WELLNESS II: VITAL SIGNS TEST STATE OF HEALTH
As the year 2010 runs to an end, I wish to draw our attention to the importance of vital signs in determining wellness. Literally, Vital signs are basic body information that reflects wellness. They are the measurements of the body’s basic functions. Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. It’s taken to determine our state of physical health. There can be measured in medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency or elsewhere. Four vital signs are standard in most medical settings: Blood Temperature, Pulse [or heart] rate, Blood Pressure and Respiratory rate. Equipment includes: Thermometer, Sphygmomanometer, a watch, note book and Stethoscope. For example: if you feel your temperature, blood pressure or blood sugar has gone up or low, to make best judgment you have to check them with medically functional equipments. Medical opinions are formed by the result you get when performed appropriately, with functional equipments. Our Spiritual health is also determined by spending regular quality time with God. While the measure of body heat, blood pressure and pulse and respiratory rate is vital to physical healthiness, what you think, allow into your mind; what and how you speak out [seasoned speeches], and are also vital for your Spiritual health.
As we go about our daily duties and engagements, some people take time to eat well, work out regularly, have quality rest time and maintain good social and religious ties. They live well and happy. Others just chase money everywhere and anyhow; live in pressure, get easily stressed out and care little or nothing about their physical health. They do no annual medical check up or even random vital signs check ups. When some feel ill, they self medicate themselves without checking to determine the real cause of the illness. It could be simply overworking of the body that requires cutting down on the activities or reducing lot of toxics that weigh down the body and do some work outs or exercises to keep the body in shape. It could be some internal curable illnesses like: High or low blood pressure and low or high blood sugar or frequent running of temperature but left unattended to for long. The result is health down turn that could result to untimely death. Sometimes you are just worried or disturbed by events or life’s hard situation. You could look well physically but spiritually you need help. You are empty and have not created a room in your heart for God. Human beings are God’s creation with such a vacuum that only Him can fill.
Since the spiritual determines the physical and the internal determines the external, the question pose by this situation is: How healthy are you spiritually? Or what’s the state of your spiritual health? Many people have not paused to ponder on this vital question in a world that is wealth driven and spiritual drained. They become wealthy and everything else is secondary; yet health is wealth. Some people have been born into religion and believe as long as they hold religious ties; show up and occupy the pews every Sunday morning; they could be mistaken to have known God. Some speak in diverse tongues in an hour a weekChurch service and have no quality time with God week long. However, it is impossible to claim to spend quality time with someone you don’t know. They could be physically present with them but their thoughts are far off. Their minds are roaming about hugging other persons and issues. I often watched couples in discussions; while one talks, the other read newspaper or watches sports on TV. In my opinion, it portrayed inadequate attention and disrespect to the couple talking. The same is with God. Some may start off talking to God and end up talking to the idols in their hearts; start praying and end up playing. To spend quality time with God, our thoughts, body and Spirit-man must be directed towards God and nothing-else. Again to enable us stay focus on God, we have to know who this God is: how great and awesome is our God? It’s neither head nor book knowledge but experiential; daily walk with God.
Knowing God starts with being born again: It means being saved or new birth; accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. It’s little surprised when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus quickly told him unless you know who the WAY to the kingdom is you can neither know God nor enter into His kingdom. The right way is to pass through the DOOR to enter into a house. Since God is Spirit, your physical birth and achievements are not enough credentials to enter into His kingdom; you must be born spiritually. New birth is not a religious belief, knowing about God, physical changes or some self improvement but a Spiritual change, brought about by God Himself through putting faith in Christ Jesus. It’s absolutely necessary for each person to have this regeneration experience.
Read and meditate in the word daily: Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free [John 8:31-32]. The word of God is God. God holds His word above heaven and earth. The word is the truth of God. The more you read and meditate in the word; yield into Him, the more of God you know and be willing to abide in Him. Christianity is about doing not only knowing. It’s the conviction of the word that sets free. Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” [John 14:6]. You’re cleanse by the word. Abide in Me and Me in you…if you abide in Me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you [John 15:3-4, 7]. Apostle Paul advised Timothy and indeed all believers: study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [2 Timothy 2:15]. [Read Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2].
Pray ceaselessly: The Bible says, “Pray ceaselessly day and night; pray always with all prayer and supplication in spirit……” [1Thessosolanians 3:10; Ephesians 6;18]. In his book, The Prayerful Spirit, James P. Gills, M.D. wrote that prayer is a conversation of the heart with God. Through prayer we align ourselves with our Creator and His presence is revealed to us. We grow in our love and worship Him. And when we are united with our Lord through prayer, our lives become fuller, richer, more joyous and more peaceful. “A praying Christian is a victorious Christian.”Again more prayers more power and less prayers, less power. Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s greatness and intimacy. “The Lord is good to those who wait…expectantly for Him [Lamentation 3:25]. The word for you Today quoted Stephen Olford who said, “I want to hear God’s voice before anyone else‘s in the morning. And His is the last voice I want to hear at night.” David and Daniel met with the Lord three times daily [Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10]. The more quality time you spend with God, the more intimate your relationship; more loving and willing to trust and obey and do His will.
Worship and Praise; Joy in Fellowship: The scripture is full of various ways to worship God. In Profiting from the word, Arthur W. Pink wrote, “Prayer is an act of worship, a paying homage” to the Father in heaven. “O come let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Come before His presence with thanksgiving….For the Lord is a great God and great king above all gods…..let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker. For He is our God; and we are people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand…..”[Psalm 95:1-7; John 4:24]. Prayer cannot be successfully separated from worship for it prepares the soul for worship, expresses the spirit in worship and interacts with God, which is worship…..Judson Cornwall.
Service: Your love to God is measured by your obedience and generous giving of your time, talent and treasure [the 3t’s] to witnessing, praying and helping others as well as serving faith community. The scripture urges us to love God with the whole of our heart, with all your soul, with your entire mind and with all your strength …. love our neighbor as thyself [Mark 12: 30-31] and manifest the gift of the spirit [Galatians 5:22-23]. God’s compassionate love made Jesus die for human beings and He still cares and values them [John 3:16]. So at every opportunity we are charged to do good to all men especially those of the household of faith. By this shall men know that you are my disciple, if you love one another [Galatians 6:10; John13:35].
Attempt to make wellness [physical and spiritual] your priority and feature it in your New Year resolution. Enjoy happy Christmas and fruitful New Year.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, TX, 77272.