Cleaning Our Inner Wardrobe: 4 Essential Areas Part2

by Edith Pont⁽¹⁾
http://edithpont.com/

If you are reading this, let me congratulate you for taking the time to actually read such a post. Many individuals would rather read about other topics that are a little lighter… On our last post, we discussed the importance of cleansing the Heart and disciplining the Mind. Now, let me ask you this: Did you take the time to meditate on the first two areas of your inner wardrobe? I bet it was not an easy task. It is a very tough process, but I admire your courage! So, let’s keep working on this. Two areas remain: (3) our Body and (4) our Spirit.

THIRD ESSENTIAL AREA: Care for your BODY – “But I discipline my body and keep it under control.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)

Most of us have heard about the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise, but some tend to have difficulty following through. One of the main reasons we need to care for our bodies is that we are God’s temple! Did you get that? God resides in you… We have the great privilege to house God himself! This means that our bodies are NOT our Property – Sorry to give you the news… He is gracious enough to give us freedom to choose how we will respond to His gift of life, but ultimately, you BELONG to God!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV) –“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”

So, this means that if we mistreat our body, we are disregarding the Lord’s property. I don’t know about you, but I want to take care of what God gives me. Sadly, some people believe that caring for their bodies is selfish or of the flesh – that somehow it is not of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). I believe it’s the complete opposite – it is selfish to neglect our body.

We are not talking about extremes. There needs to be balance – “For God is not a God of disorder.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 - NLT) If neglecting our body is selfish, then indulging it is prideful. Be sensible to the needs of your body. Care for your temporary dwelling. How can we go out into the world and preach the good news if we disregard the state of our bodies? You can’t give what you don’t have. So, take care of your body, so you can have the energy to help others.

Now, some of you may be thinking, “But how can I take care of my body when I don’t love the body God gave me?” Let me tell you something…. It’s not about you! You have the body you have because God determined it was perfect for you. He made you unique. There’s nobody else like you. This is probably a topic for another post, but let me tell you that part of the lesson God wants you to learn on earth is to be content with what you have – Not what you don’t have.

Genesis 1: 27 (NLT) –“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Neglecting our bodies can result in chronic fatigue, exhaustion, memory loss and emotional drifts. In addition, it has an impact on our relationships with others. So, what can we do? Well, I’m not here to tell you what to eat or how much to exercise. I want to emphasize the importance of fasting. Now, not just for the physical benefits, but for the spiritual impact (please speak to your doctor before beginning any diet changes). The point of a fast is to be intentional about your time with God. It’s about cleansing your Heart (first area), as well as the inside and outside of your body. Tell God about the things that you struggle with and find difficult to let go; your relationship with food as well as ways you have abused your body.

Romans 12:1 (NLT)– “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”

Four Ways to Fast:

Normal- abstaining from food – Luke 4:2
Absolute- abstaining from food and water; normally no more than 3 days – Acts 9:9; Deut. 9:9; Ezra 10:6; Esther 4:16
Partial- restricting diet of certain foods or a meal a day – Daniel 1:16; Daniel 10:3
Regular- fast days that commemorate an event or weekly fasts on a regular day – Lev. 23:27; Ps. 35:13; Is. 58:5; Jer. 36:6; Luke 18:11-12

FOURTH ESSENTIAL AREA:Synchronize your SPIRIT –“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.”1 Corinthians 2:10-14(NIV)

At the end or at the beginning of our days, some of us have to sync our phones to our computers for calendar updates. We need to do the same with our Spirit – sync daily with the Holy Spirit. If you don’t take the time to know what God wants for your life, you will find yourself confused when it comes to making life’s choices. You will make poor choices that may have devastating consequences if you do not take the time to sync with HIM.

John 16:13– “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

Are you getting your energy through your cup of coffee in the mornings? Or are you connecting to your energy source from above? The coffee will be in your system for a couple of hours, but God’s energy is with you ALL the time. Discerning God’s will for your life means being attuned to His voice, which cannot be done if you don’t have a relationship with him. It’s not enough to know God – you need to BE with God. This means a continuous relationship through prayer and reading of His Word.

1 Corinthians 2:10-14(NIV) – “But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.”

As we have seen, cleaning our Inner Wardrobe is not an easy task, but it is worth it! Remember, this is an ongoing process, so enjoy the ride and fully trust in the Lord! Stay tuned for the next post. Learn about the six essential pieces you need for your new wardrobe!

Rest in His Word:Philippians 1:6

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Heart Checkup:

What’s holding me back from eating healthier and working out?
Make a plan to implement a day of fasting. Educate yourself about it first, make a plan and do it.
Where are you getting your energy? Where are you spending your energy?
How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit today?

Article submitted Monday, July 16, 2012 & read 231 times.

Please log in to leave your comments.
No comments yet.
We appreciate your comments!

17-0-0-0-2

Most Recent