Seven Divine Keys to a Healthier You-Now!

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Contents

Introduction........................................................................................................................xiiiKey #1: Jesus Christ Is the Way to a Healthier You—Now!.......................................................................1Key #2: The Power of Prayer and the Holy Spirit.....................................................................................13Key #3: Stop Smoking and Stop Drinking Alcohol in Excess............................................................................23Key #4: Release the Grease: Reduce Your Consumption of Foods Containing High Levels of Saturated and Trans Fats.....................33Key #5: Make a Commitment to Exercise Consistently..................................................................................41Key #6: Release the Stress, Receive God's Best!.....................................................................................51Key #7: Count It All Joy Now!.......................................................................................................65Appendix 1..........................................................................................................................73Appendix 2..........................................................................................................................77

Chapter One

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"For by grace [God's unmerited favor] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works [human effort] lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8–9)

In order to seek a healthier body, we must first seek a healthy spiritual relationship with the greatest gift that mankind has ever received, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gives us the gift of salvation, justification, and sanctification. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," reveals Matthew 6:33. "O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him," reveals Psalms 34:8. Jesus Christ is truly the answer and "the way" to a healthier you now when you seek first a relationship with Him through faith.

His Word is a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths," meaning that through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, He will illuminate, lead, and guide us into a lifestyle of healthy living when we place our total confidence in Him as our Lord, Savior, and Shepherd. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths," reveals Proverbs 3:5–6. "I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," reveals John 6:35. I firmly believe, as the above scriptures indicate, that the Lord will lead, guide, and direct those who trust Him into a greater awareness of the divine relationship between health consciousness and a life filled with His purpose. We, as true believers, will also never hunger for divine direction in receiving the wisdom we need to reach our highest level of healthy living.

Jesus Christ, who indwells us with the power and the help of the Holy Spirit, said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, ye [you] are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: For without me ye can do nothing." This verse clearly reveals why so many people start out on new diets and exercise plans and abort them in a few weeks. When we leave the Lord out of the plan, the result will always be less than desired. The Lord went on to say in verse seven, "If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." When a person makes the right choice to live in a relationship with Jesus Christ and daily obey His Word, "you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you," including your desire for a healthier body. Always remember that your obedience to God is valued more than your sacrifice. One of the most powerful revelations in the whole Bible, in my opinion, is found in John 14:23, where Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep [obey] my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." I firmly believe that with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit abiding with us at all times, our victory in every area of our lives, including our health, is already won! "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

In Matthew 11:28, the Lord offers a powerful invitation to all people of the world: "Come unto me all ye that labour [trying on your own strength], and are heavy laden [weary and burdened down] and I will give you rest [victory and peace]. Take my yoke [my purpose, my will] upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest [peace, victory, and contentment] unto your souls. For my yoke [my mission and purpose for your life] is easy, and my burden is light." I truly believe that the greatest thing we can have on this Earth is a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 revealed, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In essence, you will become spiritually "born again and transformed from above." Once a person makes a total surrender, repents and comes all the way through saving faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary, the Lord will indwell and seal you with the Holy Spirit of promise, redirecting your way of thinking from worldliness to holiness. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13). "Marvel [Wonder] not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

I firmly believe that you, after being spiritually born again and converted from above, will begin to recognize that your body is the most precious and the most valuable natural resource that the Lord has given you stewardship over. Of all the money and precious jewels in the world, no amount could ever equate to God's value of your life here on Earth. The psalmist in Psalms 139:14 revealed it best: "for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Matthew 10:30– 31 reveals, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

This process of thinking the way God desires you to think about your body starts the moment you believe and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Without question, a divine transformation takes place within your heart. A man named Saul experienced this spiritual transformation while he was on a wicked mission to persecute Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:1–6). The first thing he said, after realizing that he was in the presence of Jesus Christ, was "Lord what wilt thou [you] have me to do?" His transformation was so...