| |
maybe? There is enough in nature that changes all through the year to bring you restful, detailed pleasure - drawings of the trees in the park through the year, writing a simple poem about the birds on the chimney that you can see from your window. Planning surprises each week is therapeutic exercise, indeed.
|
But there is an even more serious kind of exercise.
It is one that is guaranteed to bring confidence and hope into your life. The Holy Scriptures contain many PROMISES But how do we access these promises? It requires exercise! Exercise of something called FAITH. We have a small amount of faith already - we trust friends, we trust that the water will come from the tap! This faith is actually a gift from God, to us all, intended for us to use in linking us with Jesus our High Priest, so that we can receive the help He offers.
Faith can be pictured as another arm - a spiritual arm- that we can use to reach out to claim those promises of God, that are written down for us in the Holy Scriptures. As we tentatively exercise the arm of faith, reaching through the cloud of doubt (doubt if there is a God, doubt about his kindness, maybe?) to ask for these promises, our High Priest reaches down so gladly, to hold on to us so strongly, giving us comfort, strength, forgiveness or help. As with any exercise, the more we practise it, the stronger the ‘arm of faith’ becomes. |
Exercising the arm of faith |
|
Here are some of those promises to reach for.
'Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee'
'Casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.' 'The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.'
'If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'
'The Lord is my helper.'
'What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.'
'The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee, he will be with thee.'
TO SUM IT UP, TOTAL EXERCISE IS -
- To exercise your right to choose.
- To exercise your body.
- To exercise your mind.
- To exercise your 'arm of faith'.
- To exercise your appreciation of beauty around you.
- To exercise love in reaching out to others.
This total exercise programme will bring healing to a tired body and refreshment to a jaded, dull mind. It is completely balanced and guaranteed satisfying.
REFLECTION
To get the benefit, we have to do something, however - not just think about it! This is the same with any of the exercises in this lesson. This easy principle makes total health simple to understand and to have. We choose, we exercise (or eat or de-tox or drink or trust) and we feel the benefit.
END PIECE
‘Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.’ 2 Corinthians 7:1 |
<< Back Page 2 | Page 1
[ Home ] [ About Us ] [ Using The Gifts Of Creation ] [ Contact Us ]
Copyright © 2008 healthandhope.org.uk |
