Have you ever noticed the resistance?
Have you ever noticed that just when you finally decide to make changes to improve the way you care for your body and your health, sometimes the body (or more aptly termed: the flesh) tries to rebel? It’s called resistance!
Resistance is good training for muscles but very inadequate training for mindsets!
See, the body is used to being a part of the natural decaying world; the body, like a slothful, unrenewed mind and spirit, knows and likes what it perceives as pleasure. However, when the thrill of the chase, so to speak, begins to wear thin, and nothing else but the thrill is thin, the pressures from that lifestyle start to wear you and your body out. That is when you, like most all of us, begin to look for a better, healthier, less painful way of life.
Unfortunately, that’s when we encounter what we call “The Great Wall!” The wall of resistance! When we begin to walk in a new way of life, the body and the old mindset patterns are tempted to return to old familiar but destructive ways. This subconscious attempt to resist change, to rebel, is the same as with any habit or pattern of behavior; if we are going to experience the benefit of health and better life, some things must be brought into submission – into obedience – of our stronger Spirit.
The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2 how we change from the old life of destruction and death to the new life in that strong Spirit:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
That pleasing and perfect will is that we are most certainly NOT created to live without abundant pleasures! Enjoying health and wealth, passion and pleasure, fun, faith, family, friends, finances is all part of the “healthy new life” package! Shockingly, most of the world, and many Christians too, for that matter, have never read or heard that the Word of God tells us in 1Timothy 6:17 that God richly provides us with all things to enjoy!
So, being healthy, living healthy, is not about what we cannot have! Walking in the fullness of the love of God puts all good things at our disposal – to enjoy! Psalm 103:5 even tells us that it is the Lord “who satisfies my mouth with good things; so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Healthy living brings tremendous freedom through the revelation that not only am I not at all deprived, but I never will be again!
You must punch through the resistance with a new mindset of freedom.
Here’s a new way for you to look at it: All things are permissible. Not all things are beneficial.
I saw a great illustration of this in a conference I attended a few years back. Christine Caine (Australia) was one of the speakers. She gave this wonderful illustration: Take a piece of paper and mark a period (a small black dot) in the middle of the paper. Now, look at the paper and tell me what you see. You see a black dot. But that is not really all that you see. Don’t you also see a large expanse of white paper? There is a greater amount of white on the paper than there is of the black dot.
Changes that produce health are not about what we can’t have. It is about what we can and do have if we choose to partake of it! It is about the greater. Greater than all the harmful lusts and temptations are those wonderful healthy pleasures we can choose to enjoy!
Let this inspire you today. Remember that everyone faces resistance when they make a move in a positive direction. Some from within, some from without, but all of it is designed to hold you back. Punch through to a new victorious you. Resist the resistance and re-kindle the fire your heart, the passion for a full, long, satisfying life. The healthy life sets you in the position to live richly, live fully, and live in abundant pleasures.
If at some point in your past, you’ve heard or been taught things to the contrary, you are in for an incredible awakening! Don’t take my word for it, look it up for yourselves. The Bible instructs us specifically to, “Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits!” And, if you don’t know or aren’t sure what those benefits are, check back here on a regular basis for Truth from the Word and inspiration.
Many people just need mind and heart renewal to believe good things are available to them. A great gift to others and to yourself is The Picture of Health Daily Power Plan – 100 Day Devotional. Filled with humor and insight, sprinkled with personal stories from our patients over the past 12 years, this book will give you daily encouragement to overcome your obstacles and the resistance so that you can pursue and possess the good life that is yours to fully enjoy, Spirit, Soul (mind, will, emotions), and Body!
God gives you richly all good things to enjoy. He fills your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle! Why wouldn’t you want the #outrageouslygoodlife ? Of course you do! We all do! Now you know where to start to find it!
(Did you notice how good it feels just thinking about a brighter, fuller life? Life is to enjoy to the full, ’til it overflows! Go for it!)
Did you learn anything? Please leave me your comments and questions BELOW!
Dr. Michelle's mission is to educate, activate, challenge and equip others to live a full, satisfying life, ever-growing in the Kingdom of God.
Michelle is a mountain-taker in all expressions of her calling. Sometimes it is on literal mountains leading ladies on spiritual adventures in faith. Other days, it is consulting with Kingdom-minded businesses and ministries to develop professional website platforms and social media strategies. Still other times, you will find her training mountain-takers to possess their physical land - their health, spirit, soul, and body - teaching classes and doing wellness evaluations for churches and corporations large and small, as well as providing "secret service" concierge wellness services for other speakers and ministers.
Wherever the call of God takes her, she firmly believes it is time for Christian businesses, entrepreneurs, and ministry leaders to be diligent to ‘write the vision and post it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may be able to read it easily and quickly as they hasten by.’ And then ACT on the vision.
Read more About and Experience here: http://thepictureofhealth.com/michelle-2
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Yes, it all begins with the mindset and renewing the mind. When I am in The Word and stay in there, so much positive change takes place. When I listen to the voice that says, "allowing yourself to have this or that for a little while won't hurt," it truly ends up boiling down to what the Bible says that it is the little foxes you let in that can spoil the vine. Yes, I strayed some and you know what? I feel so much better when I stay on track! After one week or so of giving in, I do not feel so good. I am not sleeping as well as I was. So, it is renewing the mind along with obedience that keeps me on tack! I am inspired by your words Michelle, "REGROUP! REGAIN! RESTORE!" Thanks for the encouragement to get back on track and to stay on track! I prefer having a much higher energy level, feeling more emotionally uplifted, and I certainly like sleeping better. I'm back!
Excellent Michelle….well written and insightful. Thank you.
I have been consistant now for 2 weeks in walking, I only miss 2 days a week and yesterday my legs and knees were like…NOT AGAIN!!! and they have been SO sore and I didn't do much of anything else after BUT I continued to walk.
they are not used to this change and so I can relate a lot to this article.
I especially like that line that says: "So, being healthy, living healthy, is not about what we cannot have!"
Indeed, God does provide us with all things to enjoy!
Thanks for another excellent article!