We've been exploring how we can stay fit for service to the Lord. The previous posts have been mostly about our mindset, encouraging us to keep pressing on in the face of weariness and discouragement. We've considered how we should stay in the fight; find a job; and keep moving forward regardless of whether we run, walk, crawl, or get carried. We have also used three questions to help us do that: 1) "What should I do?" 2) "What could I do?" and 3) "What can I do?" Today we're going to address our general spiritual health.
I probably don't need to tell you that our spiritual health is crucial. Although the mindset of a soldier is important - and a poor mindset can hinder service - that service can also be crippled if the health of the solider does not cooperate. I'm sure we've all been there physically - the moment where, to borrow the Lord's words in Matthew 26:41 out of their context, the spirit was indeed willing but the flesh was weak. In other words, we all know what it's like to have the desire and the motivation, but lack the ability. I realize that I'm using a lot of physical things to try to explain spiritual things, but I'm in good company doing so. The Holy Spirit has Paul compare the spiritual life to the physical life through an analogy in I Corinthians 9:24-27. It says:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Because of the parallel between physical and spiritual health and action, we will consider the topic of spiritual health borrowing terms from physical health: diet, fitness, and hygiene. We will also briefly consider the connection between our spiritual health and our physical health (and then explore that topic more fully in a future post).
Maintaining Spiritual Health
Just like physical health, we're not all going to have the exact same problems or symptoms with spiritual health. Because of that, most of the content below is deliberately phrased as questions we can reflect on. In that way they act as a sort of "troubleshooting" or "self-diagnostic." I've also attempted to put them in a particular order that seemed to be the most logical way to work though them.
#1: Check Your Spiritual Diet
Our spiritual diet consists of that which we take into our hearts and minds through Scripture reading, sermons, good books that explore sound doctrine and practical Christian living, and godly music. In contrast, spiritual "junk food" comes from the world (or from tepid, worldly, mega-church style Christianity).
It is important to note here that there is a difference between daily reading, daily study, and daily use with the Bible. For example, if you're in distress, are you spending some time in Psalms? Do you need the wisdom found in Proverbs? If you need the encouragement of knowing you're standing in Christ, are you reading Ephesians?
When you want to do a self-check up on your spiritual diet, ask yourself:
Are you reading God's word daily?
Are you studying God's word regularly?
Are you focusing all of your Scripture reading on parts of the Bible that don’t address your current needs? In other words, are you using Scripture to address your current needs?
Are you getting enough Scripture every day? Enough prayer? Maybe you need to set a timer for yourself. Alternatively, have you been so focused on quantity that you have neglected quality?
Do you need some fresh perspective from a good sermon or book about Scripture?
Are you getting regular fellowship with like-minded believers?
Have you tried some godly music to lift your spirit (I Samuel 16:23)?
What sort of entertainment are you indulging in? Is it contrary to biblical values (even if it is "clean" or "wholesome" entertainment?) Is it consuming more of your time than it should?
#2: Check Your Spiritual Fitness
Spiritual fitness is the active part of the Christian life. It is the "output" that comes as a result of the "input" of our spiritual diet. There are times, just like physical exercise, that we may not have the time or resources to do everything that we would like to do, but that is no excuse for not doing something. Just like the physical body, it really doesn't take much for basic maintenance.
When you want to do a self-check up on your spiritual fitness, ask yourself:
Are you active for the Lord in some form of evangelism?
Are you serving in your church in some way? At the very least, are you giving of your increase to help others who are ministering for the Lord?
Are you waiting quietly in prayer?
Are you thanking God for the daily benefits He loads you with (Psalm 68:19)?
Are you praying for the needs of others (instead of focusing on your own problems)?
Are you praying for the nation of Israel? (It recently occurred to me that I have never prayed for Israel, despite knowing how important they are to the Lord!)
#3: Check Your Spiritual Hygiene
Just like bodily hygiene, spiritual hygiene is necessary. You may not set out to get sweaty, to have stuff in your teeth, to get germs on your hands, for your nails to grow longer, or to let your hair get unkempt, but those things happen as a result of living. And so we must take a shower, brush our teeth, wash our hands, trim our nails, and get a haircut. Some of those things are necessary more frequently, others less frequently; some of them should happen every day (or even several times a day!). The same is true of spiritual hygiene. There are times where we get dirty by choice because we're sinners, and there are other times were we accumulate some grime just by virtue of walking through this sinful world day after day. Make a point of looking in the mirror of God's word (James 1:22-23) and cleaning up every day!
When you want to do a self-check up on your spiritual hygeine, ask yourself:
Do you need to prioritize the Lord? We have a lot of normal, healthy responsibilities in life. But sometimes you may need to deliberately set those things in second place to show the Lord (and yourself) that He is more important than anything else. Consider Matthew 6:33, Psalm 27:8, and Romans 12:1.
Do you need to purpose (or repurpose) in your heart to follow the Lord? Consider Daniel 1:8 and Ezra 7:10.
Do you have some idols and offenses to the Lord that need to be torn down and some godly things that need to be restored in response to God’s word? Consider II Kings 23.
Is there something (even something good) that you have elevated to an idol?
Here's a tough one - Is there something you have put undue importance upon, as if God’s blessing, approval, or favor are measured by that thing rather that by His word? As if that thing is the defining feature of a “good life” such that its presence makes you complacent and proud, and its absence makes you frustrated and discouraged? Is it so significant to your idea of a “good life” that you are willing to accept the counterfeits of sin to try to assuage the ache of “inferiority” or “unworthiness” that makes you feel as though you will never get this “necessary” thing from God?
#4: Check Your Physical Health
Like it or not, we're human beings. Although the this body is temporary (thank the Lord for that!), it still has some basic needs, and requires some basic maintenance. To tend to the body in this way is not carnal - it is necessary! The Lord made you, and He knows you have physical needs. It is not "unspiritual" to recognize that you need things like food, water, exercise, and rest.
When you want to do a self-check up on your physical health (as related to your spiritual health), ask yourself:
Do you need rest? Consider Elijah in I Kings 19. You’re human. You may need a time of rest - maybe set smaller goals for a set span of time. Even Jesus took time to just sit! Consider John 6:3.
We will explore more about physical health in a future post.
Reality Check: There May Not Be a Quick Fix
Whenever I get spiritually unhealthy in one way or another, I want it to be fixed immediately as soon as I recognize it. I am ashamed and embarrassed that I have allowed myself even the slightest lapse; I worry what the effects of my lapse will be, what I may have missed out on, and what I will suffer as a result. I hurry to "fix" everything, and get discouraged when the fix is not as quick as I would like. The reality is this: just like physical illness, spiritual problems may not have a quick fix. Yes, the Lord restores us to fellowship the moment that we confess our shortcomings and sins to Him, but the lingering effects of our infirmity may linger. Just like when the doctor tells you that it will take "7-10 days" to recover from a cold or flu, it may take some time for your spiritual strength and health to return to its full capacity after it has become "ill."
Reality Check: Seasons of the Soul
We must also recognize that there are T.S. Rendall calls “seasons of the soul” too. Sometimes we simply find ourselves in a wintery time of life. Keep pressing onward. Your efforts are not in vain; the word of God does not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11). Maybe right now you are in spring, where the rain showers come often and the temperature is good and the life is springing up all around you. Or maybe you're in summer - refreshing rains come regularly, but daily life feels the sweltering heat with troubles. Or perhaps you're in autumn, where the heat begins to yield, but the rains are few and far between, and you're starting to see life drying up and leaves beginning to fall. Or maybe you're in winter - barren, cold, and lifeless as the snow piles up. But snow melts, water flows again, spring arrives, and all that cold and snow was not for nought! There seem to be cycles to spiritual life. So whether it is hot, dry, barren, or fruitful for you right now, trust that the Lord sees you and is working all things for your good and His glory. Just like the seasons, we need the harsh times in order for the temperate times to bear more fruit!
The Sum of the Matter
We all get in spiritual ruts from time to time, just like we all get sick from time to time. It is the reality of our sinful infirmities. But if we want to be fit for service to our Lord, then we must take care of our spiritual health. The key to all health - spiritual or physical - is faithfulness in the simple things. Consistency is far more valuable than dramatic resolutions or bursts of growth followed by long periods of stagnation. The questions above are certainly not comprehensive, but they address most of the simple (albeit not always easy) tasks of the healthy Christian life. We may not always "feel" like doing it, but faithfulness in the simple things will keep us fresh and ready for use when the Lord calls upon us.
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