Our Bodies a Purchased Possession—The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words “flesh” or “fleshly” or “carnal lusts” embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. All animal propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the soul. The love of God must reign supreme; Christ must occupy an undivided throne. Our bodies are to be regarded as His purchased possession. The members of the body are to become the instruments of righteousness. [19] – {AH 127.2} from Adventist Home by Ellen G....
The Best Way to Start the Day How do you start your day? Do you hurriedly get out of bed and barely make it out the door on time? Do you turn on the TV? Do you go exercise? Whatever your morning routine may be, the most important question you need to ask yourself is, “What role does God play when I start my day?” It took me a lot of years to figure this out, but I now know that the very best way to start my day is by giving thanks to God for what He’s done for me and asking Him how I can be a blessing to other people. I encourage you to spend time each morning focusing on the good things God has done in your life. Think about the dangers and difficulties He’s brought you through, the ways He’s healed you and changed you, and how good it is to know He cares for you and hears your prayers. When you learn to set your mind on God each morning, He’ll give you all the peace and joy you need to live for Him as you go about the rest of your day. Prayer Starter: Lord, I make a decision today to pursue You first thing when I get up every morning. Nothing is more important than seeking You and receiving Your peace and joy.-Joyce Meyer : Promises For Your Everyday...
Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you. “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore” [Revelation 1:18]. I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live. “The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54:10).—The Desire of Ages, 483. – {TSB 255.4}Ellen G....
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV) Taking Care of Your Body Some of us haven’t learned to love our bodies enough to properly care for them. To change that, we must confront the three biggest obstacles to healthy living. We don’t know how to care for our bodies. Bad diets, misinformation, and fast foods have confused people about what a wholesome diet is and how to eat the right foods in proper amounts. Our view of body image is skewed by media and advertising. We’re bombarded with unattainable ideals of beauty, while obesity is so prevalent that it’s almost considered normal. We need to rediscover what a healthy person looks like. Exercise is nearly obsolete. We’ve invented enough conveniences that we often live completely void of exercise. We don’t even walk anywhere if we don’t have to! But the truth is, a good deal of our well-being is dependent on exercising our bodies. If you struggle with these obstacles, make a decision today that you will not be defeated. God tells us to treat our bodies well, and He will always help us do the things He tells us to do. So make a decision to rely on God’s strength and live a healthier lifestyle. Prayer Starter: God, I want to honor You by taking care of my body and living a healthy life. I believe that I can make changes through Your power that is at work in me.- [Joyce Meyer: Promises For Your Everyday...
Let Self-denial and Temperance Be the Watchword—Oh, that I could make all understand their obligation to God to preserve the mental and physical organism in the best condition to render perfect service to their Maker! Let the Christian wife refrain, both in word and act, from exciting the animal passions of her husband. Many have no strength at all to waste in this direction. From their youth up they have weakened the brain and sapped the constitution by the gratification of animal passions. Self-denial and temperance should be the watchword in their married life. [9] – {AH 123.1} We are under solemn obligations to God to keep the spirit pure and the body healthy, that we may be a benefit to humanity and render to God perfect service. The apostle utters these words of warning: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” He urges us onward by telling us that “every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” He exhorts all who call themselves Christians to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” He says: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” [10] – {AH 123.2} It is not pure love which actuates a man to make his wife an instrument to minister to his lust. It is the animal passions which clamor for indulgence. How few men show their love in the manner specified by the apostle: “Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might [not pollute it, but] sanctify and cleanse it; … that it should be holy and without blemish.” This is the quality of love in the marriage relation which God recognizes as holy. Love is a pure and holy principle, but lustful passion will not admit of restraint and will not be dictated to or controlled by reason. It is blind to consequences; it will not reason from cause to effect. [11] – {AH 123.3} Excerpt from Adventist Home by...
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1, 2. – {LHU 292.1} Jealousy caused the first death in our world…. All selfishness comes from Satan. Human beings belong to one great family, the family of God. They are to respect and love one another. They are not to speak words which wound and bruise. No one is to be unfair in his dealings, causing his fellow-beings to lose confidence in him. Selfishness and injustice bring unhappiness. Under their baleful influence men lose the sense of what it means to love one another as Christ loves us. – {LHU 292.2} All are to work in love and unity, looking to God as the great center. Love for Christ is the principle which unites man to his fellowmen…. – {LHU 292.3} The opposite of allegiance to God is seen in the world today. Every kingdom, every province, every family, has a desire to make itself a center. Men long to rule over their fellowmen…. Self is the mainspring of action…. – {LHU 292.4} The Lord calls upon His people to put far from them every stumbling block. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. To unite man with God and with his fellowmen, to restore to human beings the benevolence lost through sin—this is the glory of the gospel. Let the church arise and shine; for her light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon her. Let the members strive earnestly to obtain the victory over self (Manuscript78, 1901). – {LHU 292.5} The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self, and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, the fullness, the completeness of the gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. The acceptance of the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life testifies that God has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour…. – {LHU 292.6} Lift Him Up : Ellen G....
Facts about sedentary lifestyles: Estimates indicate that nearly 250,000 deaths per year in the US — about 12 percent of total deaths — are due to a lack of regular physical activity. Surveys show that only 22 percent of American adults get enough leisure-time exercise to achieve cardiovascular fitness. The 1991-92 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study data show the following have a sedentary lifestyle: Caucasian population — 56.2 percent men and 56.4 percent women African-American population — 62.8 percent men and 67.7 percent women Hispanic population — 61.5 percent men and 61.9 percent women Asian/Pacific Islanders — 56.6 percent men and 64.7 percent women American Indian/Alaskan Natives — 50.8 percent men and 64.1 percent women It has also been found that people with lower incomes and less than a 12th grade education are more likely to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Thirty-eight percent of people age 55 and older report essentially sedentary lifestyles. One National Children and Youth Fitness Study found that: at least half of youth do not engage in physical activity that promotes long-term health. less than 36 percent of elementary and secondary schools offer daily physical education classes. most classes were unlikely to foster lifelong physical activity. Source: Risks of Physical Inactivity – Maryland Heart Center | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/programs/heart/health/the-heart/inactivity#ixzz2fd7YeV00 University of Maryland...