During National Correct Posture Month, consider both your physical and spiritual posture.
Our complex human skeleton: created by God.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The American Chiropractic Association designates May each year as National Correct Posture Month, to remind people of the need to maintain a healthy posture.
Chiropractors explain that poor posture can lead to long-term problems, including:
- muscle strains
- chronic pain
- spinal problems
- decreased lung capacity
- digestive problems, and
- conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
If not stopped in time, habitual poor posture can result in permanent damage. Bones can remold themselves and bad posture become permanent, leading to loss of flexibility and mobility.
Doctors suggest two simple ways to improve posture: 1) get plenty of exercise, and 2) become aware of how your body is aligned. For more advice, read this article by Dr. Dana Weissman Timmins: bit.ly/LbYypJ.
Walk Uprightly
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11, NASB
God wants his people to have good posture—to walk uprightly. The biblical use of the word means to live a life of integrity. He frequently called the Israelites to holy living:
“You must be blameless before the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 18:13). Peter echoes this command by reminding believers that we must be holy in everything we do, just as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15).
Physical slouching and slumping may feel comfortable at first, but in the long run it leads to pain and problems.
We are also tempted to spiritually slouch, to make little compromises that don’t seem like a big deal at first. But habitual compromising results in serious problems as our character molds itself around these little lapses in integrity.
During National Correct Posture Month, we will find God as we evaluate our spiritual walk. We will never achieve perfection in our earthly life, but we should be progressing toward Christlike holiness each day. We want to heed God’s advice to “stand up straight” so we won’t develop problems much worse than a pain in the neck.
In this video, a chiropractor gives tips on back stretches and exercises to help you maintain correct posture and back health:
Back Exercises and Stretches
© Dianne Neal Matthews (www.DianneNealMatthews.com). Dianne is a freelance writer and the author of four daily devotional books. This article is adapted from her book, The One Year on This Day (Tyndale House).
