Detox has become one of the most popular words among many used in this past year. During the pandemic, many people took advantage of their time in quarantine to enhance their relationships with loved ones and or friends while others merely wanted to run frantically away from them. Nonetheless, the commonality is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle was not the main focus among many individuals.
From spending countless hours behind computer screens cooped up in homes to helping children learn virtually or even working additional hours as an essential worker, it's no wonder why health was not the main focus in many households. Honestly speaking, for many people, one might agree that health wasn't a big concern even prior to the pandemic. But after discovering the acquisition of the dreaded "freshman fifteen" once footsteps were placed on the scale after months in quarantine, it may be safe to say that in many instances the discovery of how bad things are occurs after they have gotten worse.
Let's take a moment to reflect. Have you entered a relationship with someone you thought was perfect for you until they revealed to you who they truly was? Yes, the big reveal was the straw the broke the camel's back even though everyone else saw their imperfections before you discovered them yourself. That's typically how we are when the light bulb finally flicks on in our heads and when we are faced with the truth. Not someone else's truth. Not our own truth. God's truth.
The phrase, "stay ready so you don't have to get ready" makes sense. If our health is a priority to us, then a nutritious diet and exercise will be embedded in our schedules. Does it mean we have to have an extreme diet plan or exercise for hours each day? Absolutely no. I personally happen to exercise for about 45 minutes on weekdays and incorporate fresh fruit, veggies and herbal teas in my diet. When I happen to eat poorly or skip days of exercise due to vacationing, for instance, my body will immediately speak to me to help me regain focus and get back on track. Despite environmental conditions, if we care enough about our health, we will listen to our bodies, improvise and do all we can to remain healthy.
The Greek word for detox is kathairó. It means to cleanse, purify and prune. It's possible that in quarantine, God's message to us was to detox. We were forced to abstain from others and habits for a period of time because they were toxic to us. It's also very possible that our focus needed to shift from people and things that were adding no value to us to the One who has promises available to us.
When God speaks to us, we must also be ready. When He tells us to love unconditionally, we must have the fruit of love developed within us so we can obey Him. When He tells us to be still, we must exercise the fruit of self-control so we do not create problems for ourselves. What I love most about smoothies is all of the nutrients mixed together to create a tasty beverage. The seeds of fruit we carry from the Holy Spirit create beautiful human beings when we exercise them. The more we exercise spiritual fruit, the easier it is to handle tough situations. The more we purge the toxins we carry, the healthier we will become.
So what are you eating? How are you treating your body? When was the last time you detoxed? What spiritual fruit are you exercising?
Remember to stay ready!
Check out this yummy and super quick to prepare Pineapple Green Smoothie recipe.
-Dr. Candus
Pineapple Green Smoothie (1 Cup)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk (Unsweetened)
1/2 Ripe Banana, Peeled
1 Cup Pineapple Chunks
1 Cup Spinach
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
1 Tbsp Minced Fresh Ginger
1 Teaspoon Flaxseeds
Comments