Whenever I hear the word “wellness”, my mind always goes to the state of health. Do I have healthy habits? Am I exercising, eating well, getting the required amount of sleep – all those kinds of things? So, to be true to the word “wellness”, I decided to go and have a look at the Oxford Dictionary.
The Oxford Dictionary defines “wellness” as follows: “A condition obtained when a person achieves a level of health that minimizes the changes of becoming ill. Wellness is achieved by a combination of emotional, environmental, mental, physical, social, and spiritual health.” (Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science and Medicine.)
Wellness is a word that is used so often, we can easily think that it is only used in medical terms. However, wellness is more about a holistic look at ourselves, as the definition above states; there is an emotional, environmental, mental, physical, social, and spiritual health element to it all.
More and more people are starting to talk about holistic wellness. This has become the new way to look at our bodies. A meaning for holistic health says the following: “Holistic health and wellness is sustained by eight pillars: physical, nutritional, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, financial, and environmental.” (Institute for Holistic Health Studies.)
The great news is that we can go straight to our Creator and get all this information from Him, as He know us best. What does the Lord say about “wellness”?
It is so interesting to see that God is interested in our health.
Prov 23:21-22 (NIV):
“Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat.
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.”
• Our eating and drinking habits matter - note how it says these things lead to poverty.
Prov 16:24 (NIV):
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.
• Our words can bring life to both the soul and the body - watch what you say.
Prov 3:7 – 8 (NIV):
“Do not be wise in your own eyes
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
and refreshment to your bones.”
And just in case you think God is not interested in our finances, let us read 1 Tim 6:7-10 (NIV) together:
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Note here that God is not saying money is evil, but the LOVE of money, and when we misuse money and love it, it pierces us with grief.
I trust you are getting the picture that God is interested in our wellness, but our wellness lies in Him and not the commentary of the world.
The following proverb sums it all up so beautifully:
Prov 4:20 – 22 (NIV):
“My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.”
Can you see how God is interested in the whole of us? Body, mind and spirit?
Let me show you how this all fits together.
Firstly, listen to what God says and keep those words stored in your hearts. When you do this, the following happens:
“for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.”
We receive life and health for our bodies.
Then we are told to “guard (our) heart(s)”, for everything you do flows from it. Guarding our hearts means:
• Our mouths are kept free from perversity: “Keep your mouth free of perversity....”
• It makes sure we don’t speak with corrupt lips: “keep corrupt talk far from your lips...”
• It also makes sure that we keep our eyes looking ahead to Jesus: “Let your eyes look straight ahead...”
When we guard our hearts, everything we do should be aligned with what God asks of us.
Then, lastly, see what the proverb says:
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.”
In other words, we should be mindful about the paths we take and where we go.
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) tells us: “Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'”
Folks, God really loves us completely, and seeks only what is good for us. Throughout the Word, you will see how God looks out for us – even through the Old Testament, you see all the laws that were given, not only for spiritual health, but also for physical health.
So, honour the Lord not only with your mouth, but also your mind, spirit and body.
I say with John:
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” (3 John 1:2; NIV)
Yours in wellness
Nadine
Women of Reverence welcomes Nadine Judge as a guest contributor for this month.