Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 2 KINGS 5:1-14 NIV
In order to change…
I must discover what I actually believe is possible
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. PROVERBS 20:5 NIV
I must be willing to listen to the right people
I must train my body to do what it should
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should… 1 CORINTHIANS 9:27 NLT
I must care for my body by choosing to eat wisely
I must prioritize daily and weekly rest
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. PSALM 127:2 NIV
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. HEBREWS 4:1 NIV
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. MARK 2:27 NIV
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Find a quiet place to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and invite God into this time of reflection. Ask God to calm your thoughts and emotions and release any burdens that may distract you from listening to what God wants to say to you. Take a moment to focus on God’s love for you and the fact that your life is His masterpiece. Then, when you are ready, think about your physical health. In what ways have you developed good habits that contribute to your health? Thank the Lord for His help in developing these rhythms. Ask God to reveal to you any healthier habits of exercise, diet, or rest that will enable your physical health to improve this year. What change do you sense you need to make first in one of these areas? What do you believe about this change that will make it difficult for you to accomplish it? Pray that God will enable you to overcome any resistance you may have to making this change. Close your time by thanking Him for the degree of health you do have and for His help in developing a healthier lifestyle for your benefit and those around you.
Discussion Questions
NOTE: Choose a couple of the following questions from each section that best
fit your group. Or, have everyone read the questions, choosing which one(s) from each
section that they feel led to respond to.
- GET STARTED: How important is physical health to you? Share a little about your habits with exercise, eating, and rest.
- GET STARTED: What parts of your physical life do you want to become healthier in? (physical activity, eating wisely, or daily/weekly rest)
- GET STARTED: How have people in your life influenced you to take care of your physical health, or the opposite?
- KEEP GOING: How difficult is it for you to believe you can make changes to your physical health? When have you experienced God in a way that changed what you know or believe is possible?
- KEEP GOING: Read Ephesians 2:10 (NLT). How difficult is it for you to see yourself as God’s masterpiece? In what ways does God’s love for you change how you see your body and its use in doing the good things God has planned for you?
- KEEP GOING: Read Mark 15:34 (NLT). Jesus experienced physical pain. When has your pain driven you to call out to Jesus? How have you relied on God to get you through a painful experience, and how has that influenced your faith and trust in Him?
- LIVE IT OUT: How have you experienced the benefits of exercising or eating healthier in ways you enjoy and with others? Ask God to reveal an improvement you can make in your physical activity or food choices that further trains and fuels your body to do what it was created to do.
- LIVE IT OUT: What does healthy and restorative rest look like for you? What is one way to prioritize daily rest and a weekly sabbath? What do you sense you need to let go of in order to gain more restorative rest?
- LIVE IT OUT: Who is someone else struggling with their physical health? Pray for them, and consider an opportunity to come alongside them, suggest a new habit, or encourage them to keep going with God’s love and strength.
