Tag: health

Designer Principle #2: Simplicity Under God’s Design

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Principle 2: Simplicity Under God’s Design

The principles and applications for excellent health under God’s design are simple to understand.

Some people may find these principles too simple to be of any value. This is a sad deception. It is often the simple things that can destroy or heal. In the case of biblical health, it is an absolute rule. The answers lie in the simple things, the simple truths of God’s Word

If you are prone to think that the answers must be complex, please carefully consider what is being said in this article and the rest of this site. We are presenting a case for health from the creator of the body. Yes, the body is complex, no doubt, but tending it is not as complex as you may believe.

God’s Word is meant to be understood by the simple-minded as well as by the intelligent-minded – and all those in between. That includes everyone, and God desires that all would apply it to their lives.

God’s approach to truth is simplicity, but man’s approach to truth is complexity.

We have been led to believe that truth regarding good health and the workings of the body can only come from complicated sources:

    • years of study
    • mountains of research
    • sophisticated and expensive equipment
    • endless surveys
    • continuous testing
    • intelligent and creative thinking (often through godless minds)
    • statistics and analysis
    • the expenditure of large sums of money

And then we say, “Look at all the work done in this area by so many people, this must be where I can find the answer my illness.”

Or we may say, “The experts and researchers say, ‘it is incurable,’” and we beat our breasts, tear our clothes, put on sackcloth and pour ashes on our head, and say, “Lord thy will be done,” as we resign ourselves to the fate befallen us.

Satan is a liar. He wants us to believe that truth is found in complexity. And those who concur (that truth is found in complexity) say, “Well, the poor fools who cannot understand these things, well, too bad for them.”

This should not be so!

God provides truth that is clear, concise, and to the point. He doesn’t add extra words or meaningless repetitions; He does not require years of study or complex equipment; and He has made the truth available to all – to the simple-minded and to the intellectually endowed. In God’s clear genius, He has communicated to us in a simple fashion, telling us what we need to do, and that is all we need to know. Yes, there is value in education and research – but only inasmuch as it compliments the Word of God, not convolutes or nullifies it.

Two principles come to mind:

    1. The KISS principle: Keep It Simple Saint (I learned it stupid, but saint sounds better).
    2. The magnet principle – that is the magnet on my mother’s refrigerator: God said it; I believe it; that settles it!

There is a great illustration of this found in 2 Kings 5:1-14. Read the passage in your Bible for the greatest impact, or you can click the passage and read it online.

Naaman’s Cleansing

Naaman was a great leader for the army of Aram, but he had a little problem: he had leprosy. A young Israelite captive girl told Naaman about a great man of God who could cleanse his leprosy.

Interested, Naaman sought out Elisha to cleanse his disease. In response, Elisha told Naaman to go wash in the river.

Naaman was insulted. He wanted to see a flashy miracle – a great display of the power of God. Instead he was instructed to go and wash in the Jordan and his flesh would be restored.

Naaman, at first, refused such a menial method of healing, but later upon persuasion from a lowly servant, Naaman went to the Jordan to wash seven times as instructed. God instantly restored his flesh to that of a young boy.

It was not in a great display that Naaman was healed, it was in simple obedience to the Word of the Lord (in this case through the prophet Elisha).

It took humility for Naaman to do something simple. And so it is with us, we need humility as we go through this study, humility to trust the simplicity of God’s Word.

There is a second example from Numbers 21:4-9. Again, I recommend following along in your Bible, or clicking the passage and reading online.

Serpent on a Stick

In a punishment for complaining in the wilderness, the Israelites were sent serpents from the Lord to strike with venomous poison. Upon being bitten, the Israelites called out to God for healing.

God instructed Moses to make a serpent and put it on the end of a stick. All the Israelites had to do was look upon the serpent to be healed.

God could have chosen 1000 complicated ways to heal the Israelites, but He chose the simple.

And so it is with God’s principles for health. They are simple, but they are practiced by very few – and the majority of the population in the United States are suffering or will be suffering the consequences in their lifetime.

Keep It Simple Saint

Next: Designer Principle #3: Faith Under God’s Design

Return To: Biblical Health Study


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

5 Designer Principles for Living: Introduction

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Let’s Recap!

So far on Reformed Health we have explored three basic topics:

We will now explore five authoritative principles for living that will put anyone on the path to a healthier life – regardless of current illnesses and/or conditions or lack thereof. These principles will educate people how to avoid violations of the natural and physical laws that God has established for mankind.

Thinking Properly

Before we discuss these health principles, we need to be willing to take a potentially new approach to how health is achieved – this may require that we make a major shift in our thinking process. This was addressed in some detail in the Authoritative Answers section, but for the sake of expediency, we will briefly address it here.

We often grow up from early childhood thinking that there is only a particular way of diagnosing ill health. We learn this by the example of our parents, our school teachers, our peers, the medical establishment, and in general the culture we live in.

This approach, in most cases, is not the way God has ordained, and it is the primary reason why illness and disease persist and increase. In particular, diseases that once only affected the elderly are now being found increasingly in the younger generations, including young adults, teenagers, and children, illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure.

Why?

We espouse that a large part of the problem is that God and His Word are simply ignored (for the most part) in areas involving healthy living. But for those few who do look into His Word, they often do not find the answers they are looking for and become discouraged. As a result, they turn to sources outside of Scripture in order to find a cure that will make them whole again.

Approaching God’s Holy Word

The problem can be identified in how a person approaches the Scripture.  We cannot approach Scripture with the same mindset that the world has in finding cures to our health problems. Our mindset must change – there must be a paradigm shift in our thinking. Thus, we need to take a new approach. We need to align ourselves with how the Word diagnoses ill health and view our own lives through the lens of Scripture and the design that God has for living.

We will be presenting five biblical guidelines to help us think radically different than we are accustomed. These principles may not harmonize with the beliefs, worldviews, or practices of the world around us in regards to the achievement of a healthy life. But they will perfectly align with the Word of God. This should not be a surprise to the Christian; God’s ways are always different than man’s ways.

Isaiah 55:8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Next: Designer Principle #1: Living Under God’s Design

Return To: Biblical Health Study


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #7: The Curse and Hereditary Weakness, Part B

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Part B: Sickness by Violating God’s Design

We can become sick because we violate God’s design in how we live or eat.

This can occur through neglect or ignorance. We can violate God’s design by willfully participating or not participating in actions that can harm or improve our health. Or we can violate God’s design simply because we don’t know what His design is.

Violating Foods

One example is the foods we eat. Perhaps we know that eating fast food on a regular basis is not good for our health, yet we do it anyway. This would be an example of neglect.

On the other hand, we may not be aware that white bread is poisonous, so we eat gladly. This is an example of ignorance.

Whether we eat neglectfully or ignorantly, we can have the same result: poor health.

Consider II Kings 4:38-41. The men in this passage made a stew. They had no knowledge that it was poisonous. Before they ate, they recognized that there was “death in the pot,” and Elisha made it edible. Many times the food we eat is nothing more than “death in the pot,” but we eat it without thought.

Sometimes the food we eat is not even worthy to be called food, but unfortunately we still eat it. We will suffer in our bodies the consequences of eating poisonous foods, even if the poison produces only a slow death.

Sexual Sin

Another example of how we can become sick by violating God’s design is through the consequences of sexual sin.

Consider the following passages:

Romans 1:26-27  clearly states that there is a penalty received in the body for exchanging the “natural” with the “unnatural”. This physical penalty could very well be sexually transmitted disease, including, but not limited to AIDS.

I Corinthians 6:18 calls immorality  a “sin” against the body. The result of immorality? Sexually transmitted disease is a high probability. There may be other effects on the body that we don’t even know about.  Immorality is definitely a violation of God’s design for intimacy.

General Violations

Aside from the above specific principles, there is a general all inclusive principle known as “reaping what you sow.”

Galatians 6:7-8 teaches that whatever we do, whether good or bad, we will reap the appropriate reward. If we fail to understand and follow God’s general design for living, we will reap the negative consequences in our life. On the flip side, if we learn to live under God’s design, we will also reap the benefits.

Topics that could be included under this heading are exercise, drug use or abuse, alcoholism, attitudes, sunshine, cleanliness, and so on.

We are getting close to wrapping up the seven biblical reasons for illness. We have talked a lot so far about “living under God’s design.” In future articles, we will be sharing specific ways to live purposely under God’s design.

Next: Why Am I Sick? Seven Biblical Reasons: Conclusion

Return To: Biblical Health Study


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #7: The Curse and Hereditary Weaknesses, Part A

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Part A: Violating Natural and Physical Laws

God has established physical laws in His creation, His design, that if adhered to will bring a healthy, joyful, fulfilled life. But if we neglect to abide by His established, physical laws, we will suffer the consequences.

Under God’s creation there are two affects that hinder us in our desire to have a healthy life and instead bring physical suffering, disease, illness, sickness, and various physical deformities: A. Sickness by God’s curse; and B. Sickness by violating God’s design.

A. Sickness by God’s Curse

God created man perfect and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate the ground. Man had perfect health. There was be no sickness, no disease, no suffering, and no death. This was all before Adam sinned.

Adam directly disobeyed God at the prompting of his wife. Adam knew the consequences of disobedience: death. In response to man’s sin, God place a curse upon the earth. This curse continues even today.

Romans 8:18-22 teaches that creation is corrupted and even now groans waiting to be delivered from the curse.

You can read about man’s rebellion and the ensuing curse in Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:17-19 specifically discusses the curse God place upon the earth because of man’s rebellion. Adam was the representative of man. We all suffer because of his choice (However, in God’s wisdom, He chose Adam as the best possible representation for mankind. This means that you or I would have made the same choice.).

We now have decay, disease, pain, death, natural disaster, pollution, and all other forms of evil which will never cease until our Lord Himself removes the curse.

Yet, in spite of the curse, much of the beauty, grandeur, and benefits of this world remain. Though everything in its time deteriorates, flowers are still beautiful and give their fragrances, mountains are still grand, forests are still magnificent, the heavenly bodies are still majestic, food still brings nourishment and is a pleasure to eat, and water still brings refreshment and sustains life.

But, the curse is with us, and we see the effects as some children are born blind, deaf, with cerebral palsy, and various other maladies and weaknesses. Often these deficiencies are passed from parent to child as we sometimes use the terms “heredity” and “genetics” to describe what we cannot fully explain. Though the bible does not talk at all about hereditary illnesses, we see from life experiences that all of us are born with certain weaknesses and strengths in our physical bodies whether we realize it or not. It is part of our genetic makeup.

Functional Weakness vs Structural Deformity

As part of God’s curse, we are born with, to one degree or another, a predisposition toward weakness in certain areas of our body which is sometimes manifested in early childhood as an illness of some kind. Hereditary problems or weaknesses can be classified into two areas – functional weaknesses as opposed to structural deformities. Most “hereditary illnesses” are actually only functional weaknesses as we see by experience.

For example, asthma is a functional weakness. When a child is born, all parts of the respiratory system may be formed correctly, that is, there is no structural deformities, but the respiratory function is weak producing what we call asthma.

On the other hand, another child may be born with deafness which would be typical of a structural deformity and might be caused from a bone that is missing or deformed in the ear.

Functional weaknesses, most all of the time, can be strengthened, and the weakened part of the body restored to proper health. Therefore, an illness that is only a weaknesses from birth, does not have to be permanent. It can be corrected when biblical principles are applied.

Hereditary Does Not Always Mean Permanence

Consider an analogy of a person born into a wealthy family. This person can maintain his wealth wisely or loose it foolishly. A person born into a poverty stricken family can certainly improve his financial situation if he desires to do so. The point is, the responsibility is given to this person to either maintain what has been given financially, loose it, or improve it. It is not a permanent condition! Similarly, we can be born healthy and ruin it with poor habits in a short period of time, or we can be born sick and improve our health as well.

Unfortunately, many doctors do not understand the root causes of illness and of treating problems from a whole body approach as God teaches us in His word and therefore wrongly assume the problem is hereditary. In addition, sadly, they convince their patients that hereditary = permanence.

It also needs to be said that sometimes when a child exhibits the same symptoms as a parent in some type of deficiency or illness, it is prematurely assumed that the cause is hereditary. Sometimes the cause is simply that the child is living like his parents and following their lifestyle and likely mimicking their poor health habits – such as smoking, alcohol abuse, a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, a complaining spirit, etc. It is easier to wave the “hereditary flag” than to take responsibility for their own behavior, oftentimes blaming their parents.

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.”

One example of this principle is our daughter Emily. Her father suffered from many childhood allergies. Many of these allergies followed him into his adulthood. He also suffered from sinus problems.

For years I blamed her allergies on her father. Then when we changed her eating habits, and her allergies virtually vanished, I came to realize she only had weaknesses towards those symptoms that needed to be strengthened by living under God’s design.

Read all of Emily’s health testimony here.

Aging and Death a Part of the Curse

As a result of the curse, we experience pollution of our air, water, and food. Aging, and in some cases sickness leading to death, are also results of the curse. In other words, people age,  sometimes get sick, and die simply because the world we live in is under a curse. And God may use the general principle to determine the way in which a person dies. Everyone has an appointment with death due to sin.

Some examples from the Bible:

II Kings 13:14 – Elisha has an illness from which he dies. It is his time to go, he gets sick, and dies.

II Kings 20:1-6 – Hezekiah is informed that his sickness will bring his death. However we find out that God gives Hezekiah 15 more years to live.

This concludes part A: Sickness by God’s curse. The second element that hinders us from living a healthy life is our own personal choices!

Next: Why Am I Sick? Reason #7: Violating God’s Design, Part B

Return To: Biblical Health Study


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #6: Because of Demonic Possession or Influence

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Can Christians Be Possessed?

In America today we are not as aware of the existing spiritual realm as other nations or cultures. This lack of awareness does not negate the influence of spiritual beings.

Every Bible believing Christian must accept the existence of angels and demons, for the Bible talks about them as very real. However, we believe very strongly that true Christians can not be possessed by demonic spirits, for they are indeed possessed by the Holy Spirit.

We also acknowledge that Continue reading “Why Am I Sick? Reason #6: Because of Demonic Possession or Influence” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #5: Because of A Broken Spirit

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

The fifth reason people get sick is because of depression.

Oftentimes depression is considered a sickness or illness unto itself. We will not discuss that here. For now, let’s consider what the Bible has to say.

Proverbs 17:22 contrasts a joyful heart with a broken spirit. One is “good medicine” and the other “dries up the bones.”

Scientific Evidence Continue reading “Why Am I Sick? Reason #5: Because of A Broken Spirit” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #4: Because of Exhaustion!

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Sick and Tired

Sometimes people are sick simply from exhaustion.

Daniel’s Example

Daniel is the perfect biblical example of illness due to exhaustion.

Read Daniel 8:15-27.

Daniel had a vision pertaining to the end times. The vision was so disturbing to Daniel that he Continue reading “Why Am I Sick? Reason #4: Because of Exhaustion!” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #3: Judgment Against Sin

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Would God Really Use Sickness as Judgment?

Some people are sick or suffer because of God’s judgment against their sin. This can be an indirect judgment in the form of general discipline, or a direct judgment for a specific sin. First let’s discuss the issue of discipline.

Church Discipline

God has ordained an order of discipline within the church in order to bring repentance to men or women who have fallen into sin. The purpose for this judgment is Continue reading “Why Am I Sick? Reason #3: Judgment Against Sin” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Why Am I Sick? Reason #1: For God’s Glory

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Can God Be Glorified In My Sickness?

Some people are sick simply for the sake of God’s glory. It may be difficult to understand why God would allow people to suffer for His glory. However, we know this can be the case because the Bible gives us more than one example.

Look at John 9:1-3.

In this passage, the disciples ask Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”

The disciples assumed, like most people of their day, that Continue reading “Why Am I Sick? Reason #1: For God’s Glory” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved

Introduction: Why Am I Sick? 7 Biblical Reasons

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Why Am I Sick?

Why me? Why am I sick? Why?

We have all heard this question asked, or even asked it at some point in our life.

The Bible says in Psalms 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

If God withholds “no good thing” from those who walk uprightly, then it is understandable to ask, “Why do I have this sickness or chronic condition?”

To gain an understanding as to why we get sick, why we contract a disease, or why our bodies do not function properly, we need to Continue reading “Introduction: Why Am I Sick? 7 Biblical Reasons” →


Disclaimer:

Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.


Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.


Copyright:

© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved