Healthy

In this blog article I want to talk about the importance of health. I'm not talking about eating organic and exercising though. I will share a little bit about those things, but most importantly I'm talking about spiritual health. Spiritual health is much more important than physical health. So let's dive in!

What is spiritual health?

To be healthy means to be flourishing, strong, and thriving. So when we're talking about spiritual health it means that we will be flourishing in our relationship with God, we'll be strong in the faith, and we'll be thriving in our walk with the Lord. As Christians we are saved by the grace of God when we have true faith and real repentance. But the true Christian life doesn't end there. The true Christian life is active, not passive. The true Christian life will live according to God's word. We cannot just be hearers of the word, but doers also. (See James 1:22) We thrive when we spend time in God's word, prayer, and in serving others. We flourish in our relationship with God when we pour out our hearts before Him, seek His presence, and live for Him by bringing Him glory. 

How can I be spiritually healthy?

If we want to truly be spiritually healthy we must take care of our health. When we want to be physically healthy we have to take care of our health by eating healthy foods, eating the right amounts of food, regularly exercising, getting fresh air, and getting vitamins and minerals. In a similar way we cannot just sit back and hope for spiritual health. We have to work at maintaining and strengthening it! We do this by reading, knowing, memorizing, studying, and applying the word of God: the Bible. We also do this by spending time in prayer. Through prayer we can worship, praise, uplift, exalt, confess, give thanks, pour out our hearts, fight our spiritual battles, and lift up request to the Lord! Prayer is what gives us a personal relationship with our God and Savior. Think about it. If you never talked to someone you probably wouldn't have a good relationship, if any, with them. Right? It's the same way with God. If we never talk to Him or listen to Him (by reading His word) we will not have a relationship with Him, much less a flourishing relationship with Him. Reading God's word and praying are vital and essential for the Christian life.

Another way to be spiritually healthy is to live out what you believe. Don't just believe what the Bible says, but live what it says. Live a life that obeys, honors, and glorifies God! Do what God commands. 

What about physical health?

The Bible tells us that we are lights for Christ to the world. It also tells us that we are the temple of God. Our physical bodies can display God's love to others. We want to honor God through the way we dress, act, talk, and even think. We must respect what God has given us and practice a healthy lifestyle, but not in a way that is striving to blend into the world or find approval from man. We must strive to live in a healthy way that practices discipline, self-control, and honor. But we must be careful not to fall into self-centeredness, the fear of man, jealousy, and comparison. 

One last thing:

We are not only to be healthy ourselves, but we are to be health-giving. We are to pour love onto others as Christ has poured His self-sacrificing love onto us! As you seek to thrive and flourish in your life seek to help and encourage others! 

So be strong; thrive; flourish; be healthy; be Christ-focused; be health-giving; be healthy.