7 Ways to Avoid Premature Death
I have often heard Christ followers talk about the timing of their demise as resting solely in the hands of the Almighty (with references made to Acts 17:26, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2), yet I have remained skeptical of this concept. You see, I have been taught that there exists two “wills of God”, if you would—His perfect will and His permissive will. While I agree that He has indeed determined a perfectly ordained template for your life span, I do believe that we fallible humans can step out of His perfect will and instead make choices that alter this plan landing us in the area of His permissive will.
If you desire to live every day that the Lord intended for you to live, then you have to take some responsibility when it comes to the maintenance and protection of your temple-body. Below are seven ways to stay on course with God’s perfect will for your lifespan.
- Sleep 7-8 hours daily. Studies show significant decrease in lifespan when one is chronically under slept. (Reference my Sleep Well Again)
- Avoid/Reverse Insulin Resistance. What we eat can eat away at our health! Keep your dietary intake of refined flours and sugars to a minimum. (Reference my Diabetes: Are You at Risk? and Overcoming Overeating)
- Exercise regularly. Moderate level, physical activity tallying 150 minutes each week will ward off numerous diseases of the body and mind. (Reference my Get Healthy for Heaven’s Sake)
- Don’t smoke—enough said.
- Be safety conscious. Wear safety belts in automobiles and helmets when skiing, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding. Don’t text while driving or drive while severely under slept or under the influence of alcohol.
- Don’t load up on free radicals. Avoid eating blackened foods or foods containing trans fats, getting sun burned, and living under chronic stress. Instead, make sure you supplement your diet with vitamins E and C which neutralize those free radical, bad boys leaving you with a more age-defying internal profile.
- Stay Connected. Socialization wards off dementia, which can shorten your life by many years! Huh, I wonder if the Lord had this benefit in mind when He encouraged us not to give up the habit of meeting with one another (Hebrews 10:25).
Together let’s determine to age well and live long so that we can serve strong!