Day 12 - Christian Yoga

Over the past centuries, Christianity has lost sight of the significance of our body in relationship to our faith. We have forgotten that God has created us in His image, both male and female…and when He finished His creation, it was the only thing He stated as being “very good”. We don’t appreciate, perhaps, the importance, when God came to earth, He did so as a man. Jesus used His entire body in acts of worship, prayer and acts of corporal mercy. When Jesus invites us to the communion table it was to take part in His body and blood. The church is not a place to worship, but a “body of believers” who make up the “Body of Christ”. We are told to remember that our bodies are a holy temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When Jesus died, He was buried but then rose bodily to be forever at the right side of God the father. Jesus’ own resurrection is our assurance that we too will be bodily resurrected.

So- how can we as Christians, learn from this ancient philosophy of Yoga to deepen our own relationship and faith in Christ. In my opinion, it is always best to start with the bible for discernment.

The most important command

Mark 12:29-30 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind and with all your strength.’”

If loving God with our heart, soul, mind and strength, is the most important commandment, then we should be able to worship Him with these things as well, for what is the difference between loving the Lord and worshiping Him. One cannot happen without the other.

Treat our bodies as a holy temple where the Holy Spirit lives

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

We are taught, that not only are we to use our bodies in Worship and to glorify God, but that this is pleasing to Him. We are no longer by ourselves. The Lord’s Holy Spirit lives within us and our bodies are precious to Him.

Where are we to worship?

Matthew 18:20 “Were two or three come together in my name, there I am with them"
For the first 300 years of Christianity, Christians did not worship in a church because it was illegal. Christians had to hide when they gathered to worship, study or pray. The church building was created for the worshipers, not for God. He doesn’t need a “structure” to be confined to in order to be worshiped. Of course, it is pleasing to the Lord to see His people gather together for fellowship and worship, but it is not the only place that He finds acceptable for these things. Wherever we are, if we invite Christ to be with us, He will be there.

Freedom in Christ

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

If our intention is to Glorify God and not become idolaters to ourselves or others, our actions can be holy before God.

When we choose to pray, what we are actually doing is responding to the presence of God that never leaves us. It is up to us to cultivate our awareness and responsiveness of heart, to God’s presence in and around us where ever we are and whatever we are doing. Therefore, whatever we do, if we offer it up to God as a prayer offering or an act of worship, we can grow closer to God.
And as the scripture above reminds us, our bodies can be used in spiritual worship (Romans 12:1)

During your time on the mat, you can choose for that time to be holy. Allow your mat to be a scared space. Forget about the others around you and focus your mind and body on communicating with God. Every breath you draw in can be sacred, every movement can be offered as an act of thanksgiving and praise, every pain or strain, can be handed over to the Lord of creation in humble acknowledgment of our own limited abilities and remember that it is from Him we gain our strength. We can offer our successes and our failures, our intentions and needs to God. He wants them all.


 by Jo-Dee Collins, Christian Yoga Instructor and Spiritual Healer




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The Purpose Driven Life - Finding Your Purpose

CHAPTER 12 - DEVELOPING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

You are as close to God as you choose to be.

Like any friendship, you must work at developing your friendship with God. It won't happen by accident. It takes desire, time, and energy. If you want a more deeper, more intimate connection with God you must learn to honestly share your feelings with him, trust him when he asks you to do something, learn to care about what he cares about, and desire his friendship more than anything else.

Developing your relationship with God in 6 steps (see blog post Day 11 for first 2)

3. I must choose to be honest with God.
4. I must choose to obey God in faith.
5. I must choose to value what God values.
6. I must desire friendship with God more than anything else.

Point to Ponder: I'm as close to God as I choose to be.

Verse to Remember: "Draw close God, and God will draw close to you." James 4:8a (NLT)

Question to Consider: What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God?