There is a common trend, of picking a word of phrase for the new year, to inspire you or even tell you what the coming year has in store for you. While I don't give credence to any kind of "sign" as such unless given by God Himself, after listening to a great faith-based podcast called "Abiding Together" at the beginning of this last year, they discussed the idea of praying and asking God to give you a word for the year, so in a quiet place, free of distractions, I did pray this prayer, and was surprised when I heard the words in my heart "complete healing". I thought, ok, that's a nice thought, and quite honestly didn't think much of it.
For over a decade now, I have followed a winding path of searching for answers to healing, what I have always believed to be, a physical health condition. I have written many posts about it. It has been worse or better to varying degrees depending on the year, month, or day even. I have worked with many doctors, nutritionists, and health professionals, had lab work done multiple times, showing negative results, read many books about it, tried more medications, shots, and supplements than I could possibly list here. I have learned a lot along the way, mostly coming to the conclusion on one side of it, that gut health is paramount to all other health. Refined sugars, processed foods and frequent use of antibiotics will damage your health over time, and keeping your diet and life "clean" of chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fragrances is the easiest way to minimize things like frequent illness, allergies, headaches, skin conditions and other chronic health problems.
But nothing is a guarantee. I know that. Illness still comes to the healthiest of people. What I started to ponder though over a year ago, was that many times, I would start a new regimen with a doctor or health professional, get better for a time, my skin and gut health issues would clear up, then out of the blue it would all get worse again.
I am not convinced there is only one type of diet that is right for everyone, except that we all need to eat more fruits and vegetables, healthy forms of protein, and less processed food. Trim, Healthy Mama, of all the ways of eating I have tried, and believe me, I've tried it all, has been the most balanced way I have found, including all parts of the human person, body, soul, and mind.
And it is this last part that was the final piece for me, the mind.
Several years ago, they came out with a book after all their cookbooks called "I'm That Girl" about the power of your thoughts, and how your health can be seriously affected by them, for better and for worse. Having listened to their podcast which focused a lot on this theme, I was so excited about the book when it came out. I ordered a copy, and when it came, I promptly opened it, read a page or two, and put it, on my bedside table, where it sat for quite a few months. Ahem.
In the meantime, one day I started listening to a different health podcast called "The Less Stressed Life" in which the host shared how she had helped many people with gut health, food sensitivities, and chronic eczema. She spoke often about stress being a huge factor to health issues. As I continued to listen to her and her guest speakers, I began to think she might be able to help me. I set up an appointment to speak with her, and sent her the MANY labs, medications and supplements I had been on.
After listening to me and looking at all the evidence, she said "What do you want me to do for you?" I said "I need to know the missing piece. What's next. Hormones? more labs? what?" She paused, and looked at me thoughtfully and said "I don't think you need to take any more supplements or do any more labs, or spend any more money on your health."
Um. huh?
"No one has told you to work on your nervous system. Go learn everything you can about neuroplasticity. and apply it diligently to your life. All your mind and your body has known for years, is that you are a sick person and you react to everything. It doesn't know how to heal. Start telling it- you are well. Focus on de-stressing, and this relaxed breathing method I am going to send you, and you will see a difference in a few weeks."
I was, to say the least, incredulous. She was about to end the call and I said "Wait, do we do a follow-up? What is the next step?" She said "we don't need a follow-up. If you do what I tell you to you will see a difference. The science is there if you research it." And she ended the meeting.
So after being dumbfounded for a bit, I began to research neuroplasticity, and started the relaxed breathing nightly, making times for eliminating stress, a priority. There was much scientific evidence for the healing of the body, through the power of the mind. Transforming your thoughts from negative to positive, from dying to living, from sickness, to health.
The book sitting on my bedside table, that I had been ignoring,"I'm That Girl" was basically all about that, but using God's Word to do it. So my next thought was "well, if I am going to do this neuroplasticity thing, I want to do it with scripture, guess I should finally read that book." It was transformative for me. Each chapter in the book dealt with a different aspect of negative thinking and how to combat it with scripture. I began to see an immediate connection between my negative thinking including anxiety, depression or hopeless thoughts, and my symptoms. On a more stressful day or a day when I would let my thoughts spiral into a negative place, my symptoms would be worse that night and the following day.
Scriptures I had never noticed before were sticking out to me like a sore thumb.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Proverbs 18:21
"Let the weak say I am strong." Joel 3:10
"Take every thought captive to obey Christ." 2nd Corinthians 10:5
"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24
"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Romans 12:2
"As a man thinketh, so is he." Proverbs 23:7
"Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trust in thee." Isaiah 26:3
And probably the most important one, which has become my mantra...
"I am the Lord, your healer." Exodus 14:26
I have put these on memory cards, and keep them on my bedside table, in my car, in my purse. I try to look at them often. I also try to guard my thoughts, and turn them around. Some days I do better than others. Are there still some types of foods and triggers that seem to give me symptoms? Yes. Am I determined I will always have those symptoms? Not anymore. I am still trying to grasp all this, but stress and my thought patterns seem to be the biggest factor to my healing.
In addition to this new discovery, God has been introducing healing to my soul and to my marriage. My husband and I attended a healing conference through JP II healing center that was phenomenal. We both experienced some deep inner healing, and began going to a counselor that has helped us to heal parts of our relationship that needed healing. To better love each other and ourselves. Yes even after being married for 25 years you have a lot to learn about how to love each other, and your family. I tell you all this because I want you to know that no one is perfect, but God is. and he has a perfect plan for you. He WANTS your healing. He WANTS your family's healing. It's not just a fairytale. It's not a cute Christian idea. And he is absolutely capable. Put all your hopes, your brokenness, and your hurts in his hands. He can handle it. I promise. Not just that, he is waiting to heal you. Be persistent in faith and prayer, and above all, TRUST HIM!
"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be open." Luke 11:9-10