SOUND, HEALTHY SOULS

“Bless the Lord, O MY SOUL, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; Who HEALS all your diseases” – Psalm 103: 2-3

God’s Will for us is to have healthy bodies as well as SOUND, HEALTHY SOULS: “Bless the Lord, O MY SOUL, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, o MY SOUL, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; Who HEALS all your diseases” (Psa.103: 1-3). David commanded His soul and everything within him to “bless” the Lord and His Holy Name! The matter of health is often a major matter; it is near the top of all human problems. Everyone wants to be healthy. Many people desire greatly to know how to have the best health. Others even claim the supposed discovery of a wonderful health formula that works. However, it’s increasingly evident that our dominant thoughts and attitudes practised greatly impact healing and health.

Our meditation text – Psalm 103 – recalls all of the benefits God gives, including forgiving ALL of our iniquities – every evil or sinful thing we’ve ever done and every bad thought we’ve ever had. These included all hates and resentments. He forgives them all. God’s forgiveness is part of the healing process. When we have unworthy thoughts, how can our body work harmoniously in all of its infinite and marvellous parts? Negative thoughts disturb and agitate the body. So, when we’re forgiven for all of iniquities, our bodies react in a healthy manner. The Psalmist testifies that God heals ALL our diseases and restores our youth like the eagle’s. The sight of an eagle taking off symbolises energy, mastery, and vitality. This is the portrait of a Sound and Healthy Soul.

Both Scripture and Science affirm that our health depends largely on what goes on in our mind. If we are filled with fear and anxiety, resentment and hate, and such disturbing and toxic emotions, these are symptoms of diseases of an ailing soul – poor Soul Health!  When we take care of our soul, we’ll have health and vitality all our life. How we feel, how we react to stress, and the emotions that we repress, all play a role in our health. Mental or psychological and physical well-being are inextricably intertwined. Researchers have found that people who constantly repress emotions may wreak havoc on the immune system, which if impaired, may not be able to defend against disease. Other scientists are increasingly aware of the spiritual side of a person’s life and health.

Sound, Healthy Souls are not mere products of the doctor’s prescription, but products of our THOUGHTS. As we take the prescribed medicines by mouth, we should take the other medicine by MIND: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Phi.4:8). To nurture sound and healthy souls, we must think or meditate on clean, positive, and healthy thoughts: “For as he THINKS in his heart, so is he” (Pro.23:7a). Paul told Timothy, his son in Faith: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND” (2Tim.1:7).

It is often said that cleanliness is next to godliness: True! But cleanliness, not only of the body, but much more, of the soul! By the Word of God, we can learn to regularly brush out the dust of the world that has accumulated in our minds, trusting in God’s forgiveness. We can dust out the doubts, the mentalities of defeat and failure, the jealousies, hates, jealousies, lusts, resentments, dishonesties, unforgiveness, and impure desires. The results: We would be restored as an eagle in our health and strength, and retain or regain the vigour of youth. If we’ll keep our mind healthy, it will have much to do with keeping our body healthy. So much of human disease originates in the soul, being the essence of the individual. In Christ, we can nurture Sound, Healthy Souls.