Mark 12:30 (NLT)
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
Week 3 highlights:
1. This is both Biblical (fasting is mentioned over 70 times in the Bible) and beneficial. Fasting food not only allows you extra time to spend resting with the Redeemer in spirit; it also allows your body- and your liver in particular- to slow down and rest. To catch a break from having to digest and distribute all that food we cram down our gullet. Imagine your liver getting to taking a power nap and coming back stronger than ever, just like we have to do from time to time.
2. Allow me also to convict yourself this morning with the following questions. Ponder them, then answer honestly. And we’ll elaborate tomorrow.
a. Have you ever used the excuse, “I’m too busy” to avoid exercise (or eating right)?
b. On the same day as this excuse, did you find time to watch TV, surf the internet, or update your Facebook status?
3. Think of the important things in your life. Family. Church. Work. The Big Game. How do you make sure you don’t forget these things? You put them on your mind, you schedule time for them, you remember and act on it. Your workouts should be the same. Make it an appointment to exercise. Or cook your healthy meals ahead of time. By doing so, you’re less likely to miss it or make excuses.
4. Stretching, breathing, and releasing. Stretching creates elasticity in the muscles and tissues, which makes them looser and less prone to injury and tension. Breathing slows down the body, increasing oxygen both to the lungs and bloodstream and creating a relaxed state. Like a natural high. And releasing. Releasing the tensions in the body. Live in the moment. Imagine the soreness or tension as water and allow it to flow out of your body. Let it go. And enjoy the effect it has on your health.
5. The Consistent one may not make new year’s resolutions, eat an all-organic diet, or beat down the doors of the gym, but makes small steps over time which make them healthy, well, and fit. They choose Subway over McDonald’s here; or play football with the kids in the yard instead of plopping down in front of the TV there; or cooking a meal for the family rather than ordering a pizza; or replacing worry and anxiety with a prayer and some deep breathing…And then they make the best choice again…and again…and again. Until it becomes ingrained habit. And before long, they’ve run the race. From start to glorious finish
Applications: live life in the fast lane (time focused on GOD and rest for your body), be honest and realistic with your fitness goals, admit your powerlessness and seek GOD’s help, mediate to relax and center yourself with GOD, patiently endure the struggles of this human condition
Nutrition Tips: incorporate digestive probiotics into your diet (good bacteria), choose wisely from the menu when eating out, keep portion sizes to healthy levels, enjoy homemade smoothies for better nutrition, make small changes to your diet to garner big results
Exercise Tips: push yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of, take frequent breaks during workout to help you go longer, incorporate functional fitness into your daily routine, save your money and use whatever equipment or things you own to work out with, vary your workouts to avoid boredom and stagnancy
