As we focus this month on nurturing our whole selves - physical, emotional, and spiritual - I would argue that the spiritual is most important. It is the place from which all others will flow. As Proverbs reminds us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life” (Proverbs 4:23, CSB).
God has created us holistically. Therefore, when we separate our life into categories, ignoring the interwoven connectedness, we will live in a fragmented way. For example, focusing only on physical health, without remembering the purpose of our bodies can lead to obsessive thoughts and dieting, condemnation and comparison, dissatisfaction, frustration, and disappointment. On the other hand, viewing our bodies as the living vehicle through which God chose to place His Spirit, breathe life and astoundingly weave fascinating parts together (such as cells, nerves, muscle, life- giving organs, and a brain), will allow us to have a Kingdom mindset (spiritual) about our physical bodies, with emotional health, as we serve Him on this earth.
Do you see the holistic nature of it all? We are not one-dimensional women; we are beautifully and wonderfully connected and complex. So, if our spirit (heart) is the source of life and health for our whole selves, what does it look like to nurture our spirits well? Luckily, Scripture has much to say about this ever-important aspect of our lives.
Perspective
First things first, how we view something colors our relationship to it. Therefore, when we view our spiritual life as an on-going, living relationship with the one true God, rather than a duty we must perform, we align ourselves to experience daily dependence on and delight in the Lord instead of an item on our checklist. Jesus said to us, “I no longer call you servants…Instead I have called you friends…” (John 15:15, NIV). What if we looked forward to time with Jesus as we do a lunch date with a friend or night out with our husband?
Abide
Jesus was clear about how we experience intimacy with Him, victory over our sin, love for others, and fruit produced in our lives: we abide in Him. The definition of abide is to “live or dwell with,” which is a beautiful picture of both His desire to constantly be with us and our choice to let Him into every corner of our lives. We will never “outgrow” needing Jesus every day. If we desire a deep relationship with Him, we will desire (and prioritize) abiding in Him. “Remain in me, and I in you…I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me” (John 15:4-5, CSB).
Sustenance
What does it practically look like to abide in Jesus? I like to compare it to our daily eating habits - typically 3 meals a day, plus snacks and water to quench our thirst. We wouldn’t make it long without regular nourishment and hydration. Likewise, our spirits will suffer without sustenance. Look at how scripture compares our time with the Lord to daily nutrients: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’” (John 6:35, NIV). And again, “God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water” (Psalms 63:1, CSB). We can nourish our spirits by spending time in His word, spending time throughout the day in ongoing prayers, meditating on a verse (use a notecard placed in often-viewed spot for daily viewing), filling our hearts and minds with worship music, and monitoring our daily influences (do we listen to other voices throughout the day more than God’s?). The key is to include Him in our whole day, not just a few minutes each day.
Trust Him
One of the most-famous passages, Psalm 23, describes the beautiful way the Lord wants to care for us as a loving Shepherd. Some of the imagery we read reveals that He is gentle, He leads and guides us, He guards and protects us, He provides for our needs over and abundantly, He provides rest for us, He gives us peace through life’s difficulties, He desires to dwell with us forever, and His ultimate plans for us are good and full of mercy. To me, this sounds like a God I can trust with my heart, body and emotions, a God who made me, understands me and loves me more than anyone.
As you ponder your spiritual health this week, I pray you see how deeply you are loved by a God who intricately wove you together and desires a holistic relationship with you. I pray you lean into a loving relationship over a dutiful obedience. As you abide in Him, may you see that Jesus is not merely a part of your life, He is your life. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life…” (Psalm 23, ESV).
Meet the Author!
Heather McAnear is a wife, mom, author and speaker with a passion for sharing God's truth to help women understand their uniquely beautiful design and how to use it for God's glory! In fact, Heather hosts the Uniquely Beautiful Stories podcast on iTunes in hopes do just that! She loves teaching young married couples with her husband, time with her three teen-aged & young adult children, traveling, enjoying good chocolate and long conversations in coffee shops. CRBC has been her church home for more than two decades and serving on the Women's Ministry team has been one of her greatest joys!