X
Sign up for my FREE email series - "Intro to the Faith & Health Link"
Learn More Here

Faith and Health Connection

  • Home
  • About
  • Faith & Health
  • Scriptures
  • Church Health
  • Services
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Health Coaching
  • Bible Study – Self Paced

Spiritual Fitness & Health Assessment

Through Dale’s reading about the research on faith or spirituality and health and his understanding of biblical truths, he’s identified certain “Spiritual Exercises” that one might consider practicing regularly to grow in their faith. In turn, these exercises may impact favorably on one’s emotional and physical health. They are included in the Bible, God’s guidebook, that He has given us to live by. The research does clearly show that there is a strong relationship between many of these attitudes, beliefs and practices and health and well being. To put the value of these spiritual exercises into perspective, Dale has developed a model of faith and health.

Spiritual Fitness Assessment

Based upon Dale’s insight of current research and his understanding of biblical truths, he developed a Spiritual Fitness Assessment – a 40 item instrument – that assesses 18 spiritual beliefs, attitudes and practices (Spiritual Exercises) that may impact on one’s emotional, mental and physical health.  Read about the corresponding Spiritual Exercises below.

Read an abstract of an article published in the Journal of Religion and Health of a study of 196 undergraduate students that investigated the psychometric properties of the Spiritual Fitness Assessment. The full article – Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Spiritual Fitness Assessment – is at the link to the left. Researchers interested in a follow-up study are encouraged to contact Dale.

“Spiritual Exercises For a Healthier Life” Booklet

Dale has written a 34-page booklet, available in PDF format, that addresses each of the 18 Spiritual Exercises below.  Each exercise has a section for “What the Bible Says”, “What the Research Says”, and “What You Can Do.”  View an abbreviated PDF file – Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life Booklet – to see eight sample pages from the booklet.
Purchase the booklet.  Cost $4.99 Buy Now

Spiritual Fitness Assessment – Purposes and Use

Fitness and health professionals might use this spiritual fitness assessment with their clients to educate and inspire them to integrate faith into their ‘exercise’ routines. There is no scoring mechanism for the assessment. Based upon a person’s responses to questions, they could be guided by a more spiritually fit/mature person.  An individual could also learn more about the 18 Spiritual Exercises by reading the booklet above. Read this document about the intended purpose and use of the assessment.

 Spiritual Fitness Assessment – Permission to Reprint and Use

For permission to reprint and administer this assessment, see the Products for Purchase page. There are two levels of permission, one for non profit use and one for professional use.

 

Spiritual Exercises

Spiritual fitness connects us with GodBelow is a listing of Spiritual Exercises that you might consider practicing regularly to grow in your faith. In turn, these spiritual exercises may impact favorably on your emotional and physical health. We are not aware of research that has been conducted which demonstrates that if a person practices any or all of these exercises they will experience improved health, however, these practices are based on Biblical truths. They are included in God’s guidebook that He has given us to live by. The research does clearly show, however, that there is a strong relationship between many of these attitudes, beliefs and practices and health and well being.  Read this short article – An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life.

“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true and everyone should accept it.”  1st Timothy 4:7-9 First Edition of the New Living Translation

Spiritual Exercises Related to Your Beliefs and Attitude

  • Believe in God
  • Believe God Forgives You
  • Believe God’s Spirit Lives in You

Spiritual Exercises Related to Your Relationship with God

Spiritual Exercise - Giving Thanks
  • Read and Study the Bible
  • Believe In & Receive God’s Love
  • Love God
  • Pray and Meditate
  • Obey God
  • Cry Out to God
  • Surrender to God/Let Go
  • Abide in God’s Presence
  • Have Faith & Trust in God

 

Spiritual-Excercises-BookmarkSpiritual Exercises Related to How You Practice Your Faith

  • Confess Your Sins
  • Forgive
  • Attend Church/Worship with Others
  • Be in Community with Others
  • Love & Serve Others
  • Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind

Bookmarks

To receive a single attractive listing of the 18 Spiritual Exercises – in the form of a bookmark – for free, please send a stamped self-addressed envelope to our address on the Contact Page and we’ll be happy to send back a bookmark to you. (Double click on the bookmark to see a larger view.)

To purchase 25 or more bookmarks for an event or special occasion, please visit the Products for Purchase page.

__________________

“…Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true and everyone should accept it.”  1 Timothy 4:7-9 (New Living Translation – First Edition)

Share with your friends . . . . . .Share on buffer
Buffer
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on pinterest
Pinterest

connect with us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Translate to A Different Language

Learn & Grow

WorkshopBible StudyIntro Series

Get Blog Post Updates

Receive My New Blog Posts in Your Inbox
Loading

Blog Post Topics

affirmations behavior change Bible and Health Easter eternal life Exercise faith Faith and Health fitness food forgiveness Freedom God Healing Health health care heart Holy Spirit hope Jesus joy Life love mind body spirit obedience obesity peace power prayer relationships running scripture sin spiritual exercises spirituality and health strength stress The Bible the research thinking trust Twitter weight loss wellness wholeness

NEWSLETTER

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the article: "Understanding the Connection Between Spirituality and Health"

PathWay 2 Wholeness

Health-Bible-Study

This life transforming program 'connects the dots' between biblical principles and whole-person health.

About the Ministry

  • Mission, Vision, Beliefs
  • Statement of Faith
  • Dale Fletcher, Executive Director
  • Services
  • Newsletter Options

Become a Christian Life Coach

Life-Coach-training

Become a certified life coach. Read all about Christian Life Coach training at Christian Coach Institute.

Introduction to Faith & Health

Learn how faith and health are linked. Sign up for a FREE series of emails.

Join our online community

Network, share ideas & receive encouragement.

tweets of encouragement

  • Research shows that there is an association between the decline in attendance at religious services in the U.S. cor… https://t.co/R0IS8lbJMo
  • Amidst your circumstances today, are you fearful or confident and at peace? If you know your identity as a child o… https://t.co/RKtp9qnTdH
  • Do you have a deep wound in your heart that is influencing your behaviors that impact negatively on your physical h… https://t.co/2D1e2fRAJr
@faithandhealth

Copyright © 2025 - Faith and Health Connection