(3 John 1:2) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
A healthy lifestyle is something we all seem to desire and strive after. We’ve tried the diets and the exercise fads. We’re well informed in this information age about all kinds of maladies we can have and the suggestions for wellness. And there are pills being advertised galore. One pill for this and another pill for that. Just listening to the long list of side effects seems to make you feel sick! We get desperate for solutions to our health problems and seem to be open to anything. But what does the Bible have to say about health and healing?
The Bible says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). That means our bodies belong to God. Within this context then we should take care of our bodies. It’s like maintaining our cars so they will function well. Consistent maintenance is the key for good performance and longevity of use. We only have one body. If we neglect or abuse our bodies, we are destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit. And we don’t have another one in the closet we can get out when this one breaks down.
Our lifestyles are so busy so there is that tendency to neglect our health. We would rather take a pill than climb a hill. How can we break that tendency and optimize our health and energy the way God intended? You’ve got to get R.E.D.!
REST - (Psa 116:7) Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
EXERCISE - (1 Cor 9:24) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
DIET - (Gen 1:12) And the earth brought forth . . . the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
It is amazing how the body will respond to proper rest, exercise, and eating healthy. The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa 139:14). As we do our part of “temple maintenance” we will see amazing results (Dan 1:15).
But what about when you’ve done all you can do and still have a health issue? Well, don’t forget prayer! In our day and age of medicine it is easy to run to science rather than to the Savior (2 Chr 16:12). What ever happened to good old-fashioned prayer for healing? (James 5:16) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God can heal directly or through doctors and medicine. It’s all a gift from Him (Jam 1:17). And if God doesn’t heal then He must have a purpose. His grace will be sufficient (2 Cor 12:7-10). But we should still press into the Lord and keep praying and believing for His touch on our lives and bodies (Luke 18:1-8). And don’t forget one of these days we’ll be walking those streets of gold in perfect health in our new bodies. (2 Cor 5:1-5) Hallelujah!
Good health. Let’s do it God’s way and use our bodies to glorify and serve the King of kings.
Louie