How To Improve Your Spiritual Health

The Importance Of A Healthy Spiritual Life

Do you have a healthy spiritual life? Do you know how to create one? In order to cultivate your spirituality, it is important that you take time for your spiritual life. You need to get away from the busyness of work and family in order to recharge and find peace. Learn tips on how to do this by reading this blog post.

One of the things I have found during the 33 years I have been a believer is the importance of having a healthy spiritual life.

In our age where we fill all of our free time with activities, many times our spiritual life is left hanging.

If we are to be the type believer that ministers out of the overflow that God gives us, we must make having a healthy spiritual life a priority.

So in this article I hope to share with you some of the things that I have learned about having a healthy spiritual life and how it will transform the way you live, lead, and invest into the lives of others.

When we think of someone who must have had a healthy spiritual life we think of Jesus.

He is our model for living.

So let’s take a quick look at how He went about balancing the demands of life with the need for healthy spirituality.

42 Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

Luke 4:42

15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 5:15-16

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), 16 Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Luke 6:12-16

In all 3 of these instances we see that Jesus had many demands put upon His time and His life.

In the first one He had done some great miracles and people wanted Him for themselves. There was the pressure of pleasing the people who were following Him at that time.

In the second one His fame was spreading. People were making demands of Him more and more and the time required to minister to them was increasing. There was the pressure of all the needs that were around Him.

In the third instance, we see that He spent the night in prayer before deciding who would be on His apostolic team. It was a decision that was going to affect the world throughout time.

In all of these instances we see that Jesus had to make decisions that are common to all of us.

There are people that want us to do things that are pleasing to them without thinking of the big picture.

There are people that think their particular problem is the only problem in the world and demand our attention to fix it.

There are decisions that we are faced with that will affect our future and the future of others.

So the example that Jesus sets is a prime example of the importance of having a healthy spiritual life.

What Is A Healthy Spiritual Life?

When I talk to people about having a healthy spiritual life, most think I am talking about having morning devotions or a quiet time with the Lord.

In all honesty, most people who practice morning devotions do so out of a sense of obligation or duty or just one more exercise in a long list of activities that go along with being a Christian.

What I am talking about is not an activity but a relationship.

Jesus didn’t get away from the hustle and bustle and the demands upon Him to practice another activity. He withdrew to spend time with His Heavenly Father.

Some people may truly connect with God during those morning devotions but myself, I am not mentally or emotionally at my best in the morning.

It is not the time where I truly can have a heart to heart with anyone, let alone the God of the universe.

I would like to encourage you to take a step back from the activity of “devotions” and look at when and what it is that actually helps you to connect to God.

For some people, during their morning run they have the best talks with God.

For some it is when they have all their study Bibles, concordances, and commentaries out doing research on something.

For others, such as myself, it is when I am driving.

Whatever it is, take time out to have a relational talk with God and spend time getting quiet and letting Him talk back.

A healthy spiritual life flows from our relationship we are engaged in with our Heavenly Father.

The Benefits Of Having A Healthy Spiritual Life.

Having a Calm Soul

When you keep your spiritual life healthy by staying in a constant relationship with your Heavenly Father you develop a calm soul.

Instead of things causing you fear and consternation, you instead walk in the peace of God. People start to notice this. You bring that peace with you wherever you go.

One of the things that people tell me after doing this for 33 years is that they know I walk with God. They could just tell by the calm that I have in my soul.

I know that no matter what the situation is, God is in control.

Having a Clear Understanding

When you spend time developing a healthy spiritual life you have a clear understanding about where you are going and what you are doing. God is able to speak to us and to guide us.

When we do not have a vibrant and real relationship with God that is developed on a daily basis then we are walking in what we hope is best or what we think is best. We are not walking in the assurance that every step we make has been orchestrated by the great composer of life.

You see, when you know it was God who guided you to do something, you look to Him to make things come to pass, not yourself.

You look to His ability and not your own.

Having a Kingdom Perspective

When you are living a healthy spiritual life your perspective changes.

Instead of having a perspective that is centered on the things of this world, you have a perspective that places your priorities in line with the priorities of the kingdom of God.

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God 4 above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:31-33

Your decision making process will be changed. You will make decisions based on what is best for the kingdom of God and the citizens of that kingdom.

So I ask you the question that hopefully will bring some introspection.

Do you have a healthy spiritual life?

A healthy spiritual life is essential to living a happy, balanced, fulfilled life. It’s important for developing your own personal faith story, while also understanding the greater gospel narrative of God’s Kingdom on Earth.

How is your soul doing?

Blessings!

Pastor Duke