Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:22:28 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/can-we-use-exercise-to-worship-god.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/can-we-use-exercise-to-worship-god.html Emma Danzey https://www.crosswalk.com/author/emma-danzey/ May we never make an idol out of our bodies or fitness, and may we never neglect our health and taking care of our bodies. Exercise can play a beautiful role in the kingdom of God. Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:18:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/recipes-for-a-gluten-free-christmas.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/recipes-for-a-gluten-free-christmas.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Navigating a gluten-free Christmas can be a joyous occasion with these 8 delicious and naturally gluten-free recipes, from festive cookies to hearty main dishes and decadent desserts.  Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-ways-to-have-a-healthy-year.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-ways-to-have-a-healthy-year.html Michelle S. Lazurek https://www.crosswalk.com/author/michelle-lazurek/ As Christmas closes and the new year approaches, we set our sights on creating New Year's resolutions for self-improvement in various areas of our lives. One of the most popular New Year's resolutions is for better health. The most common way people try to seek better health is to lose weight. However, the biggest health victories sometimes come when we step off the scale.Although there are many health assessments online, companies require an e-mail address, which permits the company to continue to e-mail you with ads and other promotional materials. The best way to analyze your health is to ask the Holy Spirit. It is easy for us to deny and think we are doing better than we are. Additionally, tests like online assessments can be manipulated to give ourselves the desired result. When we use denial and other self-deprecating behaviors, we don't allow the Holy Spirit to help us see areas in our lives in which we can grow.Additionally, the enemy loves it when we stop growing. When we stop identifying the areas where we need to take steps to improve ourselves, the enemy wins. He loves keeping us stuck right where we are. The Holy Spirit wants to show us areas of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health where we need the most help.To have a healthy 2024, we must protect our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. However, we must take an honest health analysis to see how healthy we are in each area. Here are five ways to have a healthy 2024:Photo credit: ©GettyImages/jacoblund Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:38:03 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/what-you-eat-tonight-could-help-you-sleep-better-and-simple-foods-that-invite-rest.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/what-you-eat-tonight-could-help-you-sleep-better-and-simple-foods-that-invite-rest.html Amber Ginter https://www.crosswalk.com/author/amber-ginter/ Discover how incorporating specific foods like walnuts, tart cherries, and kiwi into your diet can naturally enhance sleep quality by boosting melatonin and tryptophan levels. Explore practical dietary and lifestyle changes that, when combined with these sleep-supporting foods, can lead to more restful nights and energized mornings. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:21:56 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/why-is-the-gentle-practice-of-slow-walking-going-viral.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/why-is-the-gentle-practice-of-slow-walking-going-viral.html Amber Ginter https://www.crosswalk.com/author/amber-ginter/ Discover how a gentle, Tai Chi-inspired walking practice is going viral for its ability to boost metabolism, improve balance, and calm the mind, offering a sustainable alternative to high-impact exercise. Explore the profound physical and mental benefits of slowing down and cultivating stillness, and how this practice can lead to a deeper sense of peace and spiritual connection. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:27:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/ways-to-ask-the-great-physician-to-mend-body-and-spirit.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/ways-to-ask-the-great-physician-to-mend-body-and-spirit.html Whitney Hopler https://www.crosswalk.com/author/whitney-hopler/ When you need healing for your body and spirit, you can call on God himself – the Great Physician – to heal you. God will direct your entire healing journey. When you feel overwhelmed by physical illness or injuries, emotional stress or pain, or spiritual issues, the Bible encourages you to pray with the confidence that God cares about your well-being.The idea of God as the greatest doctor of all comes from Jesus’ words in Mark 2:17: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” God wants to bring his wholeness to your body and spirit.Here are 7 ways to ask the Great Physician to mend your body and spirit: Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/BrianAJackson  Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/renewing-your-mind-and-the-science-behind-staying-sharp.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/renewing-your-mind-and-the-science-behind-staying-sharp.html Milton Quintanilla https://www.crosswalk.com/author/milton-quintanilla/ Unlock the power of mental discipline to not only enhance cognitive function but also deepen your spiritual walk. Discover how engaging with God's Word through reading, studying, and meditation can transform your spirit and strengthen your faith for a more fulfilling life. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:30:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/thanksgiving/delicious-sides-to-make-this-thanksgiving.html https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/thanksgiving/delicious-sides-to-make-this-thanksgiving.html Linda Gilden https://www.crosswalk.com/author/linda-gilden/ From cheese grits to peppermint fudge, these dishes are beloved for a reason. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:25:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/faith-and-fitness-5-ways-to-stay-healthy-and-motivated-this-holiday-season.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/faith-and-fitness-5-ways-to-stay-healthy-and-motivated-this-holiday-season.html Betsy St. Amant https://www.crosswalk.com/author/betsy-st-amant/ 'Tis the season! The holidays always bring the aroma of freshly baked pumpkin muffins, gingerbread cookies, roasted turkey with all the buttered trimmings…and the not-as-appetizing thought of January fitness resolutions. Too often, we tend to binge eat our way through the holidays, thinking, “I’ll buckle down between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” which leads to, “Well, I’ll start over after this next holiday party,” which leads to, “I’ll just get serious about my fitness and nutrition in January with everyone else.”The problem with that mindset is that it is based on denial, procrastination, and typically shame or guilt. And who accomplishes anything worthwhile while laden with shame and guilt? (Spoiler alert—no one!)I’ve been guilty of this pattern and finally broke out of the habit over the last several years. The biggest lie we can tell ourselves in fitness is “I’ll start over tomorrow.” Maybe you will. But why not now? Instead of continuing to eat poorly and be upset with yourself for the rest of the day, why not make a better choice with your next choice? Why not go for a walk right now? Why not move your body today instead of waiting for tomorrow…next Monday…next year…We would never do this with sin, right? We don’t sin and tell God, “Well, I already messed up today, so I’m going to just keep sinning until tomorrow, next week, or next year.” That’s silly. So why do we do this to our own bodies and our own mental and emotional health?Here’s the truth—there is a middle ground between over-indulging for weeks or months straight, and being so strict you don’t enjoy the holidays. There is a middle ground between loafing on the couch full of cheese for weeks and running yourself into painful shin splits on a treadmill. And that middle ground has everything to do with obtainable goals and a godly mindset!So here are five ways to create—and maintain—your fitness goals as you navigate the holiday season. Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/silverkblack Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:10:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/7-foods-that-prove-god-keeps-his-promises.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/7-foods-that-prove-god-keeps-his-promises.html One For Israel Discover how God used everyday crops to declare His goodness, and why they still speak to us today. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:22:28-05:00