We can spend so much time taking care of our bodies. We exercise, we watch what we eat, we take notice when things don’t feel right and seek medical help. All of that is very important, but how much focus do we give to our mental and spiritual health alongside those things? Solomon understood something that we’re only just getting to grips with today – that our emotions, thoughts, and the state of our spirit can affect everything else. Read these four Proverbs: ‘A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body’ (Proverbs 14:30 NLT). ‘A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health’ (Proverbs 15:30 NLT). ‘Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body’ (Proverbs 16:24 NLT). ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (Proverbs 17:22 NLT). None of these verses are suggesting that a positive outlook is a replacement for real, medical support where needed. God purposefully gives us scientific and medical understanding. But these verses are a good reminder that, as well as taking care of our physical health, we should be working on our mind and spirit too. We can do that exactly how we expect – spending time talking things through with God, listening to Him, and purposefully reading the Bible and any Christian books that might relate to where we’re at in life. It’s so important that we commit to these things and stick with them, though. Just like physical exercise, we won’t always feel like it and we’ll get distracted. But even more than exercise, what we stand to gain makes the effort worth it: rich, full life with the God who created our innermost being, and can bring it all back to order.

What Now?

The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of physical exercise a week. Can you turn that into a spiritual exercise by spending a minimum of 150 minutes alone with God in the next week?