My Peace Plan

What is there is a direct correlation between our physical bodies and our spiritual souls? There is the mind/body connection…no doubt. But what about our spiritual health, could it be influenced by our physical health?

I have ‘let myself go,” as it is said. Little by little, day-by-day I have slowed down and given up on my eating to the point that I feel past the point of no return.

How many times have I put in the effort and gotten healthier, thinner, whatever…only to painfully but obviously let go of the reins and slip into the more ‘normal’ habits for me.  It feels like I try to hold a beach ball under the water, only to have it bounce to the top as soon as I let you. It is exhausting.                                                                                                                                                                      

I love healthy food but I hate the routine of planning, shopping, preparing, (I love the eating), but then the clean up. It isn’t the doing it, it is more the time and energy to do it. I just have other things I fill up my time with.

How many times can we say that we need to start using the crock pot more, get more active, whatever?

Years ago I came up with the acronym PEASE. It is a misspelling of the word Peace and was sort of a recipe for peace.

Pray

Eat Healthy

Affirm God’s love and goodness through music, people, fellowship

Study God’s Word

Exercise

I figured that, if I did each one of these things daily, my life would make sense and most of my ‘problems’ would resolve themselves. By problems, I mean psychological and physical ones and I’d enjoy the peace and joy that I want.

But it was like another formula. A gimmick. It made me feel tired and on that rat’s exercise wheel that I gave up years ago.

So how do I come out of the ‘the law’ mode and into the new covenant with some sort of self-discipline? After all, I claim to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, by God’s promise, and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.

I don’t really quite know. I feel like a part of me shorted out some years ago. I used to feel that self-discipline was the key to everything and I used to look down on those who didn’t strive and just make things happen with it.

Hmmmmm. Maybe that is the secret. I used to condemn people for not having enough self-discipline. Maybe God wants me to remember (again) that I am completely accepted by him, regardless. And…. that others need to be accepted and valued regardless of their weaknesses, or even their actions.             

This gets into some pretty controversial territory. Why does God tell us as believers , for example, to visit and love those in prison? He doesn’t say to find out if they are guilty or not and then go bless some of them with your time and attention. He just says, “Go.!” He also says that murderers should be put to death. Love is not conditional but consequences are right. Hard to really grasp as we walk through life.

A visiting pastor this morning at Logos Family Church in Keetmanshoop, Namibia made some statements I had never quite heard before. He said they we are always asking God why He does or doesn’t do something. When something bad happens, it rocks our faith because we are looking to God for the answer why.

He gave several proofs for how God is good…all the time. Death, consequences of sin, mistakes, and bad things don’t come from Him. He promises to use ALL the pain and tears for the good of those who love Him. Instead of asking why, we should be looking at all He has done for us and ask

“Why did you do all this for me?” Specifically, why did God take the eternal consequences for my failings?

Another major theme in my life is the way God has shown me over and over and over and over…that it is Him working, not me. If I do everything right, then I immediately take the credit. I hate it but it is true. I say I’m sorry but almost immediately snap back to taking credit and affording some special-ness onto myself that explains the success of my family, my work, my program, whatever.

When will I mature enough to be able to get off this merry go round? If I were thin, would I be tolerable??? (-:

I have not one pure motive in me. When I am doing something good, I just love it when someone notices. I love being a bit better at something than someone else. I don’t need to be perfect…just better. I love but there is almost always the background noise of self-protection and preparedness to strike should I get hurt in the relationship. I can’t wait to feel pure in heaven and have this battle won, for good.

I have learned to accept that my motives are not pure and to just go ahead and do what I think is right and in line with God’s Will, regardless. I apologize to God that he even has to hear my inner life. I smile in the knowledge that he forgives me and cheers me on. He isn’t disappointed. He isn’t tired of me. Isn’t the God of the Bible worth knowing and loving? Yes, yes He is!

Ok. All great. Now what about my Pease Plan? Another one of God’s promises…I get a new start every morning. I think I need to take better advantage of that and try again.