The mere thought of exercising when you aren’t well can be more discouraging than motivating. However, did you know that physical activity, not just exercise can promote healing in our bodies?
Yes, there are physical activities we can do right now even if we feel physically weak, that will promote natural healing.
Healing Series Continues
Today is part 6 of our Healing Series. If you haven’t read the previous posts to this series, we encourage you to read them. Then, come back here to read today’s post.
For your convenience, we’ve listed the previous blog posts below.
Where Does The Healing Process Begin? – Part 1
Learning To Thrive With Parkinson’s Disease – Andre’s Story – Part 2
Practical Ways To Stand on God’s Word for Healing – Part 3
Living With Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis Timberley’s Story — Part 4
What does the Bible say about a Healthy Diet? – Part 5
Knowing What Your Physical Crisis Demands
We all know that exercise is good for us but when we have a medical condition, we tend to focus more on why we can’t exercise. Over time, this frustration grows when we haven’t taken the time to research what the “medical crisis demands” to help our bodies heal.
Ephesians 6:13 (AMPC) tells us; Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Many of us have not done all that the “crisis demands” because we simply haven’t taken the time to research and ask ourselves these tough questions.
Do I need to…
- change my diet?
- eliminate stress?
- find physical activity that targets my specific condition?
The answers to these questions will vary by person. Therefore, I’m not going to tell you what specific exercises or physical activities you should do.
However, I will walk you through what the Bible says about taking physical care of our bodies. Then provide various physical activities that promote healing, so you can go before the Lord to discern what would work best for you.
Training Our Bodies
In Part 1 of this Healing Series, we talked about how meditating on God’s Word isn’t just for this life but also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8 in the Amplified Classic Edition says; For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.
I would use this scripture to justify my demeanor that it was more beneficial for me to read God’s Word than to spend time working out. If you ask me if I walk every day? I will tell you yes, I walk with the Lord daily.
Corny joke, but I couldn’t help it!
My sweet husband Andre would lovingly tell me that the scripture doesn’t say it’s of no value, it says it is of some value and that I still need to do some form of exercise.
You see, when I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis there were days I couldn’t even get out of bed. So the thought of exercising seemed unrealistic.
Until one morning during my devotional time, I read Proverbs 31:17 (AMPC) that says; She girds herself with strength (spiritual, mental and physical fitness for her God-given task) and makes her arms strong and firm.
As a mother and a wife, I had a lot to do. But I realized I can’t be effective for God or my family if my physical body is not strengthened. Therefore, to fulfill my God-given tasks, I was going to have to learn what my “medical crisis demanded” from me to be physically strengthened.
Physical Activity Requires Discipline
Taking care of our bodies through physical activity requires discipline, and Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 9.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (AMPC) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
Paul uses this physical analogy to teach us that if we don’t maintain spiritual discipline in our walk with Christ when we face adversity and faint in our faith, we’ll appear to be a counterfeit Christian.
Likewise, this analogy of a runner is also representative of our physical health. If we haven’t practiced some form of discipline in taking care of our body, an illness will show the truth.
Verse 26 says … therefore I do not run uncertainly without definite aim. This means, we must
research our physical condition, so we will know where to deliberately aim our efforts. For me, my deliberate aim is towards my immune system, muscle, and joints. Everything I do in regards to physical activity is directly aimed towards those areas.
I heard a doctor not too long ago explain why 30-40-year-olds were having heart attacks in the gym. Not because they weren’t physically fit on the outside, but on the inside, they were eating the wrong foods. Resulting in high cholesterol and blood pressure, which increased their risk for heart attacks.
In Part 3 of this Healing Series, one of our faith exercises was to walk in the fruits of the spirit, which one of them is self-control! When we exercise self-control, it gives us the discipline we need to take care of our physical bodies.
Physical Health Is A Witness
Taking care of our body is one way to be a witness of Christ, even when we’re going through a physical challenge. When you look like how you feel, nobody wants what you have.
But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. ~ Acts 1:8 (AMPC)
The more fit and healthy you are, the more energy you’ll have to fulfill your God-given tasks in excellence.
Have you ever noticed when you don’t give something your best it’s usually because you don’t feel like it physically or emotionally? That’s the power your spirit, and soul (mind, will, and emotions) have over your body.
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), created in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
~ Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC)
Jesus wants us to really live. Therefore, we should educate ourselves as to what has been proven to physically strengthen our bodies while we wait on the complete manifestation of healing.
Naturopathic Medicine
Throughout this series, we’ve looked at how Cancer Treatment Center of American (CTCA ) implemented integrated care. In part 5 of this series, I mentioned in addition to nutritional health, CTCA uses Rehabilitation Therapy which incorporates both naturopathic medicine and physical therapies that aid in natural healing to the body.
Their studies have shown that the use of Naturopathic Medicine aids in helping digestive issues, sleep disturbances, and chronic fatigue. Remember, we want to get your body to move so you can be more productive.
The Naturopathic Medicine they found beneficial in the aid of natural healing were; herbal teas and extracts, also known as botanical or essential oils.
There are a variety of herbal teas, so make sure you do your research and check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure there are no drug interactions.
These herbal extracts or essential oils can be used in a diffuser for aromatherapy or diluted and applied on skin. I have found peppermint oil to be helpful when I feel nauseous.
*Suggested Bible Reading about the use essentials oils (oils extracted from plants) for healing. 1 Corinthians 10:25-26; Revelation 22:2, and Ezekiel 47:12.
Physical Activity
For rehabilitation CTCA incorporates Physical Therapy to help patients promote natural healing. There are many “therapies” to choose from, so let’s go over a few.
Exercise Therapy physical exercise is used to help strengthen muscles and joints. These exercises include: walking, running, strength training (weights or no weights), stretching, massages therapy, or fascia therapy, just to name a few.
Chiropractic Care is used for manual adjustments to the spine, while incorporating massage, stretching, electronic muscle stimulation, traction, heat, etc.
Hydrotherapy is water based therapy, including hot and cold compresses. There are a variety of ways to do this. Even something as simple as alternating 60 seconds of hot water in a shower, then 30 seconds of cold water. You would do this five times and end with cold.
I used to do that a few times a week until I started using kryo packs after my fascia blasting sessions. Do a little research and find what works for you.
Acupuncture has been proven to help patients with vomiting, insomnia, dry mouth, and the reduction of hot flashes.
Laughter is no surprise since Proverbs 17:22 (AMPC) tells us; “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
According to the Mayo Clinic a good sense of humor can’t cure all illnesses but data has shown positive things laughter can do. Such as; increasing endorphins that are released to the brain, relieves stress, stimulates circulation, improves the immune system, produces natural painkillers, and lessen depression and anxiety just to name a few.
Sounds to me that instead of giving you something good to talk about, we need to give you something to good laugh about!
Seriously, you can watch a comedy movie, gather with friends and family for a game night, or tell yourself funny jokes. Whatever it takes to have a good laugh just don’t laugh at the expense of others.
A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. A cheerful, happy, glad heart is good medicine. ~ Proverbs 15:13
Music Therapy
Both the Mayo Clinic (Harp Study) and CTCA agree that music therapy has healing properties. Music therapy can include creating, singing, moving, or listening to music.
Studies have shown that music therapy reduces patient’s pain, fatigue, anxiety, sadness, reduces stress, and helps patients’ feel more relaxed. We see an example of this in 1 Samuel 16.
1 Samuel 16:14-23 (NLT) Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 15 Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.”
17 “All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”
18 One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.” 20 Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.
21 So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
Verse 23 in the Amplified Version says Saul was refreshed and became well, and the evil spirit left him.
You see, Saul became well when David played the harp. The anointing of God will break any yoke of bondage. If anointing music can make a tormented man like Saul well, what can God’s anointed music do for your body, soul (mind, will, and emotions)?
When your spirit is crushed and you feel weary put some worship music on so your spirit, soul, and physical body can be refreshed.
It’s Time To Move
I find it fascinating that everything we need for divine health, spirit soul and body is right here in our Bible! We just have to do our part and study it out.
Don’t limit the Bible to just spiritual health. There’s good wisdom for our natural health too.
Medical Science is proving what God has been saying all along. Now it’s up to us to find what works for our bodies and do it.
If you WANT something you never had, you have to be willing to do something you’ve never done! Today is a new day to stretch, walk, worship, and find something to laugh about.
My Story
Once I got to the root of what my body was going through, I chose to not make camp in my diagnosis.Instead, I sought God, studied His Word, wrote out a Healing Confession, and researched the right foods and physical activities to strengthen my body.
In my research, I learned how a plant-based diet, stretching, and fascia therapy, and essential oils played a role in my overall health.
My revelation in this process was that I don’t need to have cancer to apply what medical science has proven that lines up with God’s Word. Wisdom would dictate that I should apply what I’ve learned. As a result, my physical body began to transform.
The picture on the top is how I looked when I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The pictures at the bottom show my transformation years later.
My transformation was slow. I didn’t apply everything I learned at once, nor do I recommend it. Remember, there were days I couldn’t get out of bed. On those days, I would run my diffuser with essential oils and listen to worship until my body caught up with my spirit.
This is why our healing process must begin in our spirit! As my body got stronger, I would implement something else I learned. By incorporating one or two things at a time, it allowed me to see what was working and make adjustments to my regiment as needed.
In fact, as I got stronger my doctors started to reduce my medication. As a result of incorporating everything slowly with consistency, my transformation continued and still continues to this day!
In The End
Although this is very uncomfortable, I’m sharing my transformation journey in hopes to inspire others to research “all that the crisis demands” (physical activity) for your situation. Then apply it, so you too can experience a transformation!
Something I’ve discovered about most conditions is how much rest plays a vital role in our healing. This can be difficult when we’re in pain and can’t sleep.
And although we talked about Spiritual Rest in Part 3 of this series, Andre concluded our series by explaining why physical rest is important to our health. You can read that post here.
~ Timberley Gray
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