Last updated on January 14th, 2025 at 10:33 am
Integrating faith with physical, mental, and spiritual health involves embracing key principles that align our spirits, minds, and bodies with God’s design, fostering a holistic approach to wellness that reflects His glory and empowers us to serve Him fully.
A quick definition of faith from Oxford Languages is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” The faith we are specifically discussing here is faith in God. Having faith in God means having complete trust and confidence in Him. Therefore, when God says He loves you, you can be completely confident He is telling the truth because you have faith in Him. Now that we understand what faith is, let’s explore how to integrate faith into our physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Mental Health: Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Gratitude is our key principle for mental health. It is the act of being thankful and appreciative. Numerous studies have shown that gratitude reduces depression, increases physical activity, boosts optimism, and strengthens relationships.
One notable study by Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough divided participants into three groups: one wrote daily about things they were grateful for, another wrote about irritations, and a third wrote about neutral events. Harvard Health Publishing summarized the results in an article titled “Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier,” stating:
“After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.”
The participants who practiced gratitude experienced a significant improvement in their mental well-being.
Here’s the key difference for Christians: when we are grateful to God, we place our trust in His goodness, even in difficult circumstances. While others may express gratitude to various sources, we have confidence that God is faithful and sovereign. This faith-filled gratitude fosters joy, peace, and a full, flourishing life, even in adversity.
Physical Health: Meekness
Philippians 2:3-9 emphasizes Christ’s humility and servanthood:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others…He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The key principle for physical health is meekness, which can be defined as “strength under control.” Often confused with weakness, meekness is instead about humility and submission to God. Jesus exemplified meekness by surrendering His divine privileges to serve others.
How does meekness relate to physical health? Without humility, physical fitness can easily become an act of pride—either in excessive vanity or an unwillingness to change unhealthy habits. Pride leads to isolation and emptiness, but meekness inspires us to prioritize health not for self-glory but to honor God and serve others.
As Jesus said in John 12:24:
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
Living meekly means pursuing health to love and care for others better. When we care for our bodies out of love for God and others, relationships thrive, and we live fuller lives that glorify Him.
Spiritual Health: Worship
Psalm 63:1–4 describes heartfelt worship:
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you…Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
The key principle for spiritual health is worship. Worship is not just singing songs or attending church; it is a lifestyle of reverence, devotion, and love for God. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for worship conveys prostration and joyous adoration.
Worship nourishes our spirits much like food nourishes our bodies. When we live in awe of God and express this through prayer, praise, and service, we fulfill our spiritual purpose. Without worship, our spirits starve; with it, they thrive and flourish.
Holistic Health: Reading the Word
Romans 12:2 instructs us:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
Reading Scripture is the key principle that integrates faith across spirit, mind, and body. Neuroscience explains a process called neuroplasticity—where the brain rewires itself based on experiences and behaviors. When we read God’s Word, we renew our minds, transforming our thoughts and actions to align with His truth.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says:
“My son, be attentive to my words…For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.”
When we meditate on Scripture, it not only changes our thinking but also influences our physical and spiritual health. As we internalize God’s wisdom, we live out His principles, leading to holistic wellness.
Conclusion
In this post, we explored four key principles for integrating faith with physical, mental, and spiritual health:
Gratitude – Cultivating thankfulness transforms our mental outlook and fosters optimism and joy.
Meekness – Living with humility motivates us to care for our bodies to honor God and serve others.
Worship – A lifestyle of reverence and adoration nourishes our spirits and keeps them alive.
Reading the Word – Immersing ourselves in Scripture renews our minds and aligns our lives with God’s design.
By embracing these principles, we can achieve holistic wellness that honors God and equips us to serve Him fully.
