What's Holding you Back?

I believe, at day 26 in our journey through wellness, we can be pretty honest here. Right? We know we should eat foods rich in nutrients, we know we should get enough rest, and we know we should challenge our muscles through exercise. We know this, but we are not doing this.

And being the psychology major I am, that leads me to ask, "Why?"  Why the disconnect between knowledge and action?  I believe it's the old battle of flesh vs spirit.

James 1:22-24 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

This is where we are in the ways of wellness.  We know so much, we have a mass amount of information at our very fingertips, yet we put so little into practice.  We know, but we do not do.

We are walking around with chains on our feet, slumped in our unhealthy prisons, yet there is a door open, a way to freedom.  Look at the picture above.  Imagine yourself in that hallway.  It is dark, desolate, void of life.  What would you do?  Would you stay there because it would be rather easy to simply slump down and put forth no effort?  Or, would you walk toward the door, thrown open, with light spilling in?  Freedom lies on the other side, but you must walk out.  You must actively choose to do something to change the circumstance.

I am tired of seeing so many walking around with the chains of unhealthy lives clanging behind them.  I am tired of seeing the shackles we have chosen with our sugar addictions, laziness, and poor habits.  The knowledge we have is the key that unbinds the chains, the shackles will fall free.  But being released from our vices is not enough if we remain in the prisons containing them.

It is time, sweet friends, to walk out, victoriously, and begin caring for ourselves as God's beloved.

Let me encourage you with 1 John 5:3-5, "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

God is calling us to live in freedom, healthy, vibrant, life flowing freedom. We are not called to live in bondage. Psalm 108:13 states, "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." He will bring about victory, even when the enemy we face is ourselves.

(Also, join my friends who are taking part in this 31 Days by clicking on their buttons on my tool bar on the right.)