I can’t live without water. I need it to survive. When I was feeling sluggish and wanted more energy, I asked a friend for his advice. Do you know what he said?
“How much water are you drinking?”
“A few glasses a day,” I said.
“You should drink half of your body weight in ounces per day,” he said.
Without revealing my weight I did the math. “I can’t drink that much water,” I told him, “No way.”
To this day I constantly need reminders to drink water. After a workout I’m tempted to grab a sweet drink but water does me good in keeping my body cool. It’s also pure, so I don’t have to worry about seeing a spike in my blood sugar level.
Water makes up over 50 percent of our body weight. We need it to replenish our bodies daily to stay hydrated. In high temperatures and high humidity, the body is busy working to maintain 98.6 degrees. Without adequate fluid the body is fighting an uphill battle.
Water helps keep our bodies cool but it also helps to: elevate the mood and fight fatigue; energize us; protect our joints and cartilage; help dissolve fats and soluble fiber; improve our mood and prevent headaches. Water also helps keep our fluids balanced by transporting nutrients, aiding digestion and helping our kidneys flush out toxins.
During the day when I'm lacking energy, I may not be able to notice it but people can tell if something is wrong. My co-workers may not know or understand what I’m going through, but they’ll look at my posture or the expression on my face and ask if I’m okay. To ease my tensions they’ll tell me a joke. If I like the joke I’ll let out a laugh and thank them for refreshing me during a hard day. The Word of God has similar uplifting properties. It brings cleansing and life (Ephesians 5:26). When we’re in despair and feel helpless it gives us strength (Psalm 119:28).
When I exercise, I want my body to stay hydrated and my mind free from negative thoughts. Feeding into negative emotions can open the door to stress. When I feel negative emotions trying to invade my mind, I reject them and take a stand on what God’s Word says and start speaking positive affirmations. In the Christian walk we need God’s Word to help guide and direct us (Psalm 119:105). Drinking God’s Word daily will refresh our souls and give us energy to do His Work.
“Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad,” Proverbs 12:25.
Anne Hunter is a child of God, health education enthusiast, and Certified Shazzy Fitness Instructor. Anne has been a Sunday School teacher for over fifteen years and volunteers her time at women and children's shelters in her community. Subscribe to our newsletter and get awesome updates on faith, fitness, fun, family and fellowship!