Freedom In A Humbled Heart

Freedom In A Humbled Heart

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. Psalm 51:15-17

After a fall to sin, the Holy Spirit’s painful conviction follows. It overwhelms our hearts, and we desperately want the pain to go away. You may cry out, “Why does this hurt so much?”

God’s Word tells us:

At the time you gave your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell in you, to help you (John 14:16). When you fall to sin, it pierces the Spirit, limiting His ability to move, lead, guide, convict, and empower. And the pain He feels is felt by you.

The good news is that if you feel the intense pain of conviction, you have the beautiful and invaluable gift of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Even those who commit habitual sin and gradually feel less conviction will eventually suffer in other ways, for God wants His prodigal sons and daughters to return to Him, and He will use what’s necessary to get their attention.

But be warned. Those who turn from the Lord, knowing His commandments of right and wrong, but willfully choose a sinful lifestyle, will eventually be given over to a depraved mind. (Romans 1:28-32)

The Lord Desires Sincerity

Psalm 51 was written by David after he committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed. Lean in to Psalm 17: The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.

In other words, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, the broken and repentant heart is the sacrifice that pleases God most.  

The prayer asking God to forgive of one’s sins without true sorrow does not move Him. Neither is a ritualistic prayer, asking for forgiveness. Some will only ask for forgiveness because they got caught by the consequences, and not because the sin grieved the Holy Spirit. God knows the intention of every heart, and understands every desire and thought (1 Chronicles 28:9). It’s the prayer to God with the sacrifice of one’s broken heart that pleases Him. We have assurance that the Lord is for us:

Pain Is Not His Unforgiveness

The pain of the Holy Spirit’s conviction is not an indication that God has not forgiven us, if we have asked Him for forgiveness. 

Sometimes we grieve so heavily over our sin, we wonder if God has forgiven us. The sting of sin’s consequences doesn’t immediately disappear when we pray, and we often keep praying until we feel that sting dissipate. Otherwise, we tend to believe that God didn’t hear us, or forgive us.

But we can be assured that with a heavy broken heart, convicted of that sin, we are forgiven if we’ve asked God for forgiveness. 

The loss or consequence we’re experiencing is a result of sin, and God has allowed it for our discipline and correction. He then uses that discipline for our spiritual and emotional transformation. It’s God’s plan and purpose that the uncomfortable cutting, sanding, burning, molding, and polishing through discipline will shape us into the likeness of His Son and Our Savior. Then when He looks at us, He sees the reflection of Christ Jesus.

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Health

Our Vitamins and Minerals: All From Food?

Do you take vitamin supplements? Perhaps you’ve doubted if you can get all your necessary vitamins and minerals from your food.

The answer is: it depends on your age, health, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and the ability to absorb them. 

Cases For Supplementation

As we age, we can lose the ability to absorb one or more vitamins or minerals, causing a deficiency. In that case, you may need to supplement. 

Or, you have dietary restrictions (like being vegan or vegetarian), or if you fall into a high-risk group such as pregnant women, the elderly, or people with chronic health conditions that affect nutrient absorption.

Supplementation does have its benefits, depending on your needs and goals. For example, your body produces and consumes small amounts of creatine from food. However, if your goal is to saturate your muscles with higher levels of creatine for strength and growth, supplementation is the most effective.

Overall, most healthy people should be able to get their vitamins and minerals from food.

How To Get Vitamins From Food

It’s as simple as adopting a broad healthy diet. In fact, vitamins and minerals are most potent when they come from food. In food, they are accompanied by many other beneficial nutrients, including hundreds of carotenoids, flavonoids, minerals, and antioxidants that aren't in most supplements. This involves an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, low-fat protein, and dairy products.

Categories of Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are divided into two categories: water soluble—which means the body expels what it does not absorb—and fat soluble where leftover amounts are stored in the liver and fat tissues as reserves. The water-soluble vitamins are the eight B vitamins (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-7, B-9, and B-12) and vitamin C. The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K.

Minerals are split into two groups: major and trace. Major ones are not necessarily more important than trace, but it means there are greater amounts in your body.

Vitamin Sources

Water soluble

🔺 B-1: ham, soymilk, watermelon, acorn squash

🔺 B-2: milk, yogurt, cheese, whole and enriched grains and cereals

🔺 B-3: meat, poultry, fish, fortified and whole grains, mushrooms, potatoes

🔺 B-5: chicken, whole grains, broccoli, avocados, mushrooms

🔺 B-6: meat, fish, poultry, legumes, tofu and other soy products, bananas

🔺 B-7: Whole grains, eggs, soybeans, fish

🔺 B-9: Fortified grains and cereals, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, legumes (black-eyed peas and chickpeas), orange juice

🔺 B-12: Meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, fortified soymilk and cereals

🔺 Vitamin C: Citrus fruit, potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts

Fat soluble

🔺 Vitamin A: beef, liver, eggs, shrimp, fish, fortified milk, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, spinach, mangoes

🔺 Vitamin D: Fortified milk and cereals, fatty fish

🔺 Vitamin E: vegetables oils, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts

🔺 Vitamin K: Cabbage, eggs, milk, spinach, broccoli, kale

Minerals

Major Minerals

🔺 Calcium: yogurt, cheese, milk, salmon, leafy green vegetables.

🔺 Chloride: salt

🔺 Magnesium: Spinach, broccoli, legumes, seeds, whole-wheat bread

🔺 Potassium: meat, milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes

🔺 Sodium: salt, soy sauce, vegetables

Trace Minerals

🔺 Chromium: meat, poultry, fish, nuts, cheese, broccoli, potatoes

🔺 Copper: shellfish, nuts, seeds, whole-grain products, beans, prunes

🔺 Fluoride:  fish, teas

🔺 Iodine: Iodized salt, seafood

🔺 Iron: red meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, green vegetables, fortified bread

🔺 Manganese: nuts, legumes, whole grains, tea

🔺 Selenium: Organ meat, seafood, walnuts

🔺 Zinc: meat, shellfish, legumes, whole grains

General Precautions Regarding Supplementation

• Consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before starting any new supplement, medication, or making significant dietary changes, especially if you have underlying health conditions. They can determine if you have a deficiency and recommend a safe and appropriate supplement and dosage.

• Supplements can interact with medication: Some supplements can interfere with how medications work. For example, vitamin K can affect blood thinners.

• Too much can be harmful: Megadoses of certain vitamins and minerals can be harmful. A balanced diet is the best way to get most nutrients, and supplements should not replace it. 

_{†All health information in the articles is exclusively gathered from clinical/medical resources that have been industry vetted, with no conflict of interest in the information they present/publish.} 

_{*Holy Nutrition does not diagnose, treat, or give medical advice. Information provided is not medical advice and should not be relied upon for diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a healthcare provider or medical practitioner for any health concerns, questions, or before making any decisions related to your health. Individual health conditions and needs may vary, and therefore, professional medical advice is essential for personalized guidance. Holy Nutrition is not responsible for any harm or damage resulting from the user's reliance on the information contained in the articles.}