5 Biblical Habits for a Healthier Body and Mind

Before we begin the process of anything else, we must first and foremost acknowledge the importance of our bodies. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you therefore invite the Holy Spirit of God to indwell within you. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains it as, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." This mindset is imperative for us to operate from, for it will impact how you care for what God has given specifically to you. Consider how you treat God's House in the way of your Church, would you disrespect it, defile it, or demean your Church? In the same way, carry the mindset that your body is also a dwelling place for the Lord.

In the same way of treating your body as a Temple of the Lord, we must also examine the heart for purity. Purity surpasses what a person has done sexually, it is so much more than physical action, it is a posture of the heart. King David was known as the "man after God's own heart" because of his pure heart. David did not lose his purity in marriage; it was only after his action of sin through adultery and murder that his purity shifted. Through David's story, we can see that through God in His forgiveness and ability, we can be redeemed. Psalm 51:6 can become our heart's cry for the restoration only He can offer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

We can also pray and ask Him to carry out the process of Ezekiel 36:25-29, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses."

You can experience purity of heart when God is the One refining all that is impure out of you for His good works.

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Modern culture is not a strong advocate of refraining from sexual immorality, but that is because it is driven by immediate gratification and thrill over the consideration of lasting effects. God does not hate sex—He created it to be a holy, set-apart act between a God-ordained covenant. 1 Corinthians 6:18 phrases it as, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body." Not only is sex outside of marriage or outlets such as pornography something that sins against another person, but it also sins against one's own body. God wants so much better for you. Verses such as these are not to condemn, instead, to convict the heart that not only does the other person involved deserve better, but your own body deserves better as well. Recall that your body is a Temple of the Lord, and it deserves to be holy, set apart, and treated as a House of the Lord. Hold fast that although such temptations can be excessively difficult, He is there to help you. 

2 Timothy 2:22 invites us in saying, "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Call upon the Lord and ask Him for help so that you may flee from sexual sin and experience His lasting effects of peace, purity, and freedom.

Much of mind and body stewardship also flows from caring for the physical body with proper care. 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us that what we put into our body to consume matters, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." If we want to truly glorify God, we must consider if what we are feeding our bodies is honoring. 

Proverbs 23:20-21 reminds, "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags." What is of vital importance here is that it is the excess that is exposed, not the moderation. Bodies require food and water to survive, but gluttonous overindulging habits will have lasting harm upon your body. In the same way that alcohol in itself is not sinful (it was Jesus's first miracle to turn water into wine and is part of the Holy Meal of Communion), it is the improper balance of consuming too much alcohol that, in turn, invites and breeds disastrous consequences. This is why we must be deliberate with not just what we consume, but how much we consume. Healthy consumption of food, drink, and more play a role in your body's whole wellbeing.

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The caring for and tending to our earthly vessels is not an easy task, but it is not one we are meant to do alone. In seeking God for His definitions, refinements, and wisdom, we can present ourselves as living sacrifices unto the Lord. Romans 12:1 speaks of giving our earthly bodies to the Lord for His use by saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Paul is inviting believers to consider that just as in days of old when sacrifices were given to the Lord to worship Him, we can do so now by living in the New Covenant through Christ by offering ourselves for His good works. In practical application, this is caring for our bodies, seeking Him to purify and refine our hearts to align with His will for our lives, and intentionally living in all ways for the Lord. This is not to say we will carry these practices out perfectly, but in our imperfections we can look to He Who is perfect in all ways to guide and assist us. Know that living as a sacrifice to the Lord is not losing out; rather, it is where all goodness can be found and gained through life experienced in and with Christ Jesus. Remember that you have been given a sound mind, not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Through Christ, you can do all things, including experiencing a healthy life.