Body vs Soul

"The believer’s self-life is composed of the habits, attitudes, and relationships he or she is unwilling to surrender. Keeping those things from the Lord gives people a sense of independence, which is highly prized in our current culture. However, by following “self,” we interfere with God’s purpose. He wants every aspect of our life submitted to His will". (daily devotional-Abandoning the Self Life, Intouch.org)
I read this devotional a couple of times yesterday (06/12/08) and although i understood the importance of submitting every aspect of our lives to Gods' will, it was only when i read it again this morning that the passaged i quoted reaffirmed something that i always thought about myself.
Whenever i get emotionally upset, my health tends to take a downward turn (C.O.P.D. sufferer) and i have always said to my self that the Lord wants me to lose that attitude and that by not losing it i am my own worst enemy because i am slowing down my own healing process, in other words interfering with His purpose, and that the less emotional episodes i go through the healthier i feel. I know some sceptics may not share my line of thinking but i'd ask them why it does not happen when i go through an emotional episode as a result of being saddened as there is a difference between sadness and being upset.
I must confess that at times i have read the Bible simply because i should as a christian and my mind would always easily stray. This devotional has shed a new light for me on fullfiling Gods purpose with our hearts and not our bodies. Its common sense that if we do not concentrate on something with our hearts the results are mostly if not always unsatisfactory so how can we expect God to give a thumbs up if we carry out His purpose with our bodies and not our hearts.
I just continue to thank God for verything that He opens my eyes and my heart to, every path that He clears for me, everything that he teaches me and basically everything that makes able me able to do. I know i am not yet the finished article but will one day be as long as i abide by His will and purpose for me.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us read and listen to God's word with our complete hearts and abide by it.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

The devotional was based on the 4th chapter of the Book of Jonah.