Mar
05
2010
Spirituality and Health – A Working Model
This is a somewhat creative attempt to capture my ideas on many of the key aspects of the connection between one’s faith and their health. I used a mind mapping website to create this. It has limitations, but I’m pretty pleased with the connections it allows and the associated graphics.
Any feedback you’d like to provide would be appreciated.
What key components are missing?
Any links not made that should be?
Resources on the Spirituality and Health Link
Article – Understanding the Spirituality and Health Connection
Blog Posts – Spirituality and Health Tag
Dec
09
2009
Lately, I have found that I’m frequently using the word wholeness, and since the byline of this ministry is “teaching spiritual truths for health and wholeness,” I thought it would be a good idea to explore what wholeness means.
Wholeness
Used as an adjective, the word whole comes from the Greek words of holos and holokleros meaning all, entire and complete. These two words come from the noun holokleria meaning completeness.
In the biblical context of health and wellness, wholeness might mean being well in spirit, mind and body. In Paul’s letter of encouragement to the Christians living in Thessalonica, he addresses an aspect of their wholeness when he prays for them:
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Spirit, Soul and Body
Paul refers to the three major aspects of man’s being – his spirit, soul and body. We are not beings of separate and distinctively different components, but a whole person. We are a spirit who has a soul that lives in a body. All of these aspects of man are inextricably interwoven. To be whole, to be complete, each aspect of a person must be well. When any aspect of our being is not well, the other aspects are adversely affected.
Medicine today focuses on the care for a person’s body. Physical health is important so that we can function and do the things God would want us to do with our body. Being physically active, eating well, getting enough sleep and being addiction free are some of the more important things we ought to do to care for our bodies.
It’s also important to care for our soul – to manage our emotions the best we can, to monitor our thinking patterns and to make healthy choices. Our soul-life is impacted by our spirit and the ‘gateway’ through which this primarily happens is in our mind. I think this is why Paul reminds us that we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) Our mindset and our thinking patterns can truly and radically transform us. For the good or for the worse. For life or for death. The only way we can understand the key truths of life is to be exposed to what God’s guidelines for living are as found in the Bible. The Bible holds the keys to being whole and living well. We must not only understand God’s principles, we must live them to be whole.
Finally, since we are first and foremost a spirit, our spirit must be well because this aspect of us is our core. When God breathed into Adam the breath of life, he became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) It is the spirit of man that gives him real life. We live out this life and interact with the physical realm with the five senses of our body. And it is deep in our soul that our emotions and our minds impact our our choices and subsequent physical behavior.
We are sinful by nature. We inherit a spirit of death and this sinful nature as it is passed down by Adam’s original sin. (1 Corinthians 15:22) Before salvation, our ingrained habits and lifestyle choices give us certain natural tendencies. Our life experiences contribute to our personalities. After salvation and we are born again spiritually, our challenge is to allow the Spirit of God to transform us into being the kind of person he calls us to be. We must consciously choose to have an attitude of submission to God and a dependence on him to become whole, starting with our spirit.
Being Transformed and Becoming Whole
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God’s Spirit, his Holy Spirit, begins to live inside us. As we willfully allow, our spirit is affected by the Holy Spirit. Our spirit begins to take on the attributes of the Holy Spirit. This new nature will begin to affect our soul. Our entire mindset about God, our self, others and life can be transformed. Our thought patterns can become different. In turn, we can radically change many of our emotions and how we react to life circumstances. As we are guided by God’s principles as found in the Holy Bible, our resulting choices and behaviors will become more and more in line with how God wants us to live. This is how we become sanctified and holy. This is how we become a complete or whole person in spirit, soul and body.
So often, we try to make major changes in our life on our own strength. We leave God out of the picture. You can not achieve a good degree of wholeness in your own strength and abilities. The type of transformation that brings a sense of wholeness can only be done by the one who created you – by God himself. If we are to be whole, we must invite God into the deepest part of who we are – into our spirit and into our soul – so that from the inside out, we can be transformed into the type of person God wants us to be.
Our spirit, soul and body are constantly interacting together, as a whole, as a complete person. That’s the way God designed us. And Paul, inspired by God’s Spirit, shares the secret to being whole. It’s God himself who can change us through and through, in our entire being, if we desire this and ask him to. Paul tells us that “the one who calls us is faithful to do this.”
Questions to Reflect On:
To what degree are you whole in spirit, soul and body?
What behavior changes might you be attempting to make in your life? Are you trying to change from the outside in, or from the inside out?
Are you asking God to make a transformation first in your spirit, by the power of his Spirit?
Resources on Wholeness
Web Page – How God Designed Us – A Three-Part Whole
Article – God Wants You Whole
Wellness Coaching - Faith-based one-on-one coaching to assist with behavior changes
Dec
01
2009
What the Research Says
Osteoporosis is the most widespread degenerative disease in the developed world, afflicting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50.
Despite the accumulating evidence for a connection between depression and decreased bone density, official authorities, such as the US National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization, have not yet acknowledged depression as a risk factor for osteoporosis, due to the lack of studies in large samples.
A study of several research efforts including thousands of people by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers has shown a clear connection between depression and a loss of bone mass, leading to osteoporosis and fractures. The results, say the researchers, show clearly that depressed individuals have a substantially lower bone density than non-depressed people and that depression is associated with a markedly elevated activity of cells that breakdown bone (osteoclasts).
What the Bible Says
God inspired writers of the Bible to share his truth and principles about the connection between our emotional and spiritual health and our physical health. Take a look at the following verses related to this topic:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones .“ Proverbs 14:30
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8
“My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” Psalm 31:10
What You Can Do
Seek to have a cheerful heart.
If you’re carrying bitterness towards someone, forgive them.
Have a reverential fear of God and his principles, and turn away from evil and sin.
If you’re jealous towards someone, ask God to take that nature away from you. Be content with what you have and trust God to provide for your most basic and deepest needs.
If you are a believer in Christ, turn to God in a more dependant and surrendered way and allow his Spirit to have more influence and control of your thought life and attitude. Ask him to change you… to transform you from the inside out. (Romans 12:2)
As we walk with God in a personal way, following his commandments and principles out of love, we are able to become more and more like his Son, Jesus. This transformation brings us greater inner peace, gentleness and joy. This often goes hand in hand with good physical health.
God seems to make it pretty clear in the Bible – the guidebook he has given us to live by. Perhaps this is the best explanation concerning the link between depression and bone health.
Questions to Reflect On
What has your experience been regarding depression and bone health? Can you personally see a link between the scriptures listed above and your health?
Related Resources
Article – Forgiveness
Article – His Instruction Manual … Our Guidebook for Healthy Living
Article – Spirituality and Your Health – Understanding the Connection
God’s Promises – Scriptures related to depression from InTouch Ministries
Oct
30
2009
How can we live life well, the way God intended us to, without knowing His guidelines? We can’t!
It’s so very clear to me that God did inspire the authors of the Holy Bible to write what they did so that we can know the one true God and how he wants us to live our life. See 2 Timothy 3:16.
When I learned of the initiative below, it seemed like a no-brainer to share it with the readers of this blog. Hope that one or two of you might be the recipients of a Bible so you can have the opportunity to know His truth, if you don’t already.
Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.
Oct
23
2009
I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with students at North Greenville University over the last two weeks. The school, affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, is tucked up against the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains about a short drive south of Asheville and southwest of Charlotte, NC.
I was fortunate to spend two class periods with 12 students discussing spiritual fitness and wellness as Terry Sellers, a professor in the Science and Biology department, asked me to supplement his course, ‘Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Wellness’ with my material. For the most part, I used content from the workshop package “Your Personal Wellness – What’s Faith Got to Do with It?”
I am encouraged that the students were very interested in discussing how the spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of health and wellness are intertwined. They appreciated the opportunity to take the Spiritual Fitness Assessment that I’ve developed and talk about the relevance of the various Spiritual Exercises in their personal lives. As a followup discussion to that, we spent most of the second class discussing how the application of other Christian principles might affect their emotional and physical health. We used the poster presentation I made at this year’s annual meeting of the Society of Spirituality, Theology and Health as a springboard for this discussion. They had a difficult time selecting the 10 most relevant principles of the 41 I identified in my presentation. It made for a lively and worthwhile discussion!
As I think about my time with these young adults, I am encouraged that they had some time dedicated to reflect on and discuss the interrelated nature of our spirit, soul and body and the relevance to their personal lives. I’m also thankful that the professor and the school leadership made a decision to dedicate some time for this topic.
The discussions I was able to have with Terry before and after the classes were also insightful and helpful to me as, among other things, we talked about ways that I might go deeper with the insight that God has given me in the area of spiritual fitness.
Sep
16
2009
When I learn of information that I think will help others, I’m likely to pass it along more quickly than more slowly. This is one of those times.
About 5 years ago I read a book by Dr. Kara Davis, a practicing internal medicine physician, on the secrets to losing weight. It was based upon the application of the different “fruits of the spirit” addressed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Her new book is Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss. A 50-Day Renewal of Body, Mind and Spirit. It combines spiritual truths of the Bible with practical yet medically sound advise on eating and physical activity.
I’ve read the introduction and the first of the 50 four-page chapters and scanned over the remainder of the book. One thing is clear - Davis’ heart is that people know the loving God of the Bible and that they be in good health. This book would be great to read read as a devotional over a 50 day period and I suspect could be a life-changing experience for some of you.
“For He (God) has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He (God) has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9
Questions to Reflect On:
Are struggling with your weight and ready to grow more deeply in your relationship with God and yourself? If so, I strongly recommend you read this book.
Do you know of a friend or family member who is challenged by their weight? Consider sharing this post and book with them.
Resources for Weight Management and Weight Loss
Article – Spiritual Exercises to Help You Know God Better and Manage Your Weight
Article – Overweight? Find Freedom From Overeating
Scripture Listing – Scriptures for Weight Loss and Weight Management
Aug
21
2009
Obesity and diabetes levels are still on the rise. That’s according to the State of the States Report released this week.
According to this Gallup Poll, my state, North Carolina had a nearly 2% increase since last year. Twenty eight percent of North Carolinian’s are now obese – a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater. (Calculate your own BMI) Almost 12% of the people in North Carolina have diabetes – the 9th highest state.
Obesity Rates in America - 2009
Certainly, many people in our country die of weight-related problems each and every day. These deaths are preventable. Let’s take a deeper look.
There are many factors that contribute to the high obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in our nation. Access to health care, the environment, annual income/poverty level and heredity all play a role. But the cornerstone of these two conditions are physical activity and eating habits. The bottom line is that these two lifestyle choices most contribute to both of these conditions and they are almost totally under one’s control. These are choices we make, day in and day out.
Faith and Health
High levels of body fat and high glucose both represent a form of “death.” The Bible tells us that we have a choice. We can choose between life and death. In the Old Testament, God tells his people -
“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Later in the same book, God continues to share his instructions about the choices we have between life and death. He says “Today I am giving you a choice between life and death.” (Deut. 30:15) In verse 19 he urges us “Oh that you would choose life, that you and your descendants may live.”
We Can Choose "Life" or "Death"
We all have choices to make each and every day or our life – all throughout the day. We can make choices that are life-enhancing or death-enhancing; good health-enhancing or poor health-enhancing. The choice is ours.
With God in our life in a big way, it’s easier to make healthy choices. It’s easier to make the countless healthy choices that are important in managing our weight. But even that begins with a choice. We must make a conscious choice to involve God in our life day in and day out. It really all begins with this decision.
The more diligent we are in involving God in our life, the more strength he will provide for living and making wise and healthy choices. God can enable us - empower us – to choose to be more active and to eat more nutritious food. One key to this is to relinquish control of your life to God and to live in a more surrendered way to him.
The Bible tells us that God’s Spirit lives in us if we have accepted Jesus into our life as our Savior. Imagine, God lives in us. When we relinquish control to his Spirit, it is actually God that is empowering us as we live. In this case, it is God’s Spirit that helps us to get off our seats and be physically active. It is his Spirit that prompts us to buy and eat healthier food. His Spirit gives us greater discipline. It is God’s Spirit that comforts us when we are stressed and feel like opening the refrigerator and eating a carton of ice cream or devouring a box of cookies.
My hope and prayers for all of you who might struggle with your weight is that you lean more heavily on God and a deeper faith to assist you in making healthier lifestyle choices. That you’ll make a conscious choice to tell him in your prayers that you need his help and that you are unable to make these desired changes on your own.
I hope that you will experience the love of God in it’s full measure and that that you will be empowered by God to make the kind of healthy changes in your life that you might want to make. See the verses in Ephesians 3:16-19
Questions To Reflect On
If your health is impacted by your weight, what lifestyle changes could you make that will help you lose weight?
How much are you really depending on God to help you with these changes?
Does God’s Holy Spirit live in you that he might enable you to make any desired changes in your life?
Resources to Help With Weight Management
An Article – Overweight? Find Freedom From Overeating
An Article – Spiritual Exercises to Help Us Know God Better and Manage Our Weight
Scripture Listing – Scriptures Related to Weight Management
Spiritual Help
Struggling with life as well as your weight? Desire to know God in a personal way? Desire to have God’s Spirit in your life to empower you to live? Read about God’s love.
Wellness Webinar
To register and learn about The Spirituality-Health Connection: An Introduction – A Wellness Webinar, an online event scheduled for September 3rd, 2009, follow the link provided.
Aug
14
2009
Bible Scriptures on Health & Wholeness
Wellness in the Bible
I spent most of today updating a list I have of scriptures related to health and wellness. It now includes over 66 verses.
To see this listing of scriptures and their contents, click on the following link:
Bible Scripture, Verses & Quotes on Health, Wellness & Wholeness
See this link to a page on my site for other lists of Bible Verses and Quotes Related to Weight Loss, Stress, Strength and Healing.
Aug
04
2009
People are looking for strength in their lives today as much as any time in the recent past. I see this played out in the number of times that people have landed on my site with searches for strength using search engines.
Take a look at the graphics below which summarize landings on my site over the last year with searches using the keyword “strength.” True, some of this has to do with the content I have added to the site, but nonetheless, the data is pretty convincing.
What this represents to me is that a whole lot of individuals are looking for information, especially scriptures, on how they can receive strength during difficult times. Fortunately, scriptures in the Bible are a great source of strength. Scriptures are the Word of God and truth – something we can all benefit from when times get tough.
Earlier today, I read a teaching from David Wilkerson’s World Challenge Pulpit Series titled – “If Foundations Are Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?“ Wilkerson reminds us that God is to be a source of strength during difficult times. “Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the Lord’s anger has passed.” Isaiah 26:20 Wilkerson suggests that the “secret hiding place” is a chamber in your mind.
If that is so, how can that spot in your mind be comforting? I would propose that the only way your mind can really be a respite for what’s happening in the world around us is for it to be filled with the truth of God’s Word. Reading the Bible is the most ’sure-fire’ way that ou can get to know God and His character and nature. It’s in the Bible that the disciples and other authors write about their experiences with Jesus and their interactions with God.
Paul tells us in one of his letters to Timothy that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This scripture reminds us that the Bible prepares us and sustains us for living and for handling the stress we encounter. It’s through reading scripture that we can get a better understanding of who God is and how He wants to work in our lives. When we read the Bible, we have an opportunity to draw close to God and to sense His presence. And it’s when we are in God’s presence that we can have peace and receive strength that will sustain us through tough times.
The more frequently we read scripture, the more likely we can recall the truth that we read when we need to be reminded of who we are in God and His Son, Jesus. Frequent reading of the Bible will cause the ‘chambers in your mind’ to more likely be filled with His truths rather than the lies of the enemy. It’s what you constantly think about that really impacts on whether you are at peace or whether you are fearful and anxious. And, over the long haul, these two mindsets will have radically different impacts on your emotional and physical health status.
Yes, God can be a source of strength in your life … and one of the best things you can do is to regularly read the Bible so that you can be reminded of His truths. Hopefully, your thinking patterns will also be affected in a positive way.
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10
Questions to Ask Yourself
To what degree is God a source of strength during your difficult times?
How often are you reading the Bible to better understand the nature of God and to be reminded of how much He cares for you?
What is one scripture that is a source of great strength for you?
Related Material I’ve Written on This Topic
Blog Post – Find Strength in God When Stressed
Blog Post – God Gives Strength
Blog Post – Spiritual Empowerment for Healthy Living
Web Page – Bible Verses on Stress, Strength, Health and Healing
Article – Are Your Thoughts Causing Health Problems?
Jul
17
2009
Earlier today I received a call requesting a listing of scriptures related to weight management and weight loss. The lady is leading a Bible study and searching for Bible verses and came across my web site.
After looking through my material, I consolidated many scriptures I had identified and developed a listing. They are now on the Scriptures Page of the site and available as a PDF file at this link: Scriptures Related to Weight Loss and Weight Management.
A Few Scriptures or Bible Quotes Related to Weight
“You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Jesus in John 15:5
A Weight Loss Resource
Soul Food (a book) – “Food won’t fill a God-sized hole.” Terri Lykins, R.D., author
Have a terrifc day and a great weekend!
