Health and Well Being - Part 2

God fashioned humans as a triune being: body, soul and spirit. He created our body from the dust of the ground, breathed into our spirit His breath of life and formed us into a living soul (Genesis 2:7). When our soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions - is neglected, it attempts to draw our attention to our legitimate needs, which require fulfillment.

If we neglect our needs, our Inner Child, which the Psalmist alluded to (Psalm 131:2), will make sure our body and spirit are also effected by this mental and emotional deprivation (Psalm 107:5-6). Mind-related illnesses cause our muscular, nervous, respiratory and vascular systems to break down. They are called psychosomatic illnesses. These have no physical cause or explanation.

Our dreams and negative emotions are two more avenues, which the soul uses to attempt to bring our needs to our conscious awareness. Our overall health depends on us heeding these messages. At times, as the psalmist realized, our soul is like a child and must be weaned (Psalm 131:2). If the Inner Child controls our thoughts, words and deeds, we never grow up.

Alternately, many of us work all day long to provide for the needs of other people and neglect our own needs. God created us to care for our own needs as well (Mark 12:31). This is not selfish unless our whole focus is on our self, or if we care for our self to the detriment of others. God's Spirit will lead us into a healthy balance of nurturing our self and others.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that we can give our soul a wholesome treat every day! Walking in nature, a healthy snack, chatting with close friends, hobbies, reading Your Word, writing a letter or email, relaxing in the sun and nurturing a garden are just a few healthy choices. Help us to discover what makes our thoughts and emotions happy. We want to make Godly choices, which meet our needs and to help us to nurture others as well.

Thought for the Day:

If we neglect our soul, we are only 2/3 of a person! If we do not nurture our soul, one whole third of our self is crippled.

Health and Well Being - Part 1

God is a triune being: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity created us in their image as triune beings with a body, soul and spirit (Genesis 1:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Each entity contributes to who we are and influences our health and well-being. We experience life through our Body, we acknowledge life through our Soul, and we influence life through our Spirit.

The Body is our existence, the Soul is our expression, and the Spirit is the essence of our life. Without fully developing all three parts of our being, we are handicapped individuals. Unless we acknowledge and nurture each entity, we will never reach wholeness within ourselves, nor can we help to nurture others.

We care for our Body with proper rest, exercise, and nutrition.  We care for our Soul through safe relationships, mental stimulation and nurturing our emotional health. We care for our Spirit through Bible study, church attendance, prayer, fasting, Christian fellowship, service to God, and sharing our faith with others.

Events, which wound our soul, are only minor chapters of our life, and are definitely not the end of our story. Even if our past was good, the best is still yet to come (Jeremiah 29:11). God calls each one of us to sink our roots deeper into His river of the pure water of life, which is clear as crystal and proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

Prayer:

Father God, we pray for those who are traversing the dark night of their soul. Bring them nurturing friends and family to support them through this most recent chapter in their life. We also pray that You will ease this time of transition for them and reassure them of You care for them as You shower them with Your love and blessings on their road to the fulfilled Christian life.

Thought for the Day:

God's refreshment sustains us in every trial, and we know that He will work out all things for your good. - Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11