As this new year begins, many of you are reflecting on the year before.  This morning as I read through some journal entries from 2021, I was reminded of some things.  In the journal entries, there plans for the year (2021), hopes and dreams to improve my life.  However, as I continued to read, I noticed something.  I was still in the same place, I had not moved forward in pursuit of any of those goals.  Have you ever been here?  Have you ever felt like you were moving in circles and finding yourself in the same circumstance and predicament as before?  If you have it is time to move forward and actually arrive in a new location.

If you are planning New Year’s resolutions, think about your goals and why you are setting them.  Many resolutions start with zeal and excitement but within the first month the motivation become diminishes. For example, many will get gym memberships in January with a goal to exercise more and lose weight.  However, by the end of January, gym owners will notice their active members begin to dwindle.  We often aspire to grandiose goals and dreams but sometimes forget why we set the goal in the first place.  We lose the passion, motivation, and determination it takes to achieve what is truly in our heart.

If you are reading this blog, at least one of your aspirations is to have better health.  But what exactly does health look like to you?  Is it about weight and how you look or is it about having more energy?  There are many answers to this question but after reviewing what the Bible says about health, I understand it is a work from the inside out.  The Bible’s original text was written in Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament.  After reviewing the original words and meanings, it comes down to Shalom.  “Shalom” means peace, completeness, and wholeness.  It is being in complete unity with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 

Even though I a believer in Jesus Christ, as a RN I did not always view health this way.  But as I have learned more about how God designed us, it become very clear.  In Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7, we see God made us in His likeness and He breathed life into us.  Therefore, our bodies became alive by what God put into us.  And to become healthy and restored, it has to happen the same way.  Sometimes what hinders me on my journey to the healthy place is my perspective.  I tend to see my outside appearance and do not take into account what is happening in my inner man.

When in actuality, it is what is on the inside that is manifesting on the outside.  It is not about all about our shape and form.  It also is in our habits, behaviors, and moods.  When I was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease many years ago, this is when I had my first insight about this.  I was exercising and not eating much at all.  However, I gained 25 lbs. in one month!  I could not understand because I was consistently exercising and eating much less.  This experience showed me stress can affect our health and well-being. And in this particular instance, my behaviors had less of an effect on my weight gain than the stressful activity which was going inside of my body.

Stress can come in many forms such as fear and anxiety.  And these can lead to other mental health issues such as depression.  Our bodies also can experience not only emotional stress but environmental stress as well.  When we are establishing goals for the year, think about wanting to become whole and complete by having greater intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Healing and restoration can only really come from the one who created us in the first place.  I could never imagine going to a clothing factory to get my car fixed.  Who every built and created something will understand it the best and will be able to be able to fix it.

God left us His manual and the Holy Spirit as our guide to the Truth that is only found in His Word.  Take some time to reflect on what is really the root cause of your issues.  Begin to read the book of Genesis to get the foundation of where we (as believers) started. And read Psalms and Proverbs to understand how to praise, worship, and obtain God’s wisdom.  Then read the Gospels to see how Jesus lived among us and what He said about life.  These will give you a good start on learning about how God made us and why Jesus had to come and restore us back to health.  The health that is complete wholeness and unity with Him.

Begin your year with the goal to seek health from the inside out and not from the outside in.  And realize our spiritual and soul health are just as important as our physical bodies.  Being feed by the bread of life which is the Word of God and exercising by practicing what it is telling us to do, will bring great rewards.  3 John 1:2-4 (TPT), brings clarity:

“Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every wayand that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering.  I was filled with joy and delight when the brothers arrived and informed me of your faithfulness to the truth. They told me how you live continually in the truth of Christ.It is the greatest joy of my life to hear that my children are consistently living their lives in the ways of truth!”

My hope for you is that you will grow in spirit, soul, and body and become healthier.  I hope you see permanent change starting from the inside out.  And that the places you were stuck become places where you overcome. 

Be blessed in this new year and I hope you will join me again for another step on your journey to the healthy place.

Sonya Booker, BSN, MA, RN