Good Spiritual Health

Doctors, hospitals and medicines can be helpful, even lifesaving, when we are ill or don’t feel well but I am afraid that many rely too heavily on such for their good health.  Good health requires a good diet, good exercise and a good lifestyle.  When these things are neglected we are more apt to encounter bad health and will have a hard time recovering.  Changing bad health habits for good health habits can often restore our good health without the usual treatments.  The usual treatments have been known to cause many bad side effects, sometimes worse than the problems they are meant to treat.  More attention needs to be given to the maintaining of good health that we might not only prevent illness but also improve our health.

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Much more importantly we need to give attention to the maintaining of our spiritual health.  Good spiritual health requires a good spiritual diet, good spiritual exercise and a good spiritual lifestyle.  Every day our souls must feed upon the word of God (Matthew 4:4).  Every day we must work out our spiritual muscles of faith with prayer and obedience (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 1 Timothy 4:8).  Every day we must seek God and His will for our lives (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 3:12-14; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:18).  When these things are neglected we are more apt to encounter bad spiritual health and will have a hard time recovering.  Don’t turn back to the remedies of the flesh that the world offers.  Though they promise pleasure it never lasts.  They will only cause bad side effects always worse than the problems for which they were taken (2 Peter 2; Jude).

Good spiritual health is only found by turning to the Great Physician.  Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).  He alone brings healing, rest and life to your soul.  Hear His invitation, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

No one needs to be spiritually weak and sickly.  Through Jesus Christ we are strong and healthy in spirit to overcome temptation and trial (Ephesians 6:10-19; Philippians 4:4-19).  There is love, joy, peace, power and hope for us all through the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1).

John’s prayer is my prayer for you, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).