You’ve heard it now for generations: How to live a healthy life. In fact, one of the popular “sign-offs” for emails and letters now is – “Be Well!” So, what does this mean? Truly, all over the world, you hear talk shows, podcasts, seminars, and even friends talk about being healthy:
- Use My Plate – to help eat a balanced diet.
- Drink plenty of water – stay hydrated and promote your internal systems.
- Stay active – keep moving with exercise, biking, jogging, tennis, golf, etc.
- Get outside – enjoy fresh air. See the beauty of creation. Be quiet and calm. And, breathe deeply.
- Spend time with friends – enrich and nourish your inner person.
- Be well-read or well-listened – know what’s going on around the globe to have an accurate perspective.
- And I add – Get into God’s Word – for key points and action steps you need to guide your life.
- Plus – Get God’s Word into you – grow and change by doing what Scripture says. Remember, what you practice is what you become.
In conclusion, all these – and more, help you live a healthy life.
Tear Into It – How To Live A Healthy Life
First, I suggest – check out our initial content that launched Scripture Dissection materials: Tear Into It. Incidentally, that article explains how and why we introduce Scripture dissection exercises periodically.
So, now look up Ps. 37:3-7 in your Bible. Since you may not have a Bible this moment, here’s the passage.
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
What does all this mean?
Let’s Tear Into –How To Live A Healthy Life
There are always four categories we explore in Scripture dissection:
- What Does It Say?
- What Does It Mean?
- Make It Personal
- Make A Commitment.
1. What Does It Say?
To explore these Scriptures, let’s review each phrase.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Trust in the Lord and do good. This is a summary for everything that follows. Equally, it’s a great, practical way to live each day. Simply trust the Lord. Then determine to do good.
Dwell in the land and enjoy …
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Interestingly, this phrase reminds me of Eccl. 11:8. “How ever many years you may live, enjoy them all.” Incidentally, God wants you to enjoy your life, even in this broken world. Plus, He will provide safety for your heart if you stay close to Him.
Delight in the Lord – He will give you desires . . .
Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Simply, take delight in Jesus FIRST. NEXT, know He’ll give you the desires of your heart. BEST, He will help define your desires as He grants them.
Commit your way to the Lord.
Commit your way to the Lord. What does this mean? Essentially, commit everything you do to the Lord. Since your life is not your own, committing your way to Him becomes worship as you adopt God’s agenda and plans. (1 Cor. 6:19)
Trust in Him and He will . . .
Trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. Essentially, yielding to God in love, believing His Word, and asking Him to nurture your life – all these honor God. Plus, you become who you are designed to be.
Be still before the Lord and . . .
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. So, be still. Calm yourself. Refuse to let stress rule. Wait on the Lord. Subsequently, all these choices prove you believe God and love Him back.
Do not fret when others succeed . . .
Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Set aside anxiety about this broken world. Rather, remember God will correct every wicked scheme. Plus, He will lift up every righteous initiative.
2. What Does It Mean?
Now, let’s explore what these phrases mean.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Trust in the Lord and do good. Sadly, trusting God is not what people usually do. Nevertheless, trusting means looking to Him in all things. Additionally, it means believing His good intentions toward you. Also, it means living in His ways, timing, and creativity over your life. Most critically, it means you know He’s in process of answering prayer – before you see it.
Dwell in the land and enjoy …
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Are you enjoying your life? Initially, this means – be pro-active.
For example, if you’re short financially, work to get a good job (perhaps a second part time job) if you possibly can. Be disciplined not to spend above your means. Try to consolidate debt and refinance at a low interest rate.
Another example, if you are lonely, reach out to others and set up times with them. Go places. Enjoy meals together. Think of interesting things to talk about. Etc.
Just a few examples that may not apply to everyone.
Delight in the Lord – He will give you desires . . .
Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Let’s explore the three approaches mentioned previously:
- FIRST – Enjoy Jesus as your Companion. Tell Him what’s in your heart. Listen intently to His Spirit who lives in you. Thank Him for how He’s working, though you cannot see yet. Interact with Him as your dear Friend.
- NEXT, know He will give you desires of your heart. Likely, this will look differently than you picture. Some desires simply can’t be realized in this broken life. Yet, somehow they’ll be met in eternity to enjoy without end.
- BEST, God will help define your desires better. Think about this. Since He’s your Designer and Creator, God knows you inside-out. So, if you yield to Him, He’ll teach you about yearnings in your heart. Remarkably, He’ll also teach you how to live a healthy life.
Commit your way to the Lord.
Commit your way to the Lord. Whatever you do, engage life with Jesus. Essentially, this brings a comfortable peace and assurance to go forward. If you place all your efforts and investments in His care, He will help you live a healthy life. Since He invested His entire life into your future, you can know He’s very committed to your life.
Trust in Him and He will . . .
Trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Too often, people falsely believe trusting God means “losing out” in life. Not true! Invariably, it’s the opposite.
Trusting God opens your life to God’s blessings. Just as the dawn is breath-taking and the noonday sun is bright and encouraging – you can live a breath-taking life with bright, encouraging character. So, bring beauty to the world. And light the way for others.
Be still before the Lord and . . .
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. How often do you simply STOP? To be still and calm, you have to stop. Equally, to wait on the Lord means you’re assured He is absolutely faithful. Afterall, He can NOT be unfaithful? 2 Tim. 2:13 says, “. . . if we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself.”
Do not fret when others succeed . . .
Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Interestingly, this simple choice means you experience peace and joy. Instead of worry, anxiety, and stress – even mistreatment at the hands of others – you become a partner with God. Remarkably, He overcomes evil through your surrendered life.
3. Make It Personal
How can you make this content personal? Basically, picture (meditate on) ways to live a healthy life. Importantly, apply each of these concepts daily. To help you do this, let’s go to the Commitment Questions.
4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions
- Do you trust God with resolve?
- In what ways are you doing good each day with family, friends, community, and the world?
- As you do good, even in small ways, are you aware you represent God’s ways?
- List things you’re doing to enjoy your life?
- Name specific ways you can enjoy God more each day.
- Will you commit your desires to God, even if He intends them for eternity?
- What practical ways can you work on being calm and still in Christ?
- Who do you need to “let go” into God’s power to curb their dysfunctional – or even evil – choices?
- Ponder how to live a healthy life. Next, write these ideas down. Then, carry them out, starting now.
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