purification is a process... a not so pleasant one at that!

Since we have these promises let us purify ourselves from everything the contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1NIV

I just finished a long walk in the hot and humid early morning hours. It is August in Central Florida and that means steamy hot and sticky conditions, all day and night long. There seems to be little break from the condition that is almost like a physical weight that makes us just drag. Some days it almost feels like you are drowning outside. today is one of those days. As the sweat pours off me during my walk I am reminded of high school health class where they talked about how the glands in our bodies are performing a purification process when we sweat like that. It is flushing out the toxins from our cells through the skin. This is a healthy function of a well hydrated body doing exactly what God designed it to do. (even if I do not find it overly enjoyable or pleasurable) However when it comes to purification of the spirit it can also sometimes be an unpleasant experience. One where the Holy Spirit pushes out some of the things in our hearts and mind that are contaminating our souls.

Just as our physical bodies instinctively knows the things it is pushing out through the skin is unhealthy for our bodies and thus must rid us of those things, so also does the spirit know the things in our hearts and minds that are unhealthy for our souls and pushes them out. If we stay well watered in the word of God we desire to show reverence to Him. We allow our Spirit to release the things in our hearts and minds that contaminate the spirit just as the well watered body is willing to release the things that contaminate our physical selves.

For me my walks, no matter what the time of year or conditions, serve both purposes. I find that walking not only allows my body to flush out some of the toxins it also allows my soul the right conditions to do the same as I pour out my heart to my God. It allow the Spirit the ability to let go of some of the junk that is contaminating it. Some of the "junk" is not all bad... or at least it does not appear to be. Just like the food that taste so good, The things in my heart and mind that need to be purified are sometimes seemingly good things.

I was reminded this morning that the enemy is very very deceptive. I forget that sometimes. I forget that although something looks good and smells good and even taste good it is not necessarily good for me. My journey to health has taught me that about food... why am I surprised that it is the same in other areas of my life? I am also discovering that taking a break from some of the truly good things in life can lead to unhealthy desires as well as a desire for the good stuff. stay with me now... what I am trying to point out is the incredible connection between the physical and spiritual. for example any semi-mature Christian knows that restricting the daily disciplines of prayer, quiet time with God and time in His word can be necessary if we have allowed that to become all consuming... we are called to be salt and light in our world and if we never go out in the world we are so far off balance we need to stop and pull back some portion of our time from these things to regain the balance necessary in our spiritual life. However, this can lead to a very slippery slope if taken too far or for too long. Once away from the Christian walk. You start not spending as much time with other believers and become so busy with things and activities outside of the Christian life that you pretty soon you find yourself entertaining thoughts and ideas you never would have if you were staying faithful to the things you have let slide out of your life. In the same way when I have for a season allowed myself to restrict from my life carbs, including good foods like fruit and whole grains so that I could bring my body back into balance, (Something, I desperately needed to do) It was a necessary part of getting healthy. However, I am now finding after almost 6 months of time away I am begin to crave the good things... as well as the bad. yesterday I found myself in the frozen food section with tubs of ice cream in my hands. I was wise enough to read the labels and I did leave each one there. However, I struggled with it. I then found myself back in the fresh produce isles of the store and holding cherries and plums and nectarines in my hands... all good things yet still restricted items on my program. I left them there as well... sigh...

I am now in a place mentally where I am re-evaluating.... I honestly have met my initial goals. If we go back to the early post in this blog my one true goal was to be healthy. I am!!! Praise God, I truly am healthier than I have ever been as an adult, possibly ever in my life. Then when I set a weight goal, I set it at 175. I have met that goal as well... Although in my mind I have reset the goal to 150. I have to evaluate. Have I walked away from what is truly healthy for so long that I now am in a difficult place which has the potential to derail me? is this now a slippery slope that has the ability to quickly find me at the bottom of the pit? I am not sure... I honestly do not know. I do know that the connection between the physical and spiritual is very much connected to the mental and emotional as well. So today, will be a day of examining all those things. Looking for the weak link in the chain that connects me and keep me whole. It will also be a day of examining my spiritual armor that keeps me safe to make sure there is no chinks in it that could be allowing the enemy to penetrate my defenses and if so I will spend time repairing any damage I may find. I know that I know that I know My God is Omnipotent He has promised to supply wisdom to those who diligently seek it. Today I seek His wisdom... not that of men or of books or of life... but His wisdom that knows me better than I know myself... His wisdom that sees the ending before the beginning. His wisdom that truly nourishes me body, mind, heart and spirit.


Blessings to all of you! Thanks for reading and thanks for your prayers and encouragement! I know I would never have made it this far on my journey without you!