How to Be Healthy

A Pregnancy Devotional

Proverbs 3:7-8
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.

I struggle sometimes with what is known as “prosperity preaching,” where the teacher says that because God blesses his people Christians should be healthy, wealthy and wise. Overall, I don’t believe it because the Bible paints a picture of a God who is more interested in my character than my comfort.

Then I read passages like Proverbs 3:7-8 and I am reminded that God does give health (and wealth and wisdom). The truth is, apart from God I can do nothing. Apart from God I will not be healthy.

When I was pregnant with my first child I read everything trying to become “wise” about what to eat, how much to exercise and how to labor. I learned a lot and I did have a healthy pregnancy. But when I look back at it, I didn’t really make any changes to my life because of what I read. I didn’t change the way I ate or start to exercise. I didn’t improve my health because of what I knew.

What I did do was make sure I read my Bible every day. I spent time asking God questions and listening to his Word. Did I have renewed health and vitality? Not right away. But after my daughter was born my attitude about my body changed. I no longer thought of myself as weak and non-athletic. I wanted to see just how strong God had made my body to be. I took up running and naturally began cutting out excessive snacks and low nutritional value foods.

God didn’t zap me into better health. It has taken four years for my body to get even close to healthy. But by keeping priorities in order God has lead my heart and attitudes down the path to better health.

After spending some time meditating on this passage of scripture, you may enjoy working through a set of questions in the Communication Exercises section.

Related Topics: The Coach's Notebook explores more ways to prepare for childbirth with comfort measures and techniques you can use. Prepare your physical body for childbirth with exercise and nutrition. The Christian Childbirth Resource Directory lists websites, books and organizations all created to help you honor God through childbirth. Birthing Naturally Books publishes books to help you grow closer to God during this special time of life. Find other childbirth professionals near you in the Natural Childbirth Directory.

© Copyright 2000-2007 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally

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