Faith is about trust. About connecting with the One who is greater than yourself, but at the same time closer than your own breath. Where do you stand in your faith? Are you curious about the power of your body in this journey? Below I share some thoughts and insights that may help you not only understand faith, but also feel it, experience it, and live it out.
In the Bible we read about cheering, raising hands, dancing, kneeling, clenching fists, and much more. Body language is used to express gratitude, struggle, joy, sadness, and love. Dance was an expression of intense feelings – love, loss, joy, and gratitude. Faith in our culture has long been a mental matter, a matter of the head. But what if faith is also physical? You can learn a lot from your body in this, it is a source of wisdom. Only sometimes that head gets in the way a bit. Do you recognize that?
I feel therefore I am
Your body stores all your experiences and therefore contains a wealth of impressions and knowledge. It can sometimes be difficult to listen to this wisdom, and you often choose to avoid it. Living "in your head" seems safe; it offers you control. You absorb so much through words, sounds and thoughts. But it is precisely what your body experiences that has a deep influence on your emotions and actions. As scientist and neurologist Damasio says: "I feel, therefore I am." It is time to tune in to the wisdom that lies within your body, because the body speaks very clearly.
Experiencing faith
Have you ever considered that you can experience faith through your body? Jesus promises to give you peace and life . That is quite something! This is not something to just know, but to really experience and live out. What would it be like if you really lived this peace and this life (aliveness)? How do you do that?
But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! (Jesus)
Back to basics
In Genesis we read how God created heaven and earth, and how He formed man from the dust of the earth. The name Adam comes from the Hebrew ădāmāh, which means earth or ground. Spiritual life is often associated with something abstract, something 'above'. But by standing with both feet on the ground, you get deeper contact with yourself, your body and your environment. Grounding is a way to reconnect, to experience peace and stability.
And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3, The Message)
My quest
About ten years ago, I, Marijke, started my own quest for more peace, more grounding. I no longer wanted to go round in circles in my head, I longed for more life and energy. Through bodywork and Body Mind Language I discovered how my body could give me that connection, both with myself and with God. This was a transformative experience for me: I discovered that my body speaks clearly and is a place where I could perceive God's presence.
Embodying Faith
Bodywork can be deeply transformative. It is a natural integration of spirit, soul, and body, where you feel God’s Spirit moving in everything you do. It is not about a “Christian sauce” – it is pure, raw, and real. Whether you have a deep faith experience or are still searching, you are welcome. You will learn to embrace your body as a source of wisdom and power. My desire is that we not only talk about faith, but that we embody faith. That we experience God in everything we do, in every movement, in every breath. Because faith is not just about what we think – it is about who we are , in spirit, soul, and body.
Welcome to Restored.
My desire is that faith is not just a matter of our heads, but that we embody faith. ( Marijke Hukema, Restored)
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