Meditation: 

The angel of the Lord came the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you. 

1 Kings 19:7

Elijah was an awesome prophet who was full of confidence and faith in His God. When we are introduced to him in the Bible (1 Kings 17-19) he was the prophet who prophesied that there would be no rain and his prophesies all came to pass. God guided him to a brook during the drought where he was fed and nurtured. The brook dried up and God led him to a widow who fed him. This demonstrates how your Heavenly Father will guide and provide everything you need on the way. 

The story of Elijah comes to a climax when he annihilated all the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19). He received a threat against his life from Jezebel and frightened, he ran for his life and travelled for a whole day. Depleted physically and emotionally from all that he had been through, he finally sits under a tree feeling dejected and depressed. This seems unusual for someone who had just been used mightily by God. Often, when the anointing of God comes upon us it enables us to accomplish what we cannot do physically in the natural, but Elijah was human as we all are. His body also needed to be refreshed and nurtured on the journey. 

The first thing Elijah did was go to sleep and when he awakened the angel touched him and said “arise and eat” (1 Kings 19:5-12). Elijah then ate and drank something. It was after he had replenished himself physically that the word of the Lord came to him. He was in a better place physically, emotionally to now reconnect with God.

How you care for yourself is important on the spiritual journey. You need your body to accomplish the God-given purpose in your heart. Taking care of your body is not a selfish act, it is about not overdoing it. Balance is key in every area of your life, not taking any area to an extreme. How you care for yourself will determine the quality of your life. When you take care of your body you are also being a good steward of God’s gift to you. 

Taking care of your body means you are kind to it. It means you are kind and respectful to your body by not overdoing anything. It means, getting a good night’s sleep and eating a balanced meal. Small changes in this direction will give you more energy and zest for the life ahead of you and in you. You will be able to accomplish more and will be more relaxed.  

Are you treating yourself well? Start taking responsibility for caring for your body. Begin by making small changes, small changes go a long way for big changes to happen in our lives. 

Meditation & Reflection 

Matthew 6:30-31

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Timothy 4:8