About Women of Strength – a devotional to improve spiritual & physical health

Women of Strength is the perfect companion for your health program. Each season is further divided into 6 sections that include an inspirational devotional, a fact on common health and fitness questions, a reflection, a prayer, a Bible verse, and an energizing exercise.

Excerpt

I gained a pound in the last week. It really is remarkable how a small number on the scale can have such great significance. Last week, I didn’t gorge and eat with gluttonous hunger. I didn’t sit down to seven-course meals and midnight snacks. No, the error I made wasn’t in the big sense but rather in the small. I neglected to mind what I ate. That is, I didn’t pay attention. I ignored my body signals of hunger and fullness. I ate food while tending to other matters – as if eating were second to other activities. I ate food for the mere taste of it and, more often than not, I ate without fully knowing I was eating. When I am mindful of what I eat I truly enjoy it. I look to it as a source of pleasure and nourishment. When I treat food with respect I treat my body with respect. It is the same with my Christian behaviour. Some days, I tend to get lazy with my worship of God and just go through the motions. I may go to church but my mind is tending to other matters. When I’m not mindful of my prayers and pay lip service to them, they come only from my mind but not my heart. It’s not enough to practice spiritual rituals. I must worship God with my heart as well as my mouth. My intentions may be good but if I don’t pay enough attention to the Word, I realize that I haven’t lived up to my true call as a Christian. Although I didn’t commit a horrendous sin, my behaviour isn’t reflected in the large events. Instead, it’s the small details. Was I patient and slow to anger? Did I respect the clerk behind the counter, obviously overwhelmed by the volume of customers? Was I kind and gentle with my children? I realize that my misbehaviour hurts God more than anyone else. I pray that I won’t be like those spoken of in Isaiah 29:13, “The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” I don’t want to go through the motions, but rather, I want to pay attention to the details of my heart. God is in the little things. He is in the every day. If I look to Him in my everyday life, I’ll grow spiritually strong. I want to be healthy in body, mind and spirit.

Exercise Your Funny Bone

The Best Vitamin for a Christian: B1

You Asked

Q: Do I need to spend hours in the gym to see results from an exercise program?

A: Even if you don’t have time for a formal workout during your day, any exercise is better than none. Try to take three 10-minute walks. For strength training, three 20-minute sessions a week will do the job.

Faith Lift

Dear Father – I pray that You will provide me with the courage to accept Your power and make the changes You ask of me. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Reflection

Yesterday, I spent the majority of my time outdoors playing in the snow. I got some good cardio activity from clearing the front walkway and back deck. Then I built a snow fort to play war with my son and his best friend. And, if I may say so myself, the fort looked fantastic! What are you doing to enjoy the season your in now?

Top Tip

Check with your doctor – You should get medical clearance from your physician before making any significant changes in your physical activity level.

Bible Truth

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV)?

Challenge

Drink one less caffeine beverage every day.

Praise Move

 Legs – Lunge

• Stand holding a dumbbell in each hand, your hands next to your thighs and palms facing your body.
• Keep your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, abdominals contracted.
• Take a long stride forward so that your knee is directly over your heel and your thigh is almost parallel to the floor.
• Your rear leg should be relaxed and bent so that the knee almost touches the floor.
• Hold this position for a moment, and then push back to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.
• Repeat for other leg.

Tips

1. The forward flexed knee should not extend past the forward foot.

2. Keep your upper body in line with your hips.

3. Learn proper technique before adding weight.

Where to Buy Women of Strength

CreateSpace – hardcopy

Buy the e-book:

Amazon Kindle – e-book

Smashwords – e-book