“I have a headache.” This is a phrase I used to say often growing up, as I suffered with migraines and weather induced pain. I used to be able to tell what the weather was going to be because of headaches and muscle pain that was brought on by the weather creating inflammation in my body. It has been a while since I have experienced headaches as the norm or in a frequency that truly debilitated me. I have learned to handle barometric pressure and recognize when pain is going to attempt to come my way. I try to be proactive with my health and when I am not totally prepared, I am armed with good reactive strategies.
I find it very interesting that it is when the pressure in the atmosphere is low that there is pressure caused to our body’s nerves and other parts of our body. Major weather swings are harmful to our physical, mental and emotional state. I have been having a lot more headaches lately, in this season of life. Season as in weather and as in the state of world affairs. It has caused me to think about what I do physically to help myself- because to be honest, “I have a headache” is happening in my spirit and emotions. The pressure in our societal atmosphere has truly had an effect on me. There are low or negative attitudes. There is low self- esteem. There is low compassion, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, acceptance, unity and love. There is low peace, strength, joy and hope.
Our spiritual meal is just as important as what we put in our bodies.
When I have my physical headaches, I know what medicines to take. I rest and try to get more sleep. I look at my diet and eat healthier. I drink lots and stay hydrated. I remove triggers as best as I can. These are the same steps to relieve the spiritual pressure “headaches” that are causing our heart and emotions to be in anxiety, stress and pain. We use them both proactively and reactively.
Rest—
Stop. Do nothing. Sit with Jesus. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In Mark 6:31 He says, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile…” Rest is necessary and encouraged. We need it. Only in Him do we get to lie down and sleep in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Diet—
Our spiritual meal is just as important as what we put in our bodies. Prayer. Praise. God’s Word. Fellowship with believers. These are our nourishment. Without these we are weak, tired, anxious, frustrated and yes, even physically ill. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Our spiritual food is our true meal. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 4:4, “It is written, Man, shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Hydration—
And when we allow God’s Word to feed us, songs arise. We are refreshed by the worship we give God. Our worship hydrates us. Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” When Jesus was with the woman at the well, he spoke about worshipping in spirit and truth. He let her know that the water He gives will never run dry. It is living water. She will not thirst again. Worship reminds us that we have a well to go to and it provides an ever- flowing spring.
Removal of triggers—
Social Media. News. Negative voices. Opposers of the Gospel. We need to actively choose to shut these voices out and down. We need to actively choose to spend more time with God and the body of Christ. Social Media and the news can easily take up a lot of our time only leaving us drained and in pain.
When the pressures of this world tries to bring you down and lower you to a place you feel you can’t get up- Let your praise raise you and take you higher. Let prayer lift you to God’s place of security and rest. Let God’s Word bring you complete nourishment and refreshment. Continue your hydration in worship and take time away with God. He is enough. He is healer. He is what we need to move us to higher ground where we can enjoy rest and relaxation- soaring freely and seeing all He has to show us.
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