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Body, Mind and Soul: 8 Ways to Live a Healthy Life

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As a Proverbs 31 woman, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself! Today I’m sharing 8 Ways to Live a Healthy Life – or as I like to call them: the 8 laws of health.

Also, be sure to download my free printable Spring Habit Tracker at the bottom of the post!

8 Ways to Live a Healthier Life @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge: Day 7

This 21 Day Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge is based on my post: Praying through Proverbs 31.

Today’s prayer challenge: Proverbs 31:17

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Proverbs 31:17

The Proverbs 31 woman takes care of her physical, mental, and spiritual health.

You can choose to honor God with both your mind and your body. Healthy living is a way we can love God:

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27, ESV, (emphasis added)

She Is Strong

No, you can’t do anything that will guarantee you won’t get sick or deal with a major health issue. We live in a fallen world that is broken.

But you can choose to be a good steward of the body God has given you! Through God’s grace, you can be faithful to take care of yourself. You can choose to take your health seriously and worship the Lord through thoughtful, healthy living practices.

Gird it Girl!

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms Proverbs 31:17, KJV

In the Bible, to gird up one’s loins was to tuck one’s long robe into the girdle, or belt, in order to be able to do something active. The idea is to be ready for action.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. Exodus 12:11

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14

The Proverbs 31 woman is physically ready to do what God has called her to do. 

The 8 Laws of Health (Video)

8 Ways to Live a Healthy Life

Think of these as the eight laws of health. Even if you are dealing with an issue beyond your control, these principles can help you to optimize the health God has given you. 

Get Proper Nutrition

Food is the fuel God has provided for us. Much like a car, when the tank is empty we stop. Of course we can choose fuel that may give us just enough strength to make it, sputtering and breaking down on the way. But why settle for that? God provides us with a bounty of nutritious and delicious foods that will nourish, heal, and strengthen our bodies. 

If you’ve been dependent on sugar and processed foods, don’t beat yourself up about it. We’re bombarded with marketing that tells us to enjoy those things and that we’re too busy to cook without the help of a box (Hamburger Helper anyone?) or a drive through. But I believe God has something better for you, and through His grace He can teach you and help you to make better choices.

Keep the “rules” simple. Eat real foods—plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats such as olive oil. Think about the food mentioned in the Bible. 

You don’t need to obsess about everything that goes in your mouth, but be mindful about what the effects your eating habits will have on your overall health. Meal planning is the key! Without a plan, we are much more likely to make choices we would otherwise not have made.

related: Eat at Home Meal Planning

Move Your Body

Notice I didn’t title this section “Exercise Daily”. When we hear the word exercise, we tend to think “I have to join a gym” or “I need to get up earlier to go jogging”. If that’s your thing, then go for it! But for many, the idea of going to a gym or starting a whole new exercise routine can be a bit overwhelming. 

That’s why I want to keep it simple: Move your body. It’s amazing how often we move while managing our household’s well. Housework, grocery shopping and cooking, gardening, playing with our children all require moving

Taking a walk with our husbands as we talk builds both our relationship and our bodies at the same time. Playing a game of tag or chase with our kids helps us to connect with them and have fun while moving. Scrubbing and vacuuming keeps our homes clean and our heart rates up. 

Remember Newton’s first law of motion? It says that “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion.” The more we choose to get up and do the things, the easier it will be to do the things. 

After you discover the benefits of moving, you may even decide you want to add a more intentional exercise plan in your life. 

Drink Water

Consider these facts about our need for water:

  • A person can only survive approximately three days without water
  • About 60% of our bodies are made up of water 
  • Dehydration is caused when we don’t get enough water resulting in things like unclear thinking, mood changes, and adverse health effects

Is it any surprise that we need to drink water. The Water in You: Water and the Human Body explains the essential functions water serves to keep us going. 

Here are some ideas to help you not just consume more water, but look forward to it too. 

  • Infuse water with fruits, herbs, and even even some veggies like cucumbers.
  • Drink water with your meals instead of soft drinks. Add some lemon or lime if you like.
  • Don’t forget other sources of water like vegetables and fruits and even tea.

Soak in the Sunshine

The importance of sunshine is often overshadowed today with warnings about the dangers of getting skin cancer. Of course we want to make sure not to get too much of a good thing and protect ourselves as needed, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to get out in the sun!

According to healthline, sunlight—in moderation—benefits us in many ways including:

  • Boosts our moods due to an increase in the release of the hormone serotonin
  • Builds strong bones through the production of vitamin D
  • Can help prevent certain cancers
  • Helps heal certain skin conditions
  • May treat a variety of other health issues

Breathe Some Fresh Air

We’ve been learning a lot about viruses lately. One of the recommendations is to be sure rooms are well ventilated—which means air can enter and circulate freely. Sounds like there is wisdom in simply breathing the fresh air. 

So open up your widows, get outside (which gives you the added benefit of soaking in that sunshine), and breathe deeply. 

Get Plenty of Rest

I have a friend who is a Christian counselor. One of the first things she asks her clients is about their sleep habits. It’s amazing how often a lack of sleep is associated with causing or exacerbating both mental and physical health issues. 

Throughout the Bible we see the importance of rest. 

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:2–3, ESV

I’m pretty sure that God wasn’t the one that needed to rest, but that He—from the very beginning—set an example for us. God, our creator, knows what is best for us and in our rest we glorify Him. How? We stop making it about what we do, but about what He does. 

We give our finite, imperfect bodies a chance to recharge in the way they were designed to.

Practice Self Control

In all these things we will need to practice self control. Each requires us to make choices…

  • To move our bodies when we would rather sit on the couch
  • To drink water when a soda seems to be calling our name
  • To soak in the sunshine when we’d rather sit in an air-conditioned room
  • To breathe the fresh air when we feel too busy to even go outside
  • To get some rest when we’d rather stay up late because the kids are finally in bed

We practice self control in order to embrace healthy living as an act of worship to God. And we trust Him.

Trust in God

Though this may seem like an afterthought coming at the end of the list, it’s actually the most important law of health and is foundational to each of the other ones. 

I put it at the end as a reminder. God is in control and he uses all things together for our good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

He uses our health, giving us the energy to walk in his ways. He uses our weakness to point to His strength. He uses our health and our times of sickness. We trust in Him in both.

Trust is active. Trust means making the choice to honor God in all things—including how we steward the bodies He’s given us. 

Action Steps to Take Today

  1. Pray and ask God to help you make good healthy, decisions and care for your body.
  2. Remember that it’s important to care for yourself so that you can take care of others. The Proverbs 31 woman takes care of her physical, mental, and spiritual health.
  3. Download my free printable Habit Tracker below, if desired.
  4. Think about ways you can incorporate the 8 laws of healthy into your daily life. Start with small changes, build little habits, instead of trying to change your entire lifestyle all at once.
  5. Use the Habit Tracker to keep track of your new healthier habits!

Free Printable Spring Habit Tracker

Spring Habit Tracker @ AVirtuousWoman.org

How to Download

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One Comment

  1. I love the 8 Laws of Health. Without them, I would be back where I was 20 years ago, skinny but unhealthy, lacking peace in my life, underhydrated and unrested, biting myself out working seven days a week. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Melissa, and for importantly linking the laws back to each woman's daily experience.

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