I've been slowly reading the book "Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation" by Ruth Haley Barton for the past few months. This book has come at just the right time for me. Each chapter is full of truth that I need to hear, leaving me feeling convicted to change and grow and really just get my act together. It's a book I want to read over and over again, a book full of words that will never not be relevant to my every day life. It has felt so monumental for me for many reasons: I've been in need of some internal spiritual revival for some time, with the change to being a stay-at-home mom I want to be more intentional and feel I often have the time now to be more intentional with my life, my understanding of living my life for God has changed and needs some more mature teaching, and it's been awhile since I've read a book focusing on my own spiritual walk.
None has been more timely than the chapter on honoring our bodies. Wow...uh...I don't REALLY want to talk about this but feel like I need to. So...For the past year or so, I've been a major slacker when it comes to caring for my body. I cared for it as I was carrying Gram as much as I physically could, but I definitely wasn't caring for it to the extent that I had previously. I lived with the mindset, "I'm pregnant! I don't have to and shouldn't diet!! Physically it's hard to exercise, so I won't! I can eat whatever I want and say it's for the baby." I have been living in indulgence mode, indulge in whatever I want and stay away from anything taxing. And I'm beginning to feel fat and overindulgent, not just physically but mentally as well. (I write this as I'm craving ice cream or chocolate, ugh!)
I failed Lent miserably. I tried to give up sweets but caved time and time again. It's been REALLY hard to get back to a mind set of sacrifice, discipline, and balance. But I need to, I need self-control in this area, I need God's help.
I want every part of my life to be honoring to God, even my body. For so long I believed that my physical body didn't really matter, it was a temporary home to my heart and soul that I could treat however I wanted. But this book has reminded me how wrong I've been. My whole self, physical body included, was created by and purposed for God. If I don't take care of it I'm short changing what He's planned for me and for my family. And it's not just about being healthy and in good shape, it's about the lifestyle I'm leading. A lifestyle of indulgence is not honoring to God, never having to say "no" to myself is not honoring to God, consuming just for the sake of consuming is not honoring to God. I don't want to live like that and I definitely don't want to teach Gram to live like that.
So, tomorrow's a new day, a day I hope to use my body, mind, and heart to honor God.
