A is for activity. God created the human body for movement. The Biblical record tells us that “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15) So it’s clear that God’s plan was not for people to just sit on the couch and play video games! God also created people to be thinkers—mentally active. God invited the prophet Isaiah, “Come now and let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18) Mental and physical activity are part of God’s plan for us. Of course, we all know we should exercise. But being active goes beyond weights, treadmills, and jogging pants. How do we make sure we include activity in our busy schedule?
Here are some ideas for daily physical activity:
- Park far away from the store and walk a little more to get to the entrance.
- Use your lunch time to walk more and eat less.
- Schedule physical activity into your daily routine - walk the dog, take the stairs, sweep the front porch.
- Plan to be outdoors every weekend (if not every day) - for example, wash the car or take care of the yard yourself instead of paying someone to do it, go to the park with the kids, explore a new bike or hiking trail, etc.
For mental activity, try these ideas:
- Learn a new language, or brush up on one you learned in high school.
- Practice or learn a musical instrument.
- Play Sudoku, put together a puzzle, or play a strategy game with your kids.
- Memorize Scripture.
Whatever you may choose, start small and work up your endurance. You can do it! The payoffs are worth it—a healthier body and a sharper mind.
As you add Activity to your healthy Choices of Rest and the larger Environment, I pray you will find more enjoyment in the wonderful life God created you to experience!
Next month, we will look at T. T is for Trust in God.
Be sure to check out the Activity page of the Creation Life website for many more resources about how "Activity" impacts our health, our family, our kids, and every aspect of life.