How to Take Control of Your Health

Living on Earth we are blessed to have God’s written instructions for how to live a physically healthy life. The Bible covers key topics like personal hygiene, proper diet, and the connection between emotional and physical health.

This brings up an important question: Why does God care about our physical health? Isn’t it enough that He provides for our spiritual needs?

There are at least two reasons God wants us to be physically healthy:

1. God longs for us to be happy. We’ve all experienced sickness. It’s no fun. Lying in bed, perhaps with a fever, unable to be with friends or family, makes for a miserable day. God loves us, and He knows that if we are physically healthy, every other part of life is better, too. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
2. God wants us to hear His voice. The brain is the only way for humans to communicate with God. There is no other way. If your brain is “foggy” because you have a poor diet or because you’re sick, it is that much more difficult to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

With these things in mind, here are some basic steps for how we can all become physically healthier:

• Assess. Be honest with yourself about your current state of health. Visit a medical professional and get a full physical. Be willing to listen to their opinion of your health—both the good and the bad.
• Do “The Big Three”: Eat Well, Sleep Well, Exercise Regularly. These three are the basic building blocks of good health. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day (and minimize or eliminate the use of meat and refined sugars); sleep 8-10 hours each night; and exercise at least three days a week. People who follow these core guidelines tend to live much longer and happier lives than those who don’t.
• Keep Jesus First. Studies have shown that people who have faith in God tend to be physically healthier than those who don’t. Trust in Jesus, and He will daily lead you to better overall health.