Your EXAMS! Your HEALTH!

*The EXAM Academy

…10 Times Better… (Dan 1:20)

Your EXAMS! Your HEALTH!

¹Dr. Ayodeji Okeya

Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital.

I

t is God's will that we are healthy. When He revealed Himself to us and we accepted His invitation to enter into the covenant, we found ourselves responsible to seek first the kingdom of God. We are to strive to overcome and to grow to maturity.

We are to submit ourselves to become in His image. And this means working towards improving ourselves in knowledge, understanding, wisdom, attitude, character and within the framework of these major areas, working towards improving our physical health as well.

As examination starts, you can have a good health and always, this begins with repentance- change of mind and it is preceded by faith in God. Because we believe Him, because we want to glorify Him, because we want to produce the good results by doing the works that He is creating us for- the principles are the same.

We look in God's word for the truth, we open up our mind to it and by Faith, we step out and do it.

We control ourselves- we discipline ourselves to follow the principles that are in God's word. That is the secret of good health. The same principles were followed by Daniel and His friend in Daniel chapter 1.

Now in this passage we are introduced to four important Jewish youths- Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah- although you might know Daniel's friends by their Babylonian names- Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego. It is interesting to look at the meaning of their names before and after the change. Daniel ('God is judge') become Belteshazzar ('may Bel protect his life'), Hananiah ('Yahweh is gracious') becomes Shadrach ('command of Aku'), Mishael ('who is what God is') becomes Meshach ('who is what Aku is') ,Azariah ('whom Yahweh helps') becomes Abednego ('servant of Nebo').

In each case, their Hebrew names spoke of the true God and their names were changed to speak of the Babylonian gods.

The bottom line for our lives is clear. Don't let the world change your name or your character. So, nearly all of the Hebrew's outward lives were changed but could they change their hearts?

Examinations or pressures of life should not change us from doing the will of God. Dan1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. This is very important to understand in periods of examination.
Daniel's heart couldn't be changed despite the pressure from the Babylonians. No matter the pressure this world has on you, never go against the will of God. In examination periods, some read and write examinations under the influence of alcohol. Our God is interested in what we take into our body. Such acts will not make God take charge of a man's situation.

God honoured Daniel and his friend's commitment because they followed His principles. Daniel1:15, at the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

A good health during exam always requires one to follow God's principles and maintain a good personal hygiene by:
-cleaning our home regularly
-protect food from insects and animals by keeping it properly covered.
-wash your food carefully
-properly dispose human and animal waste
-wash your hand before eating and after using the toilet.
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¹OKEYA AYODEJI is a scholar of medicine at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, he can be reached on 07035704857, adjkya@yahoo.com for one-on-one health counseling.

*The EXAM Academy…10 Times Better (Dan 1:20) is powered by HISpirational…job328.

It is a College of Understanding aimed at ADVANCING the Kingdom of CHRIST through intellectual dominion by DISCOVERING, DEVELOPING and DISHING OUT practical WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING that empowers the Kingdom-Born to maximise the DOOR of EXAMINATION unto attaining Academic Excellence to the GLORY of GOD.