Your Body is a Gift

Do you consider your body a miracle; temple; sacred gift from God?

1 Cor 6:19-20 reminds us “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Scripture tells us our bodies are indeed a gift from God, temples of the Holy Spirit. We are made in His image.

Being good stewards of our bodies in a way that honors and glorifies God is our gift back to Him. Movement is a key factor of stewardship of the body.

 

Why Movement Matters

Romans 12:1 – “Therefore I urge you brother and sisters in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship.

We know movement is part of God’s design for our bodies. We were made to move. Jesus was often on the move, always offering himself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God for the sake of others. We are called to do the same. To do the will of God and be healthy, holy vessels in order to serve and care for others.

 

Benefits of Movement

The origin of fitness and movement is always about moving with God! “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up on love, as each part does its work.” Eph. 4:16

Because God cannot be outdone in generosity, He gives us so many benefits when we honor Him in doing what we were designed to do.

Here is a sampling of the many benefits of movement:

• Sheds extra pounds and maintains a healthy weight
• Increases energy
• Lowers risk of heart disease
• Increases strength & flexibility
• Increases bone density
• Promotes better sleep and helps you sleep more soundly
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces effects of arthritis
• Releases endorphins, improving your mood, reducing your perception of pain, leaving you feeling good
• Clears the mind, enhances focus, fosters a positive attitude
• Elevates dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, addiction, ADD & ADHD
• Prevents cognitive decline
• Lowers stress levels
• Improves confidence
• Brings oxygen and blood flow to our brains
• Helps brain power – Harvard medical professor, Dr. John Ratey’s calls movement “miracle-grow” for the brain because it can spur the formation of new brain cells.
• Helps clear your mind to be open to God.
• Cultivates friendships when done with others
• Can help you live a longer, healthier life

 

Movement is a Form of Prayer

Have you ever considered movement as a form of prayer?

“My son pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart’ for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22

The integration of prayer and movement is intentional and purposeful. We are called to nurture body AND soul. Finding ways to integrate movement with prayer, worship or God’s Word is a beautiful way to strengthen your faith and offer your time of movement for God’s glory!

Listening to worship music while your move or adding functional movements to your own prayers is a powerful way to cultivate deeper connection to God’s Word and strengthen your Christian faith.

By uniting our bodies with internal prayer we offer God simultaneous worship and praise. We also benefit from a 2-for-1, making both prayer and movement a priority in our active lives. In addition, integrating prayer and movement keeps us focused on mental and physical disciplines and reduces distractions toward other things.

As life-long learners in the School of Christ, meditating on God’s Word while moving helps deepen our connection to Christ in body and soul.

 

Choose Movements You Enjoy

Remember as a child when these two words, “Let’s play” evoked a sense of excitement, joy, fun, and anticipation. Somewhere along the lines into adulthood, “Let’s play” got replaced with “I need to workout”.

What we need is to get back to the playfulness of movement. The enjoyment and fun of it, not as a drudgery have to but as a joyful get to.

Think of all the ways you like to move and play. Maybe for you it’s a hike along a beautiful trail, swimming in your favorite lake, riding your bike around your neighborhood, playing catch, going for a jog? Or maybe it’s learning and exploring something new… volleyball, tennis, pickleball, the list is endless. Committing to forms of movement and play in your daily discipline will naturally elevate your overall wellness. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well!

Incorporating basic functional movement into your discipline of wellness, such as raising your arms overhead, kneeling and squatting down, trains your body to move comfortably in these ways when you need to reach for something high on a shelf or squat down to pick up a child.  By engaging in these movements, your body is already familiar and responds favorably. Your overall functionality of movement improves through repetition and discipline.

Resistance and strength training are great options for overall care of the body; Strong muscles build strong bones, helps increase bone density, improves insulin resistance and blood sugar control in conditions like PCOS, diabetes, and obesity. Examples of body resistance movements to incorporate include squats, lunges, push ups, planks, sit ups. No equipment required!

 

Make a Plan and Set Your Goals

There are so many tools and gadgets to help us stay accountable to movement. And those can work great. The best tracker however is how you feel. Paying attention to what your body feels like after certain movements and lengths of time spent in motion. If we’re going for a specific number – whether on our trackers or on the scale – and it does not feel good or feel like we’re doing the best we can for what our body needs, we negate the benefits. Listening to how your body feels during exercise is important to help you move in ways that will benefit your health and enjoy your time of exercise.

“No great journey ever started with anything less than a decision to begin” Allen Hunt.

The first 5 minutes is always the hardest. Just getting started can be our biggest hurdle. Consistency is key. It strengthens that muscle to begin.

I like to call it the “slow cooker mode”. Slow and steady. When we slowly, gradually add the “ingredients of wellness” into our lives, the end result is much more sustaining and rewarding.

Here are some suggestions to make movement a priority:

• Choose a time to move that complements your season of life
• Transform daily tasks into daily movements
• Subscribe to a daily movement app and prompts
• Have a dedicated movement space in your home
• Leave yourself reminders you can’t miss
• Ask someone to hold you accountable
• Write down your exercise plan and goals to help you stay accountable

 

If you need a template to help you write down your exercise plan and set your goals, Cheryl White Wellness has created a free Exercise Planner and Tracker Wellness Guide to help you create your weekly exercise plan and set your goals.

 

 Benefits of Group Exercise and Journaling for Encouragement

“Therefore encourage one another and lift each other up, just as you are doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

 If you need encouragement, move with others. Community matters! We can encourage each other, hold each other accountable, and have more fun when sharing the experiences of movement.  God also promises to be with us in our midst, “where two or more are gathered” Matthew 18:20

 If you don’t like the exercises the group is doing, persevere in connecting with a group that aligns with movements you are drawn to. The key is not to give up.

Journal about how you feel after some sort of functional movement. It’s okay if you don’t like it – studies show when you journal your experience you’re likely still more apt to engage in it.

 

Prayer for God’s Help for Wellness

Dear God, please cultivate a desire within me to move in a way that honors you, that elevates my overall wellness – physically, emotionally and spiritually – that I may be a healthy and holy vessel to do Your will and serve others.

I thank you for the gift of my body, this miracle, gift and sacred temple you have given me. Help me be intentional in caring for my body as if I will live forever, and nurture my soul as if I will die tomorrow. I praise you, I thank you, I glorify you God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

 

About the Author

Deanne is a wife, mother and co-founder of SoulCore, a movement that integrates prayer and movement to nourish body, mind and soul. The integration of prayer and movement has been a sustaining factor in her personal discipline of whole person wellness. She has a long history in fitness instruction, with certifications in TRX and Pilates. Deanne believes in the importance of always being a student. She is committed to ongoing education that fosters growth and deeper awareness of health and wellness disciplines. Deanne leads SoulCore retreats throughout the United States and is passionate about helping others in their quest for whole person wellness, as seen through the lens of God.

To discover more about SoulCore visit www.soulcore.com