FEBRUARY
Psalm 51:10–12

February is heart month and can make us feel guilty about, or at least motivated to think about, our physical health.

Watching infomercials for exercise equipment and diet products is fascinating. They each have their own "gospel" spread by "evangelists" who boldly speak forth the truth about healthy living — and how their product can make it easy — to anyone who will listen and buy. I sometimes wonder what it is that can make us think that with just two payments of $49.95, we can be on the easy road to physical health.

What would it look like if, with the same passion as the spokespersons in the infomercials, we could confess that we are created in the image of God? That we are more than just our physical bodies but emotional and spiritual beings as well? How would our lives change if just for these 29 days, upon waking each morning, we would speak the words of Psalm 51:10–12:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit."

Confession and forgiveness bring about transformation and action. We've done something! Now we feel different about who we are and whose we are, and that frees us to get on to the real work of boldly making a difference in the lives of others every day. Our action can begin as boldly and as simply as the psalm says in verse 15: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise."

Offering prayer: Creator God, we thank you for the gifts of wholeness and wellness. Teach us to care for our whole hearts as we love and serve you and your people. Amen.

Offering focus: Your gifts support advocacy and resources for the Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls initiative.

Valora K Starr is an associate for programs in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, and global education for Women of the ELCA.
 

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Women of the ELCA logoCopyright © 2007 Women of the ELCA. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced for use in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America provided the copyright information above appears on every copy with these words: Used with permission.
For all other purposes contact Women of the ELCA.