Six Lessons That Have Transformed My Life.

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A Foundation That Leads to Health and Wholeness.

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During what would seem as two unassuming years of earning an AA degree at Yakima Valley Community College, a few life rocking events happened, setting my path for the future. The most significant was when my Christian faith became deep and very personal. I learned in that season that when God asked me to do something, I could trust Him because His plans are always better than my plans.

Second, I was introduced to a college senior who was leading worship at my church; he later became my husband. Saying yes to him was the best decision I’ve ever made (after following Jesus, of course).

Third, I took a college nutrition class that sparked a passion in me. I’ve since devoted countless hours to studying the subject over the years.

I’ve now followed Jesus for a long time, have been married for almost 19 years, have parented six children (three biological and three precious foster babes for a season), and have lived many ups and downs in that time. Through it all, I have learned six lessons that together make up the foundation to living an abundant life, regardless of the current life circumstances that I am experiencing.

If we are followers of Jesus, He tells us that we have abundant life available through Him. Jesus did for us what we cannot do; He offers us forgiveness of all of our shortcomings and freedom from the things that hold us in bondage. We get to choose to participate in walking out that that freedom with Him. Here are six lessons that I have learned that lay the foundation for abundant life:

1. Faith in Jesus is the most important decision we ever make and we keep making it, daily.

2. Investing in healthy relationships with others is the second most important decision we make.

3. Nutrition really matters.

4. Physical Activity isn’t optional if we want to live life to the full.

5. How we handle our finances impacts our entire life.

6. Rest is not a good suggestion but rather a vital practice.

These six lessons impact everything. We cannot be healthy in isolation, and when asked what the greatest command was, Jesus summed up all of the Old Testament law in this way

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Our relationships with God and with others matters. Big time.

So how does nutrition impact everything? Well, in 2017-2018 the obesity rate in the U.S. was over 42%. I don’t know about you, but 2020 did not help my waistline, so I’m nervous to see where we currently are at as a nation. All of the leading causes of preventable, premature death are obesity related (heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer). Did you catch that, preventable. Here is what is so frustrating to me; the diet industry is causing confusion and complicating what is foundational and should not be complex. Americans are confused from all of the noise and contradicting information, and it should not be so.

Physical activity has gotten more challenging as we have become a commuting society that spends much time in cars, and working from desks and computers. According the the latest research our aim for physical activity should be 150 minutes per week. That breaks down to about 30 minutes, 5 days a week. The amazing thing about physical activity is walking counts! You can start right where you are. You don’t have to join a gym (although working out with other people is fun), you don’t have to sign up for a half-marathon (also fun with friends), you can just start walking. Especially as we age, it’s important do some muscle strengthening, but again no gym membership is required for this. The benefits of physical activity go beyond physical too, the mental benefits are worth it all. When we exercise, our brain releases endorphins that help to reduce anxiety and depression, and it improves our mood and our self-esteem.

How we manage our finances impact everything we do. It’s so important that money and possessions are referenced more than 2,000 times in Scripture. We use it to pay for our food, shelter and transportation. It impacts our ability to retire and how we manage it impacts our ability to be generous and make a difference in other’s lives. Making a spending plan (also known as a budget) every single month and being intentional to follow it is the first step in moving toward financial health.

Rest is the final part of the foundation and the one that I learned last. Tyler and I walked through deep, difficult waters in 2018 and we were forced to learn the ancient principle of Sabbath (time or day of rest), or be crushed by the weight we were carrying otherwise. I believe that most Christians view Sabbath as an Old Testament requirement that doesn’t pertain to us. Here’s the thing, Sabbath is a gift for us, not a legalistic chain. When creating the universe, God Himself worked for six days and rested on the seventh. And we think that we don’t need a Sabbath….

I’m passionate about health and wholeness. My desire is that we all would move from survival to abundant living. In upcoming posts I will share more how these lessons have changed my life.

 

I’d love to hear from you. Are any of these easier for you than the others?