Monday, July 3, 2006

What Are You Saying?

by Donna L. Watkins

What we listen to affects our health. That could be radio and television or people around us. Some people and circumstances force us to listen to ranting and evil reports. We need to set boundaries on what we see and hear to protect our health.

Something that you may not be considering is what you say to yourself all day long. Many people rip themselves apart hour by hour with negative thoughts on what they should be doing, who they should be, how awful they are performing, how ugly they look, and so on. If you have these thoughts going on, you don’t need anybody to rant and argue since you’re dong such a great job of it all by yourself. Are you being cruel to yourself?

If you keep attacking yourself mentally, your body will soon agree and do the same. Autoimmune diseases (where the body attacks itself) are increasing at an amazing rate. Some of the “old” diseases are now being discovered to have autoimmune factors. Do an internet search on a disease name with the word autoimmune and see what you find.

Do you have a problem being merciful? I sure do! And it’s because I have a problem giving myself any mercy. It doesn’t come naturally, I have had to work at being easy on myself. When I remind myself of God’s mercy to me, I can be more merciful to myself and others and that is a major focus of my health program.

“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul [mind, will and emotions], but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” Proverbs 11:17

Autoimmune diseases have also been linked to personalities that are driven. I certainly never needed any push or shove to get going. I was my own taskmaster and to keep my peace, joy and mercy, I have to focus on the pace of Jesus. He never rushed or hurried but got all his work done. I had to admit that I was finding my sufficiency in what I accomplished, not in who I am in Christ. What a rude awakening!

God made us for relationship. The curse made us have to work to eat, but it never took away God’s sole desire to have fellowship with us.

When I finally took my life from the hands of “tyranny of the urgent” I found that what my soul really longed for was more time with my Father. The hurry and scurry covered over my loss of that time but it certainly didn’t provide the same benefits. A job well done never matches up to a soul [mind, will and emotions] well satisfied.

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 How much of our inner conversations have to do with “keeping up” with something or somebody? Is that envy?

No matter how much I had on my To Do list and how much I had checked off by the end of the day, it never stopped the “not enough” thoughts. Dumping guilt all over myself for not getting it all done. Not enough hours, not enough help. Funny how the overdoers see the people who have enough sense to pace their lives. Shall we consider the words ‘lazy,’ ‘unmotivated,’ ‘useless?’ OUCH! As I rushed about my day with an unending tirade of tasks that I assigned myself, I judged those around me who weren’t on the same racetrack.

"My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my guilt, and my bones grow weak." Psalm 31:10

All the while, Jesus was quietly waiting and seeking me to join Him at His pace of life. My pace was simply ungodly and I didn't see how it could change because it required ME to change, not others. It was hard to see and admit that I was the one heaping these burdens upon myself. The Bible told me to be anxious about nothing and to be still and know God and I did not see how so I continued in rebellion against those commands.

"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him." Psalm 32:10

You might want to read another article titled, “Walking Like Jesus.”

To be healthy, we are going to have to get our thought life healthy. It’s a real major makeover for sure, but you can do it. Ask God to show you a Scripture [because the Word has power] that you can take to heart, memorize it and use it to replace those awful driving thoughts that ruin our lifestyles and health.

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul [mind, will and emotions] and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

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