Finding Whole Health

As many of you know by now, I began the year by embarking on a journey toward better physical health. (You can read about some of my initial experiences here.) The honest reality is that my journey began because I was failing both spiritually and physically. I had lost all sense of self-control when it came to my physical well-being, and I was no longer able to focus on my spiritual well-being because my body was not functioning the way it was intended. The lack of care and stewardship for the physical body given to me by God left me in a constant state of exhaustion. Suddenly, I found myself unable to nurture my spiritual well-being, and I was always fighting a losing battle with my longing for spiritual growth and intimacy with God.

I knew that something in my life had to change. If change didn't occur, I was either going to burnout spiritually or die from the effects of my poor health. So, I began journaling again, yearning for even the smallest whisper of God's voice and direction in my life. It was through my journaling that I came to realize I was struggling with significant image issues; I was exhausted, weak, and self-conscious about my weight. My health issues were directly affecting my ability to worship because I did not see myself as being worthy enough to be in God's presence and I didn't even have the energy to put into my study and worship. Frankly, I was trapped in the sin of gluttony and lacking self-control and my life desperately needed to change.

(Note: This sin of gluttony is something the Church has far-too-long allowed to continue without being addressed, but it is not entirely the focus of my post today. My fantastic and inspiring friend Carmen has already discussed this issue better than I ever could, and I would encourage you to read her blog here.)

As I came to the realization that something needed to change and as I have begun embarking on this journey toward better physical and spiritual health, I have learned some critical lessons that I hope will be a help to others embarking on their own journey:

1-Find Your "Why": What is it that drives you? Why do you need to take back control over your physical health? For me, my relationship with my wife and my daughters means everything to me, but the reality is that I cannot be the husband and father I want to be if I am physically unhealthy and out of touch with God's direction for my life. Determine what motivates you to grow closer to God, make it your "why," and repeat it regularly. The more passionate you are about your health and relationship with God, the more likely you will be to find success.

2- Have a Plan and Plan Ahead: Saying "I am going to eat better and exercise more" or "I am going to get better at practicing spiritual disciplines" are pretty easy statements to make; following through with these proclamations is an entirely different animal. I have made these statements repeatedly in my life, but absent of goals and a plan for achieving them I would always fail to make any progress. There are countless programs and routines out there that are designed to help you on this journey. For me, the winning combination was rediscovering the art of journaling and hiring a personal trainer to help me create a personalized plan and diet. Explore your options and find what works for you. Once you have a plan in place, plan ahead. My weakest moments on this journey have been when I didn't plan time for my devotions into my schedule or when I failed to meal prep at the beginning of each week. Review your plan regularly and be adaptive in taking steps to ensure you can achieve your goals each week.

3- Be Accountable: No one likes to be vulnerable. We all have parts of ourselves we would rather hide, but the reality is we must become vulnerable and transparent about the areas we need to change if we are ever going to find success. Allowing ourselves to be humbled before God and others can be difficult, but it is also a beautiful process as we face our flaws and become the person God created us to be. You will have difficult days, and you will not want to move forward or continue on the road to becoming spiritually and physically healthier. These difficulties are why it will be so crucial to have someone to hold you accountable. Find a trusted friend or family member who you are not afraid to be vulnerable with and give them the permission to speak truth into your life and hold you accountable. Having a system of accountability in place will help you stay on track and focused on the plan.

Since beginning my journey, I have made a lot of progress. I am feeling better than I have felt in a long time, but I acknowledge I still have a long way to go. While there will be difficulties and obstacles along the way, I now have a roadmap and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me navigate my way toward better physical and spiritual health. It is my prayer that you would consider joining me on this journey and discover the fullness of life that God has in store for you.