WHEN YOUR HEALTH TAKES A
add pounds, so drink diet versions or
switch to fruit juices.
LICKIN’,
PUT
by Todd Starnes
Pray. The physical renovation of your
temple can be a spiritual event. Give God
DOWN THE
the glory and rely on Him for discipline.
Imagine the opportunities to testify about
CHICKEN
the love of Christ when people ask how
you lost 25 pounds.
So, if I run five miles a day, eat tofu,
and memorize Scripture, am I guaranteed
a heart-healthy life? Well, not quite.
L
ORD, PLEASE make me skinny.” We can apply this great spiritual les- There’s no such thing as a free pass in
My prayer went unanswered son to our physical condition. If the four life. All of us are going to face some sort
for many years. I suspect it had basic food groups in our daily diet are of malady. For some, it may be some-
less to do with God and more cheeseburgers, French fries, Goo-Goo thing as simple as the sniffles. For others,
to do with the all-you-can-eat Clusters, and soda pop, then we are it will be more extreme. But if we live
buffet around the corner from my house. building our house on sinking sand. a healthy lifestyle by eating the right
Had I been eating less and listening But if we build our house on a firmer foods and exercising, we might be in a
more, I would’ve heard the Lord reply, foundation, one built with exercise and better position to fight those diseases.
“Well, put down that cheeseburger and healthy eating habits, we might be able And when our strength is depleted, God
start exercising.” to stave off the health storms that will steps up to the plate. Remember what the
Nearly a third of Americans are obese, inevitably come. It doesn’t mean we apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9?
according to the Centers for Disease Con- become immune to medical problems. Quoting Jesus, he said, “My grace is
trol and Prevention. Mississippi is our
fattest state, followed by Alabama and
IF THE FOUR BASIC FOOD
Tennessee. The Bible Belt is bulging!
Granted, some people have legitimate
GROUPS IN OUR DAILY DIET
medical conditions that make them large. ARE CHEESEBURGERS, FRENCH
But let’s be honest. Most of us are fat
FRIES, GOO-GOO CLUSTERS,
because we eat too much fried chicken.
Sadly, that puts us at risk for unnecessary
AND SODA POP, THEN WE ARE
health problems. Just take a look at the
BUILDING ON SINKING SAND.
weekly church prayer lists. We petition
the Lord for healing, and yes, sometimes, But it does provide us with the stamina sufficient for you, for my power is made
He does heal. But I believe there’s anoth- to help fight off bigger problems. perfect in weakness” (NIV). That, my
er kind of spiritual healing—one that The apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not friends, is a miracle!
involves changing our habits, altering know that your body is a temple of the A few weeks ago, I was visiting my fam-
our lifestyle, and understanding that our Holy Spirit within you, whom you have ily in Mississippi. They took me to one of
body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. from God? You are not your own, for my favorite fried chicken restaurants. When
Consider the following parable Jesus you were bought with a price. So glorify it came time to order, I told the waitress I
told in the Sermon on the Mount: God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19- wanted grilled chicken and unsweetened
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of 20, NKJV).
tea. A hush fell across the dinner table.
Mine, and does them, I will liken him to
What are some practical ways to Aunt Lynn smiled, clasped her hands
a wise man who built his house on the
shape up your “temple” without spend- together and declared, “Unsweetened tea?
rock: and the rain descended, the floods
ing a fortune? Thank You, Jesus! It’s a miracle!”
came, and the winds blew and beat on
Exercise daily. Try walking a mile every Indeed. God is still in the miracle
that house; and it did not fall, for it was
day. It’s also a great way to relieve stress. business.
founded on the rock. But everyone who
hears these sayings of Mine, and does
Reduce your food portions. Instead of
not do them, will be like a foolish man
two pieces of meat, eat one. And eat Todd Starnes is a FOX
who built his house on the sand: and
more grilled food instead of fried. News Radio reporter and
the rain descended, the floods came, and
Cut back on desserts. Pick two days a the bestselling author of
the winds blew and beat on that house;
week to eat a sugary dessert. Otherwise, They Popped My Hood
and it fell. And great was its fall (Mat- eat fruit or low-fat Jell-O. and Found Gravy on the
thew 7:24-27, NKJV). Cut back on sodas. Sugary soft drinks Dipstick, published by Pathway Press.
EVANGEL • FEB 2010 15
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