At home. With kids. With partner. Work to do. Nowhere to go. Money running out. No space to breath. Weird dinners. Uncertainty. No dinners. Fear. Sickness. No end date. No toilet roll…

We will all probably experience some of this in different degrees over the next days, weeks, even months and no-one can tell us how it’s going to end, or when. Just the thought of it is enough to send any of us mad, letting alone living it. BUT. We can do simple things to keep living, to not only survive but thrive. And we can do it together, despite living in isolation. 

Our prayer is that through this unprecedented time, we find simple ways to connect with God and each other. Maybe it will create a moment for the things we have been meaning to do for ages but not had the time. Or we reach the end of ourselves and what we can do in pain or stress, and learn to depend on God in a way we haven’t had to before. But wherever we find ourselves, we believe Jesus is with us and we pray that every person feels Him holding them through the waves of the coming days.

Below we’ve got simple ideas that we can do as a community but in our homes, to look after our Mind, Body and Heart, with Jesus at the centre of it all. 

There are loads of ideas out there at the moment, and we don’t just want to add to the noise but we do want to learn to lean into Jesus together and find Him in our lives for ourselves in a deeper way, when our ‘normal’ has been stripped right back. I, for one, would like my new normal to be a life lived more deeply with God.

1. Our Mind – 

The stress on our thinking, with the constant flow of news, changing advice and uncertainty is a real strain. Let alone in difficult personal circumstances. We need to look after our thinking and focus it on helpful stuff that feeds us and not only drains us. 

This looks like…

• Reading the Bible, you might follow a plan (like those found on the YouVersion bible app), or in tough times looking at God’s promises in the Bible can be really helpful – there are over 365 – one for every day of the year! You can find a daily promise here.
  • The Jesus Storybook Bible is a great one to read together.
• Journaling, writing down worries, feelings and thoughts can help get them out and stop them running through our heads. Ask God how He sees your day and write that down. It might even give you something nice to look back on.
  • We’ve been starting the day as a family listening to God and drawing pictures, all ages can join in and it’s great to share what others have and provides routine.
• All age – The Thank You Game – go through the alphabet and think something you’re grateful for beginning with each letter, write or shout it out if you’re in a group.

2. Our Body – 

Cooped up our bodies can actually become more tired and lethargic, we all know finding ways to keep moving is important even if we can’t be bothered. 

This looks like…

• All age – Put on some songs and dance! Kids worship action songs are great for getting you moving and speaking out words that feed your soul. Find something with a beat, whatever your age. Check out Saddleback Kids video channel and look up their selection of worship songs on YouTube, Rend Co Kids also on YouTube have produced really fun songs on album Sparkle, Pop, Rampage.
• All age – A video workout, we’re joining in with Joe Wicks at 9am each weekday on YouTube, gives a focused start to the day too.
• Do those clearing out jobs that are always put off, or potter round the garden if you have one, not being sedentary for too long helps keep you feeling more active.
  • Got young kids? You’ll have no choice to be sedentary! But you can get them involved in simple jobs too.

3. Our Heart – 

Even though we might be physically isolated we still need to connect with other people and not just the ones stuck in the house with us. Try and remember anyone you know living on their own too. 

This looks like…

• Have a time you phone a friend and pray together, make space to connect with particular friends on a deeper level and help each other pray and trust God.
  • Arrange a video call with your kids friends so they can stay in touch.
• Spend time with God on your own, to talk to Him and invest in that relationship, if it’s new set a timer for 10 minutes, you could try writing down what you think He says.
  • Pray with your kids, talk to God together, ‘is there anything you want to tell Him today? What has been the best bit or hardest bit?’
• All age – Video calling a friend or elderly relative, set each other challenges and see how they’ve got on tomorrow.
• All age – as a Church community we pray the Lord’s prayer at noon each day, set a timer and know that we’re all stopping and doing it together.

Living healthily, in mind, body and heart is really important and living with Jesus at the heart means He is involved in all parts of that too. Reading the Bible helps keep our mind health, worshipping can help keep our bodies moving, prayer connecting with God and others is vital for our heart. 

There are loads more things we can do, add your ideas in the comments or chat about them in your Hub whatsapp group.

Extra resources:

• The Church of England publish prayer of the day and daily prayer routines, join in here. This can give our thinking structure and stop it spiraling unhelpfully.
• Run up and down the stairs
• Post a note through someone’s door and tell them what you like about them (if permitted!).
• Send a photo with a hand written letter to someone you’ve not seen for a while.
• Phone a friend and tell them what your struggling with, ask them to pray for you.