The Picture of Health®
Daily Power Plan™
100-Day Devotional
Daily Walks with God
to Exercise Your Faith and Heal Your Body
Dr. Ray and Michelle Pearson
© 2006 Dr. Ray A. and Michelle M. Pearson
Smashwords Edition
The Picture of Health Daily Power Plan 100-Day Devotional
By Dr. Ray and Michelle Pearson
ISBN 978-1-60266-035-9
All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission of the author.
Printed in the United States of America
Unless otherwise indicated all scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission.
Other versions cited are: King James Version of the Bible (KJV), Public Domain; Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, used by permission; New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers; (The Message) © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson; (NKJV) New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.; The Bible text designated (YLT) is from the 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young, Public Domain; English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers; RVR1960 Copyright © 1960 by American Bible Society
Table of Contents
Consecration
To the Lord God –
We thank you for the wisdom and knowledge you are bringing to The Church, the Body of Christ, as your great mystery is revealed. We thank you, Lord God, for those whose hearts you have prepared in advance to hear and receive this seed from the Word of God. We believe You for a great harvest, the fullness of our inheritance in Christ. May your everlasting Word cause this book to be timeless and always in season for those who encounter it. Be glorified Lord as we worship you in the manner you always intended: Spirit, Soul, and Body.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Dedication
To Ray,
Who are you, my beloved, who has so deeply won my heart?
You are the one the maidens sing of in the Song of Solomon. Your left arm is under my head, and your right arm embraces me. You, my love, are radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. Your eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. Your cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. Your lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. Your arms are rods of gold. Your legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. Your appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. Your mouth is sweetness itself; you are altogether lovely. You are my lover; you are my friend. I cherish you.
Thank you for teaching me, loving me, and encouraging me to seek Him first. With long life shall He satisfy you because you have set your love upon Him! I am honored to share that life at your side. Thank you for all you poured into this project and into our lives. I love you. Mi.
Acknowledgements
There are times when a special expression of thanks and acknowledgement is appropriate. Our thanks to those mentioned here are not meant to exclude nor forget the many prayers and people who have poured the Word and the love of God into our lives for so many years, but rather an expression of our appreciation and love for specific seeds sown into this particular project.
To all our children,
Greg, Rachelle, Katherine, Rebecca, Billy, Renee, Christopher, Ryan
(And the ones whose names we don’t yet know)
Our greatest desire for each of you is that you be woven into the tapestry of God’s love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery, in Christ, and nowhere else.
Already, you have each in your own way gone beyond the role of children to partake as partners in this Kingdom work. We thank you for the extraordinary ways you all have expressed your belief in this project and also for the precious and significant seed some of you sowed to it turn into sight. We pray that God will bless you and multiply your seed sown in an exceeding, abundant harvest of dreams come true.
As you walk with Him remember: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all of you. Do not despise nor waste your youth; but be an example of Christ, in word, in conversation, in giving, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.
We have chosen these words to you carefully. Do not neglect the gifts that are in you. Meditate upon these things; give yourselves wholly to them; in all that you do, let your lives be evidence of His power and goodness. Each of you has received Christ Jesus, the Master. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now, our beloved children do what you've been taught. Live life in abundance, to the full, until it overflows! We love you, Dad and Mom
To Mrs. Doris Ann Byrd and Miss Sandra Troutt – You, too, are partners in this Kingdom work and you have our utmost thanks for sowing your time and anointed service that it might be presented to God and the Kingdom in excellence. We ask the Lord to bless you, to fill your lives with love, and to fill your homes with rare and beautiful treasures! We love you and thank you.
To my Freaky Friends – You are so “ardently devoted to God”; you are the lifters of my hands. I love you and am forever blessed that you invited me in. Thank you for helping us birth this project in the Spirit and bring it to perfection (completeness in Him). Mi
Day 1 – Introduction
Ephesians 1:17-19 (New International Version)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength…
Selah (pause and reflect)
This is a prayer that Paul prayed for those he taught in Ephesus. It is my prayer for you today and everyday. We will talk many times about wisdom and revelation in the days to come. Both work hand in hand as keys to operating in the Spirit rather than in your flesh or carnal nature. They are given freely for the asking by God to His children so that we may know Him better.
As you take your first “power walk” with Him today, why not ask Him to open your eyes so that you may truly see that He has called you and provided for you a rich, glorious inheritance...now in this life and the life to come. You will be learning each day in our “power walks” with God about your physical body and how to bring it under direction of the Holy Spirit. Each daily lesson from the Word will teach you about your glorious inheritance through Christ and His resurrection!
Recorded in John 4:12 (NIV), Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Have you thought on that scripture long enough to realize that He was speaking of things He had done while in the physical body on this natural earth? Selah.
Yes, through Him, resurrection power is at work to bring new life to us, to quicken our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). That is the power that enables us to walk this out in complete victory! Praise be to God
Day 2
Matthew 7:24-26 (NIV)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Selah (pause and reflect)
I am blessed to be able to say that my father is among Arkansas' most seasoned and respected real estate appraisers. For many years he was also a homebuilder. Before entering the healthcare field, I had the privilege of working with him and studying his profession from the inside out. We inspected many houses during my five years with him but one in particular came to mind today as I read this scripture.
We went one time to inspect a lot where new construction was beginning on a single-story starter home. We had the house plans, the plot plan, the survey, etc. As we drove up, I learned one of the greatest lessons in home building: start with a firm foundation. Here sat a crew beginning to pour foundation right on top of the ground. Now, I don't know if you know it or not, but wise builders don't do that! My dad taught me that day that one was supposed to dig down a certain depth and lay “footings” which stabilize the foundation to prevent it from shifting, settling, cracking, etc. over time. He explained that one poured on top of the ground like this one, well, was headed for trouble from day one and the ultimate cost would be uncountable over the years. (That proposed house, by the way, did not pass the first inspection!)
I think I found the description of this builder in Deuteronomy 32:28-30 (NIV), “They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!” In starting that house off on the wrong footing, so to speak, he had no thought or cares for what the end would be.
The good news is that we don't have to go the way of the unwise builder. The first part of Psalm 127:1 (KJV) says, “…except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it”. That is the key to our scripture today.
Use wisdom and let God build it!
You can start by doing two things:
Be doers of the Word. When we put into practice the Word of God, we are like the wise man, building our house - our body, the temple of the Holy Spirit - on a solid foundation.
Ask for wisdom and understanding. The following verses tell us that God will give us, put into us, wisdom and understanding to do what He desires:
“Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.” (Exodus 36:1 KJV)
The underlined emphasis is mine and there is also this verse:
“Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart;” (1 Kings 3:12 KJV)
Here is how you can use these passages to pray the Word into your life today:
Father God, I thank you for your Word to me today. I thank you that you are the Builder of my house and it shall not be built in vain.
I ask you Lord according to your Word, to put in me wisdom and understanding. Teach me so that I will know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary.
Deposit your Word in me so that I know how to rightly care for my body as your dwelling place. I yield to you Lord so that, as I walk more fully in health and strength, I can greater serve your kingdom purpose.
Give me, Lord, a wise and understanding heart that I can be faithful and steadfast in being a doer of your Word, putting into practice in my life all that you are teaching me.
I give you all the glory Lord for the house you are building! Let all see the changes in me and be drawn to your Light and give praise to your Holy Name! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Day 3
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AMP)
Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
Selah (pause and reflect)
So, here you are. Today is the day that you are starting a new program to get healthy! You are not alone.
Did you know that approximately 1/3 of all Americans have made “resolutions” this year? Those people are among the millions resolving to quit smoking, get fit, get healthy, lose weight, gain weight, etc…again.
Statistics show that 36% of those people will quit before the first month is up! And more than 1/2 (54%) will give up before six months have gone by! Why? Because all those resolutions are based on negative objectives and condemnation or guilt about some aspect of our lives. As long as there is condemnation, there will never be freedom. There will never be victory. But…
We have a more excellent way! A way that never fails!
Yes, beloved, if you want lasting victory, you are going to have to base your “resolution” and your motivation on something radically different. Lay aside that condemnation and guilt, which so easily besets you, and do something that never fails. What is that? Love.
Now watch this. The Word says love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8). Our scripture for today says that you were purchased with preciousness and paid for, made His own, the temple where He abides. If God is love (1 John 4:8), and He abides in you, then love abides in you. And… you’ve got it! Love never fails!
Beloved, we are going to get it this time! He is bringing us out of guilt and condemnation into His great light! We will be free from sickness and disease, beautiful, fit, and strong. We will learn to walk in love and bring glory to God in our body!
Day 4
1 John 3:18-22 (NIV)
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Yesterday we studied that the world approaches “resolutions” from the position of guilt and condemnation...and fails. We also found that Love, on the other hand, never fails.
The age-old question is however, “Then, why are Christians still sick?” or, “Why then don't I have the healthy, strong, fit body I asked for?” I inquired of the Lord and our scripture for today was His answer to me.
To comprehend this answer, we must first look back at the scripture from yesterday. The passage asked, “Don't you know that you are the very sanctuary of the Holy Spirit?” The sanctuary is where He abides; it is the Temple, His holy dwelling place. So to fully understand the question, we must look even further back in the Word regarding the Temple, especially at the pattern given us about the care of the Temple in the Old Testament.
As I researched the Tabernacle and the Temple in the Old Testament, I found that the Lord's instruction was extremely detailed and precise to the priests about the care of His dwelling place. Because the tabernacle (and later, the Temple) was a holy dwelling place for the Spirit of the Lord, to ignore these detailed and precise instructions carried severe consequences for the priests. They died.
According to Rev 1:6 and Rev 5:10, we have been made (through Christ) the kings and priests. We, now, are the ones charged with the care of God's holy temple. Only now, the temple is not an outward building, but it is our bodies. When we fail to treat the temple as holy and consecrated, we are the ones who die. (1 Corinthians 3:16-18)
Yes, we do live under grace, and not the law. And, yes, we have been redeemed from the curse of the law of sin and death. But, when you fail to honor God in the temple (your body) you walk away from the provision that grace brings; you reject the knowledge and perish. And yes, it is by grace, through faith, that your body was redeemed and made the holy dwelling place of the Spirit of God. But, continuing to neglect the care of the temple by walking in condemnation or rebellion is a failure to receive the gift of grace that brings healing to that body!
So how are we to lay hold of the Love that never fails? How does one know if they belong to truth? Our scripture passage today gives us the keys to having confidence before God and receiving from Him anything we ask:
Love not with words or tongue (only) but with actions and in truth.
Are you obeying His commands? Are you doing what pleases Him? Not just in your spirit or soul, but in your body? Is the Holy Spirit leading you in your choices and are you obedient to His leading when He prompts you?
Making the choice, the commitment, to express your love to God through the care of the temple of the Holy Spirit, in action and in truth, will bring about the physical victories you seek.
Day 5
Romans 13:11-15 (AMP)
Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).
The night is far-gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.
But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
Selah (pause and reflect)
Are you weary of destruction, illness, disease, disappointment, and dissatisfaction? Isn't it the time for you to “fling away” all that darkness and put on the fullness of the redemption - the complete victory - that Christ purchased for you: Spirit, Soul, and Body?
Your homework this week is to pray about making a commitment to walk in health, to possess the victory offered to you through covenant with God in Jesus Christ, to cherish and honor the physical body He gave you and redeemed for you. As you pray about making this commitment, consider the time.
In today's scripture from the Word of God, we are told it is high time to awake out of sleep. The Word tells us that the night is far spent. Beloved, we are closer to the Lord’s Second Coming than at any other time. The Word is calling us to put on, to clothe ourselves with Christ. We are instructed to make no provision for indulging the flesh and cravings of the natural body. And even more than that, to put on, to wear, the salvation, healing, and deliverance He physically and spiritually purchased for us!
The day is at hand. Now is the time. Commit your way to the Lord and make your decision today, that this week, this year, and for all year's to come, you will open your heart and renew your mind to receive the fullness of the free gift of redemption...complete victory in your Spirit, Soul, and Body!
Day 6
2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him....
Selah (pause and reflect)
This first week is a special opportunity to consecrate yourself to God and fully commit your life to be used for His purpose. As we choose to make that commitment, we find in this verse a marvelous added blessing. Just as we are beginning to make changes and choices, He brings us the promise of His strength.
As you go forward in this journey, watch over your words to place His promise in action. Train yourself to use His Word aloud. Speak the Word to keep yourself on the path of righteousness. For example, instead of saying, “I can’t possibly drink that much water!” speak the Word, “I can do this! I am fully committed to the Lord and His eyes are always on me to strengthen me.” Or, “I can do this! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)
Beloved, you are taking your first baby steps to divine health in Spirit, Soul, and Body! He has promised to direct those steps and He is faithful! He will watch over His Word to perform it! Never forget, not even for a moment, that you are not making this journey to health alone! He is leading you; His rod of correction and His staff of direction will comfort you. His eyes are upon those who are fully committed to Him to give them (you) strength!
Day 7
Luke 12:29-31 (KJV)
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Today’s scripture leads me to share with you why the Lord directed us to publish The Picture of Health™ 100-day Devotional first, before any other books. As we sought Him for wisdom and direction, the Lord made it very clear to us:
“Divine health is impossible to attain unless the born-again Believer seeks first to renew the mind to the Word of God.”
He enabled us to see that daily, children of God seek Him for restoration in their body and for healing, then turn right around and run after the world’s ways and the world’s advice to try to obtain that Kingdom benefit!
Isn’t that crazy? But people do it every day! Now I ask you: why would the Lord provide the benefit and then leave it up to the world – which is under the authority of your enemy Satan – to teach you how to reap that benefit? He would not. The ruler of this world doesn’t want to help you walk in health! Listen, John 15:19 (NIV) says, “The world hates you.”
There are thousands of “health” books that look like sound advice with plenty of science behind them and lots of initials after the author’s name! There are hundreds of movie stars that look healthy, telling you about or selling you on their latest diet methods. The most common reply I hear, or actually it is an excuse, is “it seems to be along the same lines, basically it’s the same, just a few differences, right?”
Wake up children of God! The devil has a marketing plan to snare you! The devil is a master of deception. The Bible says he comes disguised as an angel of light…but he is the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy! Yes, it will look like wisdom and seem right at first. But even the devil has wisdom! (Ezekiel 28:12 and Ezekiel 28:17) Do you really think your enemy would present something so totally foreign that you would never fall for it? No! He is cunning and crafty! He is going to try to deceive you into thinking that it is acceptable to blend the world’s wisdom with the Lord’s wisdom.
Why? Because all Satan can do is copy (imitate) those things that he is so jealous of! He is the imposter, seeking to be your lord. His only devices remain to temp you in the lust of your eyes, the lust of your flesh, and the pride of life. Simply observed, immature or even spiritually lazy people want the appearance of godliness and health while still allowing the flesh to do what it wants to.
Face it! People want the kingdom benefit without having to change or to bring the body under submission. In a way, your actions are showing that you consider it more difficult to operate by grace and faith (by being led) than by observing the law. This “Pharisee” mindset seeks to hide behind a set of laws, keeping the very letter of it but not at all the spirit of it. In truth, when we refuse to discipline ourselves to be doers of His Word, we are only clanging cymbals and whitewashed tombs.
This is what the Lord says about it, His answer to the Pharisees, in Matthew 15:7-14 (AMP)
You pretenders (hypocrites)! Admirably and truly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said:
These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me. Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men. And Jesus called the people to Him and said to them, Listen and grasp and comprehend this:
It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. Then the disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were displeased and offended and indignant when they heard this saying?
He answered, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots. Let them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.
Beloved, beneath the world’s (evil) wisdom lurks deception and destruction. Paul warned the Body of Christ at Corinth about this many hundreds of years ago! The Bible records in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLT):
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
The ultimate truth is you cannot seek the benefits of the Kingdom of God through the wisdom of the world! You can’t even believe all those who masquerade as Christians! The enemy of your soul will take any truth and corrupt it with his ways, yet cleverly disguise it so that you buy into the lie. Don’t be fooled! Further down in that same chapter of 2 Corinthians, verse 15 we are warned, “Their end will be what their actions deserve”.
How are you to know the difference? How are you to know what to believe? You must learn to identify the counsel of the devil and unwaveringly reject it! Jesus Christ told us how in John 14:6 (NIV) “I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Word of God is the only unchangeable truth.
You cannot avoid having to learn to be led.
Beloved, you cannot partake of God’s provision for divine health by trying to enter the Kingdom through the world’s gate. The sooner you decide to submit to the wisdom and direction of the Word, the sooner the Wisdom of God can preserve and keep you.
If you have been trying to accomplish kingdom purpose (healthy body, soul, and spirit) with worldly ways (diets, inappropriate drug use, quick fixes), you will never have lasting results. Remember, “Their end will be what their actions deserve”. Your Kingdom blessings are found in the spirit not in the flesh.
Seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Day 8
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Beloved, I tell you, you will want to learn this lesson early on: Real victory comes when you stop thinking you can (or have to) do this yourself, in your own strength, effort, or will power.
Already you are almost through with your first week. If you haven’t had challenges yet, you can expect to encounter a few somewhere along the line. Don’t despair! It is not a lack of faith to encounter challenges. It is only a lack of faith if you let them get you sidetracked!
Isaiah 40:29 encourages us that He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. When you completely surrender to the Lord and rely on Him for the power to make right choices, His power is made perfect in you.
Therefore, go forward with excitement and faith! Knowing that grace and strength will come to aid you, delight yourself in weaknesses, hardships, and difficulties. Boast when they come your way! For it is in our weakness that His power is made perfect! Stand firm! And, call upon the Name of the Lord!
Day 9
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)
“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
Selah (pause and reflect)
“Is this legal?” Ah! That is the classic indication of the diet mentality at work. And then there is “I did really bad last week.” Or even “I did really good last week.” (Surprised at the last one?) And don’t forget “cheat” and “I can't have that.”
May I just tell you plainly? Those are all words of bondage. Whether the goal is to lose or gain weight, lower cholesterol, or control blood sugar levels – they are all just diets – tools of the enemy to keep you in works and in bondage! The mindsets of lack and deprivation and of performance tied to reward or punishment are devices (tools) of deception from the devil (the enemy). These devices are designed to keep you in sickness and disease for as long as you let them!
The Word of God in John 8:32 (NIV), tells us that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The Word of God can make you free from the bondage of disease and diet mentalities...forever! But…you have to use it. You have to be a doer of the Word.
I challenge you! Next time you begin to speak words of bondage, or even think them, sternly rebuke yourself for those words or thoughts and then speak the truth instead! Renew your mind to the Word, speaking truth: “No! I will not say those words of bondage again.” Or, “I can have anything I choose, anytime I choose. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.” And, “I refuse to be mastered by things that are not beneficial to the Temple of God!”
If you truly want to be free from disease, destruction, and dieting for the rest of your life, it is absolutely essential for you to take hold of this truth. There is power in the Word of God...be a doer of the Word and that power – the anointing of God - will be actively at work in you to make you free!
Day 10
Romans 12:1-2 (AMP)
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Selah (pause and reflect)
Millions of viewers tune-in to TV each week to watch one kind of reality or extreme make-over show or another, promising to dramatically change the lives of the participants forever. Thousands of dollars are spent on cosmetic procedures, diets, trainers, and clothes to “transform” them into happy, beautiful people.
Don't be fooled. Today’s scripture from the Word of God reminds us that these types of changes are only external, superficial changes. Real lasting change comes from within.
I am not saying that you shouldn’t buy new clothes nor have a personal trainer. No. I am not even saying that it is wrong to have cosmetic procedures. No, what I am saying is that the first step to permanent results in your body is the decision to truly devote or set apart your body to the service of God. It is an expression of your love for God. It is a sincere act of worship. It is a spiritual decision to renew your mind (your thoughts) to the Word of God so that physical health begins to blossom in your natural body from the inside, overflowing to the outside.
Our motive must be to bring glory to God!
Our methods must be learned through His Truth and led by His Spirit.
This is why, beloved, we must stay faithful to our daily walk with Him. It is through the washing of the water of the Word of God that our minds are renewed. As we study together daily, little by little, precept upon precept, we are proving for ourselves what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord, even in regard to our bodies. If we persevere and faint not, we will be transformed, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well pleasing to God.
Day 11
Psalm 145:15-16 (NIV)
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Are your old habits and choices trying to interrupt your plans for success? Are you feeling the temptation to first say the wrong thing and then do the wrong thing? If so, you may be asking, “How do I keep on the right path? How do I remain steadfast in my commitment? How do I stay excited and in faith?”
Here’s your answer: Put the Word of God in front of your eyes, in your ears, down in your heart, and speak it out your mouth!
When you sense that you are about to whine or complain, correct yourself and apply the Word of Truth instead. These daily “power walks” with God are not just for us to read. Their purpose is to exercise our faith and heal our bodies! We are to go beyond just reading. We are to act upon them each day!
For example, you should take today’s verse and commit to your heart this truth: “The Lord gives me food at the proper time and God Himself opens His hand and satisfies me!” Then when you are tempted, the truth can speak out, “I can easily choose not to have that extra sugar right now (or caffeine or whatever) because I am well satisfied by the Lord’s hand. He gives me all things at the proper time!”
Now don't be shy and lose your victory! Learn to believe and speak the Word out loud. Make choices to edify (build up) yourself in health. Rather than give into the desires of the carnal flesh, lay hold of the truth of the Word of God. It is written that the Word does not return void but accomplishes that for which He sent it.
It will work if you do it by faith!
Day 12
Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Have you realized it? You are on a journey like none you have ever taken. We, the Children of Grace, are setting ourselves apart for these 100 days to renew our minds to the Word of God. Whether you know it yet or not, we are making changes in our Spirit and Soul (mind, will, and emotions) that will affect our lives, including our physical bodies, for all our days.
What I’d like you to see today is that this entire path will not only bring change to our bodies, but to every area of our lives if we let it. You could see this as a type of fast – or actually “feast” is a more appropriate word. We are feasting on the Word of God with purpose. And that purpose is not to move God…but to move us, to draw nearer to God so that His will becomes our desire, Spirit, Soul, and Body.
The Lord recently showed it to me this way: everything of the Kingdom of God magnifies God, glorifies God, and draws you and others to God. If whatever you are doing draws yours focus to you, it is not of God. For example, diets draw one’s focus to the dieter and his or her actions or performance.
In contrast, the mission of The Picture of Health Series™ is to draw your focus to God and the Kingdom of God. That is why this 100-day devotional was the first book He released us to publish (even though we have several others in writing at this time.)
The Lord impressed on our hearts that this had to be first, reminding us of Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” In fact, that whole chapter of Matthew addresses this very mindset, even in regard to food and drink.
Why do I share this with you today? I share it today because by now you are several days into your 100-day walk with God, exercising your faith and healing your body. I felt led by the Holy Spirit to encourage you and challenge you to press in! The Picture of Health™, you learn through the light of love about the power that works in you to produce health, fullness of joy and the fruits of abiding in the Kingdom blessing.
These 100 days should draw you to Him and should daily magnify His power at work in us to glorify Him in this temple! We should daily become less self-conscious and more God-conscious. As we do, we better understand our verse for today, which tells us that it is He who is able to keep us from falling. It is He who is able to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
Day 13
John 6:51 (KJV)
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Selah (pause and reflect)
One day in class, a patient, Nancy, asked me, “What if you don’t crave sweets or breads, you just like them?” “Well,” I replied, “could you leave them off completely – without any difficulty - for thirty days if you chose to do so?”
Most people could not truthfully answer “yes” to that question. More often than not, especially if you have consumed generous amounts of grains or sweets for quite sometime, you would find yourself quite surprised at the intensity of the withdrawal. Cravings, shakiness, irritability, moodiness, and lack of energy are all withdrawal symptoms. These can come as a result of physical sources such as parasites, yeast, or sugar addictions, but can also come from the mental habit or emotional eating pattern. The truth is millions of people are in bondage in this area just like any other addiction.
The American Heritage® Dictionary defines addiction as a “compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance” but it also defines addiction as “the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.” Beloved, when you have truly made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life the only thing that we should be habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in is our relationship with Him!
Are food, drink, size, shape, weight, sickness and disease, compulsively occupying your every day? If that is true for you, it is time to get free! This week you can join the others participating in The Picture of Health® wellness classes and begin to bring your life back in balance.
Beloved, there are times for feasting. But the Bible cautions us in Proverbs 23 about giving in to gluttony (defined as “to eat in excess, especially when habitual”). Frequent indulgences in sugars and grains rob us of health and make us “poor”. But…frequent indulgences in the Living Bread build health and give life!
If your life has been out of balance, if you can’t seem to put down the indulgences of the flesh, it is time to cease from your feasting and to begin fasting, like we spoke of yesterday. Repent for turning to food, drink, sickness, approval, or any other addiction to find your identity.
Ask the Lord to strengthen you as you choose to lay aside that which takes His place as the object of love in your life. Then, write your scriptures out on index cards and keep them with you. Look at them or read them aloud anytime you struggle. Instead of feeding the flesh and unholy addictions, feed the desire to partake of the bread of life!
As you walk in victory with the Lord today, let the confession of your mouth be “I am well satisfied by the hand of God and eating richly on the living bread that gives me life!”
Day 14
Titus 2:11-12 (NLT)
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God,
Selah (pause and reflect):
Take a deep breath in. Can you smell the rich aroma of the Bread of Life? What? You don’t smell anything? Don’t you have your index card in your pocket to partake of that bread at any time? Didn’t you read with me yesterday?
Wait a minute. Don’t tell me you are still holding on to something other than the Lord? Are you? Are you still feeding the flesh because you are “just not there yet”? Or perhaps you have “technically” abstained from eating sweets and breads, but are still longing in your heart for it and counting the days until you can feast on them again? If that is you, I have a strong word for you today, in love.
Beloved, this is not just about bread or cookies or weight or blood sugar!
It is about devotion and faith.
Look at Abraham. Years ago, God moved on Abraham’s heart much like I believe He is moving on the hearts of His children in this hour. The Lord called Abraham to lay upon the altar the most precious object of his affection – his son Isaac – to offer him up, to release him to God. In response to that beckoning, Abraham brought faith. He did not grieve and try to hold on. Why? How could he do such a difficult thing without a struggle? Because he trusted God. Genesis 22:14 (NIV) says, “So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.’”
OK. So maybe you are thinking, ‘that was Abraham’s son, not breads, sweets, junk food, or sugar.’ But isn’t it still about the object of your affection? How much easier should it be to lay natural things (breads, sweets, junk food, or sugar) on that altar than one of our children or loved ones! Right, it should be! Then why haven’t you?
Food, drink, or the sickness identity has become your loved one.
I am sorry if that realization pierces deep for some of you. Perhaps you are even shedding tears at this moment. Go ahead…let the love of God heal you. Let Him become the one you love.
I know that for many of you, surrender and freedom have been a long time in coming. But beloved, today is the day of deliverance for you who will receive it! Today it is my desire, like the Lord’s desire, to pierce through the darkness and bring you the Light. Whatever it is that you love more than God – that is what is required of you on the altar today.
Do not be afraid to let go of whatever it is you love.
Nothing compares to the riches we gain in Christ.
God sacrificed His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that you could be free from sin, and its wages of death, both in this life and the eternal life to come. He is the Bread of Life! He is our provider! He is Jehovah Jireh! He is the one who sees ahead and provides for our redemption. He is the Lord Jehovah who supplies what you need – by His grace - when you place all things precious to you on the altar and receive His sacrifice in place of yours. He will provide!
It is not difficult. It doesn’t take a lot of time. Just simply ask Him – right now - for His grace that will strengthen you to turn away from that which lasts only for the moment, sinful pleasures that leave destruction in their wake.
Today is your day of freedom. As you choose to make Him truly the Lord of all your life - spirit, soul, and body - He will supply all your needs. You will never lack. You will never come short. As you act in devotion to Him, He will bless you beyond what you can ask, think, or even imagine!
Day 15
2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
Selah (pause and reflect)
F. F. Bosworth said,
“Faith begins where the will of God is known.”
Our scripture focus today very plainly shows us that bondage is not God's will for our lives:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Examine your life. Is legalism part of your upbringing or heritage? Are guilt, frustration and fear over disease, or even over your appearance, part of your life? If the answer is yes in any measure, then you are in bondage.
It is the Lord's greatest desire that you be free from bondage, death, and destruction. Look at these scriptures:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1 AMP)
And:
And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them. And blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth. (Matthew 11:4-6 AMP)
You can see even more as you read Luke 4:18-19 and Luke 7:22. His message is clear: God wants you whole, healed, saved, delivered, and set free from all bondage! This is the very purpose for which He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for you and me.
As you spend some time with the Lord this week, press in to the Word and seek out this truth - not as religion... realize that your physical body is part of His redemption (Galatians 3:13) and determine to walk in the freedom, the divine health, He purchased for you!
Day 16
Romans 15:13 (KJV)
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Today is a day of refreshing. Instead of a longer devotional time today, let’s meditate (think on, focus with purpose, continually come back to the thought) on being filled with joy and peace so that we can overflow with hope for these coming days.
It isn’t always easy to make life changes. But, according to Nehemiah 8:10, we are not to sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. So, today I say to you,
“Receive fresh courage! The power of the Holy Spirit is daily filling us with the joy of the Lord. Abide, dwell in, stay in, and live in the secret place of the Most High. His joy will strengthen you and bring you peace for the journey.”
Day 17
1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV) (Note: emphasis mine)
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Should we eat meat or not? Should we eat only raw foods? Can we have cooked foods? Was Jesus a vegetarian? These are all questions Christians are asking after reading one or more of the dozens of books telling you how a Christian “should” eat. With so many conflicting bits of advice, many Christians have been left in confusion.
Let’s address that from the Word. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Confusion should be our first clue that they are on the wrong path. Look again at today’s scripture passage. Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. That is not confusing.
I believe that is when my friend Bob contributed to class, “So, we can eat and drink anything and everything we want and still be healthy as long as we are thankful for it!” Not exactly, Bob. Nice try though. You see it is man who has carried his liberty to the extreme and has taken advantage of grace. People have become rebellious, gluttonous and greedy, even to their own destruction.
And, perhaps worse than that, in an attempt to bring the body of Christ back to health, many Bible teachers and even doctors have gone in the “opposite ditch”. Many today try to convince people that they must return to the eating instructions given by the Lord in various parts of the Old Testament if they want the blessing of (New Testament) health.
Consider this: without light, people return to what they view as the safety of the law - just like the Israelites who thought to return to the slavery of Egypt preferable to their time in the desert!
Some have insisted that the Bible teaches us to be vegetarians or raw food consumers only. Some lean toward eating from the traditional foods of the Mediterranean culture. Still others believe we are to eat a diet high in protein, called a Paleolithic diet. (And then of course, there is low fat, which isn't even in the Bible.) Three main problems arise from all of these teachings. First, we are not under the law. We are under grace. Second, compromise and inconsistency are inevitable because we cannot keep the entire law. And, finally, the focus is on food, not on God and the expression of our love for Him or the desire to glorify him in our choices and in our bodies!
I imagine these people are well meaning in their attempts to bring help to the body of Christ. However, diets and laws, legalism, is not the way to victory. Our scripture for today from the Word of God cautions us about diets and rigid eating plans - even going so far as to tell us they are from demons and hypocritical liars! God wants you to see that by His great provision, we have been set free from the law - redeemed from its burden and its curse by Christ.
Here, look at this scripture in Romans 3:28-31 (NLT): (emphasis mine)
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
It is by faith that we break free the bondage of food and drink. It is by faith that we learn to give thanks to the Lord for both, given at the proper time from God, in balance and with grace. By the same grace with faith, if the Lord, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, directs you to exclude foods that are not beneficial or to limit certain things that have mastered you in the past, do so quickly! And purpose to do it without rebellion or condemnation! Willingly and obediently bring your flesh under submission of your spirit!
Remember, in freedom, we have chosen to re-build the temple to glorify God. It is by faith and through your devotion to Him that you will truly discover that you are free from diets forever!
Day 18
Hebrews 13:9 (AMP)
Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them.
Hebrews 13:9 (NLT)
So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.
Selah (pause and reflect)
Look at the world. There are diets promising to prevent disease, diets for weight loss, diets for weight gain, and diets for diabetics. If you can name it, there is a diet for it. The thing is, none of them are working! Our society is in worse shape with the greatest number of eating disorders, obesity, diabetes, and all disease, than there has ever been recorded. People are on restricted diets for heart disease...yet still dying of it. People are on diets to lose weight...yet still obese and getting heavier every year. There are children on diets for allergies, asthma, learning and behavior difficulties…yet the epidemic worsens yearly. Doesn't the evidence speak for itself? The diet approach to any disease brings no profit to those who follow it!
Your goals in the physical body can only be established by His strength and grace.
Friends, I can't “sugar coat it” (pun intended): It's time to separate yourself from the world and be obedient to the Word of God. Let today's scripture from the Word of God really settle deep down in your spirit. Read it a few times out loud, letting it speak to your heart. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
His strength and grace is there for you. Decide today that you will not be devoted to rules of diets and determine that your strength will come from Him. And, when people begin to notice how healthy you are becoming, give God the glory! Just tell them, “It’s God's special favor working in me!”
Day 19
Galatians 5:16 (NIV)
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