Last week while visiting the doctor, I became aware of just how many of us are sitting in doctors’ offices – due to stress and all of its accompanying attributes that show up in hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and so many other ailments.  As divine expressions of God, we have the ability to heal ourselves.  God gives us the wisdom that we need when we need it, if we just listen. 

Our bodies tell us what we need to know.  The problem is that we fail to be obedient.  Much of what we need to do is simple. Some of the most common illnesses can be cured with simple remedies: exercise, proper rest, nutritious food, and water. 

Are you exercising?  We need to walk or run or stretch or lift or dance for at least 30 minutes twice a day – at least 6 times a week.  Rest and proper diet are also key.  But an important question rarely asked is whether we are drinking enough water?

We know that we need water, but we don’t drink it. I hear folks saying they don’t like water; they don’t drink water; and they drink other things instead.  Water is not just good for us; it is vital to our good health.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, author of Your Body’s Many Cries For Water: You’re Not Sick; You’re Thirsty (www.watercure.com), treated more than 3,000 peptic ulcer patients with water alone and discovered that disease responds to water by itself.  Chronic dehydration is the root cause of most major degenerative diseases of the human body.  That merits repeating: Chronic dehydration is the root cause of most major degenerative diseases of the human body!

Without the right amount of water to wash the acidic waste of metabolism, chaos results in our bodily functions, causing pain, Alzheimer’s, stress, tumors, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, allergies, and other ailments.  These ailments can actually be healed with water!  I checked out what the Bible says.  In Judges 15:19, it says “Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived.”

In Isaiah 43:3, God says “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” 

There is Spirit in water to sustain us, to bless us, and to heal us. 

What does Daniel seek to drink?  In Daniel 1:12, he says “Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” Why?  Our bodies are composed of 25 percent solid matter and 75% water; brain tissue is 85% water.

Jesus said I will give you “living water” (John 4:10).  Implicit in the power of his words is not only that he would give the Spirit but also that the Spirit in him, which is present in us all is the blessing in all water.                  Revelation teaches us that the angel revealed “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).

But in order to receive the benefits of water, we must drink this “free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).  Tea, coffee, alcohol and other beverages are not substitutes for water.  Only water can bless us.  See Dr. Christopher Vasey’s The Water Prescription: For Health, Vitality and Rejuvenation for information on what kind of water to drink and for remedies on re-hydrating.

Most importantly, drink water.  Experts say that it is good to consume half the amount of your body weight in water ounces.  So if you weigh 100 pounds; you should consume 50 oz of water; if you are 200 pounds, you should be drinking 100 oz of water each day.  If you work out, you must add at least a liter or 32 oz of water to every hour of exercise – on top of your daily requirement.

The literature says that the best time to consume water is 8 oz/a glass before consuming each meal and 8 oz/a glass an hour after each meal; and 8 oz/a glass water after eliminating water.

A good gauge of whether we are getting enough water is the color of our urine: it is supposed to be colorless.  If it is yellow – we are nearing dehydration; if it is orange – we are dehydrated.  If it is brown, well, start drinking.

I try to drink at least 32 ounces upon rising and another 32-48 ounces when I hit the gym; 32-48 ounces at work; and another 32-48 ounces at home.  My favorite is Volvic.  Learn which one you prefer. 

But drink up physician, and heal thyself.

Reverend Cecilia Loving is the Spiritual Leader of SPIRITMUV, a nondenominational church which meets at the Unity Center of New York City every Sunday at 2:30 PM to meditate on the spiritual oneness, to uplift each in song, to pray from the divine within, to study truth, and to grow in the awesome power that we are.  For more information, go to http://www.spiritmuv.com.

Join us everyday for FREE MEDITATIONS at http://www.spiritmuvmeditation.com.  All you have to do is sign up and the meditation will be sent to you each day so that you can meditate at your leisure.  If you want to change your life; meditation will bless you beyond belief.