Wellness with God: Inviting God into Your Wellness Journey
I think I’ve figured it out. Well, kind of…..
Lately, there has been a major shift from diet culture to a more wellness-focused approach to living. My social media platforms have been filled with an overwhelming amount of opinions, information, and ideologies that claim to be the gateway to a wellness-focused life. I’ve always had this desire within me to nourish my body in a way that makes me feel my best while creating beautiful, colorful meals. It brings me so much joy to try new recipes and share them with loved ones. Because of this desire, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole over the years, researching and testing all of the diets out there. Keto, pescatarian, vegan, vegetarian, you name it, I’ve tried it. Although these diets did challenge me to think outside of the box when creating meals, I just felt so limited. I became so frustrated listening to all of this noise around me and different opinions about food, health, and wellness. After years of diet hopping, I was over it.
I remember praying one day and telling God how frustrated I was with diet culture and the overwhelming amount of information out there. I said “Lord, I don’t know what is good or bad for me anymore. I need your help, your guidance.” In my frustration, God told me to invite Him into this journey. I didn’t even think to do that, I so easily forget that He truly wants to be a part of every aspect of my life, even if it seems minor. He is not a God who only shows up for those big moments but loves to be a part of every moment. So, with my hands in the air, I asked God to help me understand what He desires. We are encouraged to “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” -Proverbs 3:6 NLT).
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit that lives within us and loves when we allow Him to lead. So that is what I did, I allowed God to lead. To be honest, my journey since then has not been linear but I believe that is just the way God desires it to be. No season is the same in life so why would I expect this journey to be?
I promise that when you invite God into any situation, He will speak. He has been so intentional and has given me so much clarity about what He desires. God spoke to me and told me that His desire is for me to live a lifestyle of consuming whole, real foods. Now, this may be different for everyone, so I strongly encourage you to seek God in prayer and allow Him to speak to you. Each season is different, and He may desire something different. There was a season in my life when God told me to consume only plant-based foods as a fast. This is something that I would not have known to do unless I intentionally listened to His voice in prayer. So, it is important to stay connected to God consistently.
What is so beautiful about allowing God to lead specifically in the area of health and wellness is that He knows what we need more than anyone, He is our creator. He knows if we are sick or battling deficiencies and will direct our steps to get us to a place of good health. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.” It still blows my mind that I have God living within me. When I remind myself of this verse, I am encouraged to steward my body well and practice discipline. This means that I need to nourish my body in a way that allows me to be strong and equipped for anything God desires to do through me. When I switched my focus from body image to God’s image of me, I became empowered to become my healthiest self.
Every day brings challenges; I know that God does not expect perfection but desires a willing heart. I believe everyone’s journey will look different! No matter what it looks like, I am here to encourage you to invite God to join you. After all, He created you and knows exactly what you need to thrive in this life. So, as I said, I think I figured it out… There is no right or wrong way of living a healthy lifestyle when we allow God to lead our way.
