And the Light Bulb is ON...My journey thus far

^"19 Do not quench the Spirit."- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

25 lb journey since August

So I was having a thought provoking moment and something that i had never thought about came to mind. I was thinking about my recent journey I have been on in my physical health life. I was thinking about how excited and charged I am living this new lifestyle and how it fuels into not just my physical being but my spiritual, mental, and emotional being. I have never been where i am at now in my life. And it's not that i am anywhere spectacular. But i have journeyed and i have made true progress. If you know me, you can see it. You can see it physically but you can also see it in my expressions, my choices, my energy level, my joy, and my walk with the Lord. If you do not know me then you will have to take my word for it. Anyway...before i begin to digress because i declare this post to not become a novel...

My eyes have truly been opened to how much clearer life becomes when we are taking care of ourselves. It dawned on me tonight...a thought i have never thought before. And no this is not in a commentary and i am not claiming this to be the literal meaning or context of the scripture, however i do believe that the Lord related specifically to what i am about to say. I thought tonight about the scripture that says do not stifle or quench or hinder the holy spirit, and i thought about how I have always related that to my thinking. I relate that to the little voice in my heart and head that says "Don't do that Bethany" or "Don't go there Bethany" or "This is a red flag" . I always relayed to living in lifestyles of sin and continuing to take action even when we know in our heart that the Holy Spirit is trying to warn us to flee. And this is what it is...but tonight another thought crossed my mind.

I thought about how much over the past 4 years, and technically i could say 5 years,  that I have stifled the Holy Spirit by neglecting the upkeep of it's dwelling place, my body. The Bible states that our body is a temple and it talks about how we should honor it, but we live in a society where honoring our body means doing what makes us feel good in the moment. It blows my mind to see how we take care of our cars yet neglect the very thing that makes having and driving a car possible...our self. I never realized before i started this journey how much i was hindering the Holy Spirit from working and doing in my life. I think back over the past 5 years and think about how i let myself physically get to a place where all i wanted to do was eat and sleep. And that is what i did most of the time. How much could i have been furthering the kingdom of God if my body physically felt well enough to go and do? I truly believe neglecting our temples is an example of how we stifle the Holy Spirit. At least i know it was true for my life. Because i was physically exhausted and out of shape, mentally and emotionally i was empty. I cant help but wonder how many relationship opportunities i failed at investing in due to the simple act of my neglecting my body and health.

1 Thessalonians goes on to say, " ²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.". 

We live in a society full of pains, stresses, sicknesses, and death. So many things are becoming unavoidable these days as we watch the ones we love get sick physically or fall sick mentally and emotionally. I am not talking about controlling the plagues of life that sin and a fallen world has brought forth. I am talking about realizing that everyone can do something to better their physical health. Most people could truly benefit from changing the "fuel" they are putting in their "tanks". I say this because i KNOW it to be true. I was that person who got annoyed with the healthy people. I was that person who went to the gym 2 days a week just to hide on the treadmill in the far corner as i walked and watched bitterly at all the healthy people coming in and doing everything i "knew" i could never do. 
 
Now, i am the person who tries to make a choice daily to change and be better. I am no longer at the gym in the corner.I am trying to daily challenge myself and stay committed and faithful. I am setting goals and figuring out what it's going to take for me to accomplish them. I am no longer settling in my pit of disgust, despair, and defeat.

I have told people...i want to be healthy and able to get up and go if God calls. I want to be able to suffer ,if need be, for the sake of what i believe and know to be Truth. 

That was way more than i planned to say but to summarize:

1.) If we believe the Bible to be true, are we being double standard in what we preach? Are we highlighting the things that we dont struggle with and validating the problems we do, like our health and wellness?

2.) Do we truly realize the blessing and gift we have in waking up everyday with a functioning body that has the ability to go and do with minor limitations.

3.) Do we believe that when we bring on our own physical limitations due to our poor choices, we are limiting the Holy Spirit and what He wants and can accomplish through us?

4.) Do you want change and if so are you will to make sacrifices to get there?

I am still traveling this journey and hope to travel it until my body is made new and perfect one day when i meet my Savior. Until then, my prayer is that the Lord opens the door for me to use my story to encourage others and share with them the tools that help me daily to be the healthiest i believe i can be. 


If you want more specifics about the changes I have made message or comment. Also feel free to check out some amazing products that have been a huge blessing in my life. I would love to share more about them and how they are fueling me to be better.

Advocare.com/140835335

 ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."- I Corinthians 9:24-25