The Death Zone – Spiritual AcclimatizationSample

Day 2: Acclimatization 

Most people feel the effects of altitude around 8000 feet, which is why airplanes pressurize to that elevation. Hypoxia (low oxygen in your blood) occurs the higher you go, due to fewer oxygen molecules contained in the volume of air. It becomes more difficult to breathe, our muscles are fed less oxygen, we become dehydrated, and our metabolism rises, starving our body from its much-needed resources.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, difficulty in coordination, and shortness of breath. If neglected, this can lead to more severe, life threatening forms of AMS, called High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

Mountain climbers and high-altitude athletes can survive and perform at higher elevations by slowly allowing their bodies to acclimate. The body creates additional red blood cells, which increases the capacity of oxygen being carried in the blood to compensate for lower oxygen intake levels. It can take weeks or months to fully acclimate to be able to survive on a mountain like Mount Everest.   

Spiritual acclimatization includes the daily discipline of remaining in the word of God, prayer, and rest. It can take months to create a new habit, which entails replacing old, unhealthy habits. Take inventory in how you spend each day. There will be good, necessary, and healthy habits you’ll identify and some unhealthy habits. Those unhealthy habits most likely create some of your most sinful behaviors. It may not be something that takes up a large part of your day in one sitting, but rather something that you do in small doses throughout the day, which accumulates to more than you may realize. Most things should be done in moderation because most things done excessively can become a sinful behavior.  

It’s when we have a full inventory of our daily habits that we can then understand what’s controlling our lives. It also allows us to prioritize and deprioritize things, allowing time for reading the Bible, prayer, and rest. Whether you’re a morning or night person, find 15 minutes each day to dive into the word of God.  Read the Bible, do Bible studies and/or do devotionals. These are all important to do individually, but also to include others to grow your connection and accountability with other Christians.

Make a habit throughout the day to pray and thank the Lord for all He has provided for you. God wants to help in all circumstance you’re facing. He’s waiting for you to ask and He’s certainly not too busy for you or your situation. No matter how large or small, He is there for you.

Find time for a sabbath as we are called to rest. We aren’t capable of constant work. We need to rest without distractions to connect with God to ensure we can handle all God has in store for us. Nature is a great remedy to remove life’s distractions and find clarity. Go for a walk, breathe some fresh air, and allow your mind to reset.