Thankful Hearts: Specific Blessings (Health)
Thursday, November 15
Thankful Hearts: Specific Blessings
Today, I am thankful for … my HEALTH.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinithians 6:19-20
I am a migraine sufferer. I have suffered from migraines since I was 8 years old. And, if you’ve never suffered from them, let me tell you…migraines are a bit like tornadoes, they come on fast, unexpected, and they wreck anything in their path. I can’t tell you how many plans have been canceled or postponed due to my headaches! As long as I can remember I have been of the opinion that our greatest blessing was that of our health. The reason I have always said this is because I realized that when you do not have your health, it becomes a challenge to enjoy any of the other blessings from God.
While migraines are my “thing”, most of us suffer from something that makes us appreciate our health. Whether you suffer from something chronic like back problems, digestive issues, or a myriad of other diseases and conditions or you’ve simply just experienced a sickness like the flu or a horrible stomach bug…being in that “unhealthy” state surely helps you appreciate the healthy body that you were blessed with.
Our spotlight scripture today reminds us that our body is a temple and that we are to honor God with our bodies. I believe that honoring Him for the gift of our anatomy includes taking care of our body and being thankful when it is running well, when it’s healthy. It seems that it’s especially easy for women to be side tracked when we consider our body serving as a temple. Perhaps it is because our minds tend to think about our body’s “appearance”. It is so much easier to look at our thighs in the mirror and think about their size or the amount of cellulite they may display rather than how amazing it is that they support us and carry us to and fro doing that which He has called us to do. It’s much more common to be down about the skin sagging just a bit under our arm than it is to be awestruck by the fact that we can use our arms to do His work – like carry, serve, hug, and love. And, it is easier to wish for a 6-pack than it is to realize that our fantastic core muscles allow us to get up and down and turn and twist all day long as we navigate the course He sets before us.
Ladies, today let’s get over ourselves and any negative thoughts about this miraculous machine God created to house His Spirit. Today, join me in raising your arms, lifting your voice, and jumping for joy because of your healthy body and for The Loving Spirit that abides within.
Additional Reading: Proverbs 3:5-8; Proverbs 4:20-22; 2 Corinthians 4:16
Dear Lord,
Thank you for our amazing bodies and the gifting of health. Without health, we would miss out on so many of the other blessings You have given us. Help us never forget, Lord, that our bodies serve as a temple on earth where Your Spirit dwells. Even though our health will ultimately deteriorate, and our bodies will no longer function, we are confident in the promises that we will be made anew in You. Lord you are the nourishment of our soul and we find our true health in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
