The first five Bearings focused on your spirituality together with mental and emotional stability. The next set of Bearings (6,7,8,9) have to do with your body. Paul pleads with us in Romans 12:1.
As you may know these scriptures were in the context of sexual purity, however, the ancient world did not have fast food drive through, giant cups of soda at the convenience store, and pizza commercials. This modern day ease to obtain food can lead to an unhealthy obsession with it. Greed and slothfulness can easily set in leading to a life full of selfish physical desires. If they had these vices in Paul’s day he no doubt would have addressed other ways of taking care of our bodies.
“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.”
Romans 12:1
“19Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
It is mandated that we take care of our bodies. We need our bodies so we can properly worship the Lord. If we are sick, not feeling well, can’t walk very far, can’t breathe well or other problems it makes it difficult to praise Him.
As women some of us have been taught from childhood that it was selfish or vain to spend time taking care of ourselves. This is contrary to God’s word.
“Let them (your bodies) be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
Romans 12:1
If we do things habitually to cause our own bodies to fail us we are not honoring God with our bodies.
I plead with you today to change the way you look at your health. Present your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Feed it nutritious food, exercise it and drink plenty of water.
Bearing 6: Drink Water
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelations 22:1
Drinking water is the first most important thing you can do for your body, mind and happiness. You immediately feel more alert, refreshed and have a better disposition when you drink enough water each day.
To get your Bearing 6 you must drink water and lots of it. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. Set an alarm on your phone if you need to. Drink another mid-morning, one at lunch, another mid-afternoon, one at dinner, and one in the evening. That totals 6 glasses or 16 oz bottles of water.
Throughout scripture water is used as a fundamental symbol of life in reality and symbolically. Water is the main fundamental life giving force we need. We need it above all other things. 7% of adults in America drink absolutely no water at all. 36% drink 1-3 cups of water a day and 43% of adults drink less than 4 cups, that is two 16 oz bottles of water per day. Nearly half of our adult population in America is walking around devastatingly dehydrated by choice. Without water we become dehydrated and die in 3 days. Then folks wonder why they are unhealthy, overweight and not feeling well.
If you have ever read any article on wellness and fitness they include drinking water as the number 1 priority. Our bodies are 60% water. Here are the consequences for not drinking enough water from EatThisNotThat.com
| 1. | Lack of water actually causes belly bloating. Not drinking water actually causes weight gain. |
| 2. | Your energy drops and you feel groggy. |
| 3. | You lose focus. You think you need coffee. Coffee further dehydrates the body and makes you feel worse. |
| 4. | Risk of stroke increases. |
| 5. | You get crankier. |
| 6. | You feel hungrier. |
| 7 | Your metabolism tanks. |
| 8 | You get headaches. |
| 9. | You get bad skin. |
| 10. | Your work out suffers |
| 11. | You have bathroom troubles. You can’t poop! |
| 12. | You kidneys can’t function right. |
| 13. | Neither can your heart. |
| 14. | Guys may have erectile dysfunction. |
| 15. | You won’t have tears but feel like crying but can’t. |
| 16. | Your pee turns dark yellow. |
You can still drink the other stuff as long as you drink water. But chances are you won’t want to anymore. Your body will have what it craves and needs.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16
Take care of your bodies. Do the first most important thing: drink plenty of water, six 16 oz glasses per day.
