Let’s look at another aspect of purpose and self-care. Not only must we accept our limits, it is also important to eat, sleep and move.
EAT, SLEEP, MOVE
We will carry on looking at Elijah as an example. He overextended and overscheduled himself for too long causing him to hit rock bottom. He was properly burnt out physically, emotionally and spiritually. However, God took him on a journey of restoration.
An important part of his restoration was physical restoration which consisted of 3 things: eating, sleeping and moving.
When we find ourselves in a similar situation as Elijah where we are under-nourished, exhausted and physically run down we lack the capacity to fulfill our calling which then comes to a standstill. That is why to be useful to others we need to take better care of ourselves physically. As Peter Palmer puts it: “Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to our [body] and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch”.
Because of Western thinking it is easy to compartmentalize our human system. We are under the impression that doctors care for our bodies, psychologists for our minds and pastors for our souls. But the Bible gives us a very different perspective. It gives us a profound integrated reality showing us that our body, mind and soul are interlocked and in fact feed off each other. If we neglect one of them the others will suffer. So, how do we get this right?
Eat more healthily - Read Daniel 1 to see the benefits. The Bible doesn’t advocate for a specific diet but it does tell us to look after our bodies. Furthermore, there have been enough studies that show us to avoid excess sugar, processed food, junk food and even overdoing caffeine intake.
Sleep well - the deeper and longer we sleep the better we are launched into our next day. It is important to get 7-9 hours of good, uninterrupted sleep every night. You might think that is easier said than done but here are some tips: cut back on your evening intake of sugar, alcohol and caffeine, set a reminder for bedtime, don’t look at blue-light screens for a minimum of an hour before bedtime to help your brain release melatonin which brings you a good night’s sleep. Psalm 127:2 says: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat for He grants sleep to those He loves”.
Exercise regularly - In 1 Timothy 4:8 we read that “Physical training is of some value… holding promise for the present life. As much as exercise expends energy it also gives energy in return. One of the subtle effects of being emotionally exhausted is that we feel too tired to muster up the effort to go exercise, but we must not give in to it. It is important to remember that exercise will extend your life, it will increase your capacity to handle stress, boost your sense of well-being and in the end it will actually increase your physical and emotional energy levels.
I hope this encourages you to take time for yourself to look after your physical body.
Inspiration is drawn from the Purpose series by CityHill Church
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