Guidelines for Spiritual Health: Part One

Physical health is important to all of us. How many times have we heard guidelines regarding: (1) Good Nutrition, (2) Sleep, and (3) Exercise?

These three things also apply to our spiritual health. Though we’re not bombarded with information, we can take a brief look for ourselves.

Good Nutrition:  From Moses to Jesus to us, daily bread is required for life (Deuteronomy 8, Matthew 4). We can go to the market and see wonderful food items on display, but they don’t do us any good until we make some commitments.

First, we invest money in them and take them home. Then we invest time preparing them, and after we eat, we enjoy the energy and growth they provide.

How many people have Bibles around, but never read them? All that spiritual nutrition is of no value unused.

The Psalmist said, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever. . . I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes even to the very end” (Psalm 119:111-112).

God’s word is life, let me tell you.

In 2007, I had nine months of treatment for Stage 3 Breast Cancer and IBS (Inflammatory Breast Cancer). I’ve always read and studied God’s word, but it took on new meaning in my struggle for life.

I discovered study booklets from *NAVPress (Navigators) and *IVP (InterVarsityPress). They were great tools to keep me focused, one spiritual topic at a time.

I asked the Lord for a scripture I could personally claim on my cancer journey, and I still quote it to myself:  I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done (Psalm 118:17). That’s what I’m doing today.

Babies sit and wait to be spoon-fed. When we first become a Christian, it is important to hear the word of God taught. Gathering ourselves together to worship the Lord will always be important; however, we are to grow up and learn to feed on God’s word for ourselves each day (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).

It’s interesting to me that the Bereans were commended for their knowledge of God’s word. They listened to the Apostle Paul and then searched the scriptures to see if what they heard was true! (Acts 17:11)

Do you search the scriptures to see if what your spiritual leaders say is true? Even non-readers can learn from **audio Bible sources, if they are careful listeners.

Next week, we’ll share Part Two (Sleep) and Part Three (Exercise) for good spiritual health.  

*I got my NAVPress and IVP study booklets from christianbooks.com online; however, there may be other sources.

**Listen to God’s Word on-line, CDs, or audio books. Google the Bible in audio form.  

Pixabay: Family Picnic, Outdoor Activities, Family Bonding; tanrica.