Mar 15 - "Let's Get Physical!"

1 Corinthians 6:12-20
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."
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First off, an apology to anyone who now has the Olivia Newton-John song stuck in their head the rest of the day...

This morning, I am reminded that I am not as young as I used to be. After spending and evening "out on the town" with two very good friends, I am taking a little longer to bounce back today than when the three of us would have had the same type of evening 20 years ago. If I had been able to go for a run today (still 2 more weeks until my foot has fully healed and will be ready for that) and had planned it as a part of my training schedule, I'm not sure I would have been able to get up and get out the door.

As it relates to having a healthy body, we are certainly inundated hour-by-hour each day with advertising messages for fitness videos, diet plans, pills...even surgery; things that will supposedly make our bodies better, beautiful and buff. Do these messages and products exist only as a means to beautify our outward selves, or is there something deeper at work here? God works in mysterious ways, for sure. Could these messages be ways, for we all respond to different stimuli, of Him telling us to be good to ourselves?

There are days when I am out for a long run, when the weather is crisp and clear, the sun is shining and nature is in its full glory around me, where I truly feel the Holy Spirit within me, lifting me up and giving me strength. At those times, I think God is rewarding me for using my body in a way for which it was intended; to work, to sweat, to push...things that make it better and stronger. I believe we glorify God and show thankfulness for His gift to us of a physical body when we put it to good use. It is the same when we give our bodies healthy sustenance, fresh fruits of the earth meant to build us up.

So, be good to yourself today. Swim, bike, run...dance...walk...lift...stretch... Glorify God in your body by doing things for it that build it up; things which give it strength. You will feel great!