#132: If You Don’t Have Your Health… [Podcast]

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you don't have your health, you don't have anything”? I think this is a stupid thing to say, and in today's episode I will explain why – and what to say instead.

And for those who don't have your health, I've got a newsflash: you also don't have a free pass to whine, complain, and make excuses.

Tip of the Week:

The LoseIt! app makes tracking your nutrition, hydration, and exercise easy and fun.

Lumosity offers a great way yo keep your brain sharp – by playing games!

HabitList helps you cultivate habits you want to develop and keep track of your streaks.

Spiritual Foundations:

If you are busy, stretched and stressed to the max, and need every minute of a 14 hour day to keep your head above water – the best thing you cando is set aside plenty of time to read God's word. The Bible. Why would I say that?

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.“

Proverbs 4:20-22

I have certainly found the source of peace in stressful times to be taking refuge in the Word. And it's not just my experience.

I read an article recently by Pastor Joseph Prince about George Müller, who in the 1800's ran five orphanages, and oversaw the care of more than 2,000 orphans. Müller was not wealthy, and the funding of these orphanages depended solely on donations. Every day, Müller set aside time to study the scriptures.

Prince wrote:

Once, Müller was talking with a man who worked between 14 and 16 hours every day. He told the man, “You are destroying your health. You don’t have time for your family and, most importantly, you don’t have time to nourish your inner man with the Word of God.”

The man replied, “I hear you, but I can’t see how I can cut down my working hours and spend time in the Word because even with the 14 to 16 hours I put in each day, I still can’t put enough bread on the table for my family.”

As the man walked away, Müller said, “He doesn’t believe that if he gives time to God’s Word first, God will take care of all his needs.”

Whatever your needs, stresses or responsibilities, take time each day to read God's Word and nourish your spirit.

Feature Presentation: If You Don't Have Your Health…

I think it's time we stopped saying, “If you don't have your health, you don't have anything.” Here are 5 reasons why:

1. It's not true. You have life, God, family, friends, and a chance to make meaning each day.
2. It's a disempowering belief.
3. Repetition is the mother of belief.
4. It robs people of their destiny.
5. It makes people into victim thinkers.

I propose we say instead, “If you don't have your health, you still have everything.” And here are five reasons why that is true:

1. Everything in this world is temporary anyway.
2. God can and does restore health to the hopeless every day.
3. Intentionally changing what we say begins to change our beliefs.
4. We all have a fatal disease called life, and nobody survives it.
5. There are countless examples of people with horrific health problems who accomplished incredible feats.

What's Your Excuse?

Here are people whose problems could have been used as an excuse, but who achieved greatness in spite of, or perhaps even because of, the health challenges they face.

1. Stephen Hawking. Even though he is totally disabled by ALS, has revolutionized physics.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt. The only US President to server more than two terms, and generally recognized as on e of the best US Presidents ever. Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waist down by polio. Yet he still led the USA during two of her most trying times – the Great Depression and World War II.
3. Michael J Fox. His Fox Foundation has accelerated Parkinson's research by decades, and million of dollars. And he continues to act, earning awards for his current roles.
4. Marlee Matlin. Emmy winning actress, deaf since she was 18 months old.
5. Helen Keller. Both blind and deaf, she graduated college and became an advocate for women's rights.
6. Ludwig Van Beethoven. Lost most of his hearing by the age of 20. Composed some of his greatest works by feeling the vibration of the notes from the piano.

So… what's your excuse?

Next Week: Five Bad Habits That Can Wreck Your Life.

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Question: Have you changed any limiting beliefs as a result of this episode? Click here to leave your comments.