Don't you just love when all the pieces come together on a jigsaw puzzle or the last word fits on a crossword puzzle? Or, how about reading a mystery when all the clues come together to prove who dun'it? Sometimes my study time is like that for me.
Last night, I was reading a book titled The Harbinger. It was written a couple of years ago by a Rabbi who equated the fall of Israel in ancient times to what is happening to America right now. There are a series of nine harbingers and the first, the first warning, is the loss of the hedge of protection that was around Israel then and around America now. His example is the tragedy of 9/11 and he equates the loss of God's protection to America's turning away from God and no longer acknowledging His name.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name." Psalm 91:14
Because of health challenges I can't help equating what happened to ancient Israel to the care we give our bodies, to the invasion of cancer and the health challenges we are facing. Have we turned away from what we know is right for us to keep us as healthy as possible? Do we lust after certain foods, alcohol, tobacco by putting our desires ahead of what we know is right? Do we turn our back on God every time we do something harmful to our body? If we do, then how can we expect Him to protect us? Choices.
Then this morning I was reading a commentary on Leviticus and it all fell into place. The writer states that God wants us to be holy. He traced the root of the word "holy" to the words "whole" and "wholeness". You can probably guess where my mind immediately went. The words "wholesome" and "whole" have come to mean "healthy" in today's world. I think God is telling us take care of our bodies physically as well as spiritually by the choices we make every day.... the choice to keep Him at the center of our life and the choice to take the best care we can of our bodies. God even takes the time in Leviticus to talk about our dietary needs and what is best to eat and not to eat. Again, choices.
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for the good report on Scott whom we prayed for yesterday. He will require surgery to correct a lead on a pacemaker but no need to be placed on the transplant list. We know that You intervened and we give You all the praise, honor, and glory.
Father, we thank You for revealing to us in so many different ways how important it is to keep You first in our lives and to honor You by caring for ourselves physically as well as spiritually so that we can better be of service to You. Guide us today in the choices we make in our health. Guide us in who and what we put first in our lives. Let it be You, Lord. Let it be You.
In Jesus' healing name,
Amen
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