the reasons we struggle with contentment is that we are setting ourselves up for failure. We intuitively know we are whole – integrated beings. We have spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and other needs/longings/hurts.
The problem comes when we try to compartmentalize them.
For some reason when we think of contentment, it’s clear that there is a spiritual component, the mental part is evident, and the emotional contribution is obvious.
But your physical being is not just a meat-bag to carry around the spiritual/mental/emotional parts. It is an integral part of who you are.
When Elijah had been chased away by Queen Jezebel, he had to run and hide in a cave. God showed up to minster to him – but it’s interesting to note how he dealt with Elijah.
Then he {Elijah} lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. – 1 Kings 19:5-6
God let him sleep, then fed him, then let him sleep some more, then fed him again.
He didn’t scold him for being tired, or tell him to press on and stop being such a baby. God was perfectly aware that Elijah’s limited, human body could only do so much. Before he could be used by God in any other way, he had to have his physical needs met.
Sometimes the thing limiting our emotional well-being, our mental stability, or our spiritual contentment, may just be our physical state. We would be better off if we tended to that part of ourselves with the same concern we show the others.
DO THIS:
Choose one physical thing holding back your whole-self-contentment:
- not getting enough sleep (consistently 7-9 hours per night)
- forgetting to drink enough water (or worse – replacing it with sugary drinks)
- too much fat/sugar in your diet
- not getting some (20 minutes) of active movement/exercise every day
Pick ONE – and do something about it. Start small. But start today.
Don’t just put this off. This may be having a significant impact on your mental/emotional/spiritual well-being. It may be affecting your whole-self contentment more than you realise.
PRAY THIS
God who created this body I inhabit,
you yourself took on flesh,
you needed rest,
you needed good nourishing food.
Help me steward well the gift of this body,
you have given me to dwell in for this time.
May it not hinder my pursuit of you,
or my desire to help others.
Give me strength, health, energy,
so that I can serve others better.
Amen
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