This past spring I discovered the delight of essential oils from DoTerra.  I have never been one to pop pills or rush to the doctor with every small affliction that assails my body. I am a firm believer that proper rest, consistent exercise, and balanced eating lay the foundation for a healthy body.  Now, as a wellness advocate for DoTerra,  I realize that certified pure, therapeutic grade essential oils are what hold that foundation together. The intricate design of plant oils perfectly matches the needs of the human body’s cells, and with these oils we can fight infections, combat symptoms triggered by chronic health conditions, and rejuvenate our tired bodies in ways that have zero negative side effects – unlike chemical products. The heart of essential oils? Simplicity.

The writer in me can’t help but see a parallel between the simplicity of essential oils for living a healthy physical life and the simplicity of dedicating the intricacies of my heart to the Lord Jesus for a healthy spiritual life.  The beautiful thing about essential oils is how, because of its complex structure, the use of one oil to target one particular ailment can actually benefit your entire body. Thus, an entire medicine cabinet of pills can be minimized to a handful of oil bottles.  And so it is with my priorities. I often think that there are so many very important things with which I must keep myself occupied when, in fact, I only need to be still and listen for God’s direction. My ability to remain still is an indicator of the depth of my belief in His reality. Everything else is a distractor from the most important thing I should be doing – focusing on the reality of the Almighty God in my life. 

What does this look like in a real life? I ask myself that nearly every day. Here are some things that I have learned:

1. Start the day with Jesus.  My husband and I have begun a new routine of rising at 4:30am in order to begin our day with individual personal devotions. It has refreshed me beyond words to be able to lay my schedule and my burdens at the feet of Jesus first thing in the morning.  By giving Him my day’s schedule, I am literally giving Him my day. That helps me to be more flexible if changes must be made.

2. Pray less for myself. For years, I have had the habit of praying constantly for myself – my wants, my needs, my worries, my fears….and all that time I am not thinking about or praying for others.  Per the advice of my father I have begun to wean myself from that habit and am making a concerted effort to pray more for others. This has made me more sensitive to the Lord’s prompting for how to minister to others. Who needs a card of encouragement? Who needs help around the house? Who needs a listening ear? How can I get involved with helping the persecuted Christians in Iraq? I am now more motivated to get involved because it’s based on God’s direction, not me frantically trying to stay busy or feel better about myself.

3. Keep less stuff. I like pretty things and I like my things. Yet material possessions weigh me down. It takes longer to clean when there is a lot of clutter. Much stuff makes less room for living beings. My heart becomes attached to earthly treasures instead of heavenly ones. There is freedom in refusing to buy an item just because it catches my eye or denying myself a tasty treat when I’m out shopping; that freedom comes from knowing that my humanity doesn’t have to control me. Instead I am controlled by my Heavenly Father, and He will supply all my needs.  To help reinforce this discipline in my life I have taken on the Coffee 4 Christians challenge and am filling up my coffee mug with the money I would normally spend on splurges. (See video at the end of this blog)

The frankincense oils come from the sap of the frankincense tree. The oils that are the most pure come from the sap that is closest to the tree, while the least pure oil comes from the sap that has drained the farthest from the tree.  Every time I apply the frankincense oil I am reminded that I need to stay close to my Source in order to experience the heart of living essentially. There are so many possibilities in life that seem good – tasty food, beautiful possessions, awesome opportunities – but in reality they are merely distractors.  Simplicity captures what is most important: living the life for which God has designed me.

The Coffee 4 Christians Challenge 

If you are interested in learning more about DoTerra’s essential oils visit here: DoTerra info