Faith & Fitness Challenge - Week 3 (Rest Your Body, Rest Your Heart)
Monday, July 1, 2013 at 11:09AM 
Blessings to you, friends!
This begins week 3 of our 6-week faith and fitness challenge. We’ve got almost 400 of you on board and what a journey it’s been!
Each week during the 6-week challenge, I’ll give away 2 copies of my book, Balance That Works When Life Doesn't to someone who posts on this blog. At the end of the 6 weeks we'll draw 2 names to win gift baskets full of fitness goodness. And it's FREE! Sign up here: Commit to Live Fit
Congratulations to last week’s winners, Mary Bryson and Wanda Draus – you each win a copy of Balance That Works When Life Doesn’t! (*Email me at Susie@MyFaithRadio.com with your mailing address and we’ll get the book out to you this week).
So, we’ve implemented the following disciplines in the past 2 weeks:
Physical Disciplines:
- · Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day (or better yet, half of your body weight in ounces)
- · Stretch in the morning and evening
Spiritual Disciplines:
- · Read the Word of God every day
- · Stretch your faith every day
If you’re just joining us and would like more information, check out the posts from the past two weeks.
Here are your two disciplines for this week:
Physical Discipline:
Get 7-9 Hours of Sleep: I truly believe that rest is the most underrated discipline of our day. We dip into our sleep time so we can get more done in a day, not realizing we’re ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul.’ If we go too long without regular and consistent rest, it deeply impacts our health, perspective, and ability to live strong. When we de-prioritize rest, we make more mistakes, we use costly shortcuts, and we make ourselves more vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes. It’s critical that we prioritize rest and so here’s what I’m asking you to do this week:
Make time and space in your evening for 7-9 hours of sleep. So let’s say you have to wake up every morning at 6am. For you to give yourself a 7-9 hour window, that means you need to start your night routine at 9pm so you can be in bed by 10pm. This is the time to turn off your computer and TV, and stop your housework. Hey, it’s a perfect time to stretch! And pray! And read! Use that one-hour window to prepare your heart and mind for sleep. I’m telling you, this will be a very life-giving discipline.
Benefits of Sleep:
- · Body heals
- · Stronger Immune System
- · Renewed Perspective
- · Higher ability to learn
- · Less chance of mistakes
- · Health Maintenance
Spiritual Discipline:
Cultivate a ‘Restful’ Heart: Psalm 91:1 says this: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. What does it mean to ‘dwell in the secret place’? It’s to walk in His presence as you live here on earth (see Psalm 116:9). It’s to make time and space to meet with God, to listen for His voice, and to do what He says. It’s to live with the sense that you’re tucked under His protective wing, and to identify yourself as His with every step you take on planet earth. Now read that passage again: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. When you dwell with Him, you can more easily rest in Him. He has you and is intimately acquainted with every detail of your life.
Here’s another important verse: Cease striving and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). We get into striving and we work on overdrive when we forget that more is up to God than up to us. The word, ‘know’ in this verse speaks of a single-minded intimacy (not allowing anything to get between you and God). Can you see why the enemy works overtime to distract your from the goodness and the greatness of our God? You’re most powerful in your walk of faith and most restful amidst stressful circumstances when you know in your soul, that He your God.
Learn to rest in Him. He loves you deeply.
And, I challenge you to make your nighttime routine a priority; get the sleep your body needs. That discipline will pay you back in great dividends!
I’ll be praying for you as you add these healthy yet simple disciplines to your life. And remember, each week I’ll give away 2 copies of my book, Balance That Works When Life Doesn’t: Simple Steps to a Woman’s Physical & Spiritual Health’ to someone who posts on this blog.
Let’s do this!
May you flourish in health, both physically and spiritually!
Blessings to you this week~
Reader Comments (21)
Great blog and I love this challenge; "Cease striving and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). We get into striving and we work on overdrive when we forget that more is up to God than up to us." Susie Larson
Thank you for pulling this scripture out! Amen to this
Thank you, Susie for doing this challenge. It makes it so much easier doing this in steps.
Have a blessed day!
Not sure why but i forget that God is alway's w/ me & too make time for him! And to pray everyday and be thankful! I also forget to drink the water!!! Fitness always comes back to the water! Iam following your blog & will not allow anything to come between me & God! And promise to drink the water working up to 20oz a day!!
I had a very unrestful night last night. My mind was racing with all the things that I am stressed about right now. At 2:00 am I told satan to go to sleep so I could. I started praying and reciting scripture and was finally able to drift off to sleep. This discipline is very timely. Thank you, Susie, for your encouargement and wisdom. Bless you!
Thank you Susie! i needed to hear this one. I just got back from Youth Camp and that finished out a very busy June for me. I usually do well in getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep but I think incorporating an hour of wind down time will help in my overall attitude of restfulness at the end of the day.
I have loved this challenge so far because it's so... do-able. Thank you for the reminder to get back to the basics... drinking water... spending time with Him & getting plenty of rest. These things are so important & yet... so easily forgotten.
Blessings!
Hi Susie, you don't need to include me in your drawing, since I already have this book and just finished reading it a few weeks ago. I've been working on all the healthy habits, but after this past week me and my honey need to get back on track again. However, I do have something awesome to share about rest and the love of God.
I was having a very hard time falling to sleep Saturday night due to knowing my dad's death was very near. I had gotten up to check something that I hadn't checked before going to bed and I noticed the light in my house was different. At first I thought something was wrong with my eyes so I turned my bedside lamp on and it looked normal in my bedroom. So I turned the light back off again sat on my bed and really studied the light. It had a soft white shimmer to it as if I was surrounded by a soft billowy cloud and I realized God was in my room and I bowed my head and flooded my heart with His presence. As I sat there on the bed I felt a gentle nudge on my shoulder to lay back down and a low murmur 'Go to sleep my beloved child.' And I fell into a deep restful sleep.
He knew I needed my strength for the day that laid ahead of me.
Then when I took a moment after my mom and I had my dad settled in his nursing home room. I went and called my sister. I told her about my experience and I found out she had a similar experience that night too, when our dad's night nurse at Mercy Hospital had gotten one of the big sleeper chairs for her and made it comfortable for her then asked her if she needed another blanket. And she fell into a deep sleep after that too.
The only thing I don't know is if those experiences happened at the same time. But I have this strong sense that they did.
enjoyed reading this very much.especially the part about getting enough sleep.
Thank you so much for all the meaningful posts on your blog.....and especially for your start of the day and end of the blessings. As I am going through a rough time in my life and dealing with things i never thought I would have to due to an unexpected divorce, your words mean so much and bring me peace. Getting stronger every day and you are part of the reason. I'm so glad God is using you in MY life.
Susie-thank you for this 6 week challenge. My 2013 New Year's resolution was to take care of myself. Not only my physical self but my emotional health as well. I am a caregiver for my spouse who has a disability, so I am ususally the last one to get any "care". These challenges are do-able and healthy and good for everyone. I love "having a reason" to do these things. I am losing weight but more importantly I am feeling better about every aspect of my life. I am generally a positive thinker, but some days there are difficulties in finding the "bright" side of life. Thank you!!!!! I also like the extra credit jolt.
Thanks for your insight and wisdom, Susie. My favorite version is Psalm 46:10. One version says "step out of the traffic." There is so much traffic in our lives. It is not an easy discipline, but it is so rewarding when we practice it.
Thanks for your post. I struggle with getting everything done and never having enough time. You made me realize that I need to allow time for myself (sleep) in order to live the life Jesus wants for me. My priorities are not in alignment with God's when I'm running on empty and can't spend the time in the Word that I need to.
Thank you Susie!! This challenge has been a great encouragement to me as your radio show has been also. As someone who has always prided herself ( heavy on the pride) on living a healthy lifestyle and maintain my weight for years, last year it all came crashing down around me with a series of one health challenges after another. Spending most of this year, rebuilding, readjusting, learning to lean into and on God, I now am finally understanding His great love for us and how we must honor Him by honoring the temple he gave us. Thanks again!!!
I have been pleasantly surprised to find that the first two disciplines have been pretty easy for me to make a part of my daily life. This one is a challenge for me both spiritually and physically, but I do recognize the need for change in this area so I will continue until I am "disciplined" in it. I don't think I have slept more than 5-7 hours a night for about 30 years.
thank you for this reminder. I have an infant who still wakes up during the night to nurse. It is a challenge to get enough sleep! But I know I am a better wife, mother, friend, person when I am rested physically and emotionally. It is so easy to neglect rest in our culture-both in God and in body. Thank you! I would really enjoy reading your book if I win it.
Susie, I am so thankful and grateful to be part of this great challenge. I am so excited because it is affecting me in such positive ways! I love the comments from the other ladies. This week's physical discipline (rest) is one area that I have struggled with all of my life however, the information that you gave on the benefits seem to really be heard this time. I believe it must have something to do with the source and the Holy Spirit. I have also noticed that the Spiritual disciplines give you the strength to stay committed to your physical disciplines. Thank you so much for the encouraging words weekly and especially for the word you spoke over us. Bless you; Susie Larson to be a willing instrument to reach so many of God's children. Bless you!
Susie, your wisdom and challenges have been a blessing. Sleep is hard for me to prioritize, but since it's part of the challenge, it will move into focus and priority. I'm hoping that as I practice the routine for the challenge,it will become habit! Thanks!
I am at a National Youth Gathering with 15 students. Need I say, I'm not getting 7 hours of sleep at night. However, that is something I need to strictly implement when I return home.
Cease striving. Thank you for this reminder, I'll post it where I can see it. My husband was recently laid off. He is in the trades and over 2500 are out of work, which means two years on the books. He is also in disparate need of shoulder surgery, he is in constant pain. God is good and I know He will provide; keeps it interesting on the how :). I'll be implementing the 10:00 bedtime this week, as a breast cancer survivor I need more than the 5 hours I get, but as a woman sometimes sleep just doesn't come. On the plus side. I am blessed beyond measure, I am loved by an amazing Father, Savior, and Holy Spirit and I am thankful for His mercies.
Our Sunday School class is studying Ms. Larson's book <I>Your Beautiful Purpose<I>. Our class leader believes we should pick up the techniques that Susie uses to deal with day-to-day challenges to living a Christian live. One specific example: Susie describes feelings of jealousy for another woman's accomplishments and comes up with an insight that the other woman is using her own talents for the glory of God. Susie should be content with using her own talents for the same purpose.
Curious to know what advice is given to men and women in devotional literature, and to see if this advice differs by the sex (gender) involved, I have done a very cursory investigation of what is available on the Internet. It's my impression that devotional advice given to women deals with relationships and how to relate peacefully with one another, and that devotional advice given to men deals with men's leadership roles. It seems, and this is only my subjective perception, that Susie's book and message are intended for and directed to women - all the comments on this blog are from women, save mine; "for every woman who has ever wanted to dream big dreams for God (back cover of book <I>Your Beautiful Purpose<I>; first page of book "I had three women in mind while working my way through this book", etc.
What bothers me about the direction of this message is that men can profit from, and need, counsel on dealing with the issues that Susie brings up in this book (jealousy, "sorting through the anxieties and insecurities which hold you back (page 17)", "What advice do you have for the woman who lives under the constant cloud of condemnation?(page 113)", etc.
I bring these issues up in class (probably beating a dead horse) and I think the class members are beginning to tire of hearing them from me. I would be interested to find out if the men in your lives ever think about or talk about the above.
Congratulations to Joan Hagedorn and Kathy Anderson! You each win a copy of my book, 'Balance That Works When Life Doesn't' - Just email me at: Susie@MyFaithRadio.com with your mailing address and we'll get them in the mail to you right away!
Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful thoughts and insights.
And Tom, I especially want to thank you for sharing your thoughts (and frustrations) with me. :) I do appreciate it. You know, I've heard from a number of men who've read my books, appreciated them, but so wished they were addressed to men as well. Though I speak to both men and women every day on my radio show, I started out my ministry by speaking to and writing to women. Honestly, I've been following the Lord's lead and He's had me direct my thoughts toward women. I'm so surprised, humbled, and honored that so many men listen in to the radio show, but it's not something I ever saw coming. Maybe someday the Lord would have me spread my wings a bit more, but that's His call. :) He knows what's best for you and for me. I do hope and pray you'll still be able to pull out the concepts and thoughts that most inspire you. Please pray for me, if you think of it. And I pray that God will move mightily in and through you in the days ahead! God bless you!