Respect your temple (2)

“GOD BOUGHT YOU WITH A HIGH PRICE. SO…HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY.”
1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 NLT

Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s name is synonymous with fitness, but his commitment to health goes beyond simply looking good. Cooper believes your body is a temple and you owe it to God to keep it in shape. Now in his seventies, his physical condition is that of a 49-year-old. How did he go from being an overweight med student living on junk food and caffeine, to the wiry man who power-walks every day? On a waterskiing trip his heart started hammering at 250 beats a minute and he thought he was dying. It was a wake-up call. God was telling him something—and He didn’t have to speak twice! Cooper developed what we call aerobics, dropped 35 pounds and ran a marathon. Fitness became his passion, but speaking and traveling took a spiritual toll on him. So he decided to start feeding his inner man by reading, praying, integrating spiritual lessons into his lectures, and getting involved in church again. As a result he’s helped thousands of people. He says his greatest motive for staying in shape is spiritual.
So, how do you counteract a frenetic lifestyle and work-related stress? First: recognize that “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (v.19 NKJV) Second: get into a fitness program…eat right…practice moderation…and prioritize your schedule. If you think taking care of yourself physically isn’t ”Spiritual,” think again! It’s just as harmful to let yourself become run down through bad habits as it is to abuse drugs and alcohol. Instead of saying, “I don’t have time,” make time. It could save your life! In the meantime you’ll feel better and be a lot easier to live with.