SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS (1)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING…” – Ephesians 1:3a

God’s Ideal for His children is SPIRITUAL HEALTH and WELLNESS: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph.1:3). Believers in Christ are ordained to operate in Optimal Spiritual Health and Wellness. We’ve noted that the concept of Wellness signifies an overall balance of a person’s spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual, vocational, and environmental states. Specifically, Spiritual Wellness involves the set of beliefs, principles, values, conduct, and practices that help give direction to our lives. It revolves around seeking meaning and purpose in daily life.

Spiritual Wellness is expressed through enhanced quality of life, inner peace, rest, and hope. Other concepts that relate to Spiritual Wellness are: salvation spirituality, connection to a living church or faith community, biblical belief systems, and spiritual devotions such as prayer, worship, and meditation in God’s Word. Let’s examine Five Fundamentals of Health and Spiritual Wellness:

Salvation: “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with BENEFITS, The GOD of our SALVATION” (Psa.68:19). Salvation is the biblical basis for Spiritual Wellness, otherwise such is mere carnal counterfeit. Personal Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus is the starting point of all real benefits and blessings: “Nor is there SALVATION in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be SAVED” (Acts 4:1). The New Birth is authentic entry into the Journey of Spiritual Wellness: “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jh.3:5).

Spirituality: “I say then: “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…But the FRUIT of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal.5: 16, 22-23). Spirituality, as applied to biblical faith, refers to the relationship between God and man; the state or quality of being dedicated to God and spiritual realities and values, as contrasted with material or temporal things (Col.3:1-2).

Connection to a Living Church or Faith Community: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb.10:25). The Fellowship of brethren has therapeutic effects spiritually and otherwise, through the “one another” ministries: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jh.15:12). The term “one another” crops up a lot in the New Testament (Gal.5:13; Rom.12:5,10; Eph.4:2,32; 1The.4:9; 1Jh.3: 11,23; 4:7-12; 1Pet.1:22). Faith in Jesus Christ, though involving individual and personal accountability, is not an entirely personal matter. God’s Word emphasizes on a Body Ministry: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1Cor.12:27).

Belief Systems: “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day” (2Tim.1:12). Realised or not, everyone has a belief system. Even those who claim there is no God have faith that he does not exist. What we believe affects every aspect of our lives and shapes the decisions we make. All belief systems have foundations, however fickle. However, our Lord Jesus Christ calls His followers to adapt life to Faith in Him and the authority of His Word. Anytime we add other philosophies or ideas to Scripture or pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe, we create our own reasoned-out version of faith. The Bible helps to develop a sound system of beliefs founded on God’s Truth and Wisdom.

Spiritual Devotions: “Rejoice always, PRAY without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit” (1The.5: 16-19). Prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and other spiritual activities and devotions often greatly enhance health and wellness. They tend to cancel negativities such as toxic emotions and stress. Faith in God releases a sense of meaning and purpose in life, which is linked with improved spiritual, emotional, and physical health.