Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering.

3 John 1:2

Our spiritual health is connected to our physical health. Websters dictionary defines health as the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit. What we are “feeding” our soul is just as important as what we are “feeding” our body. Throughout scripture, we see that meditating or filling our mind with the Word of God is life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body (Proverbs 4:22). I really love The Passion Translation of Proverbs 4:21-22:

Fill your thoughts with my words
    until they penetrate deep into your spirit.
 Then, as you unwrap my words,
    they will impart true life and radiant health
    into the very core of your being.

“Fill your thoughts with my words”, brings us back to the process of being transformed by the renewing of our mind. The Passion Translations says it beautifully: Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. 

Proverb 4:23 says something very interesting. 

So above all, guard the affections of your heart,
    for they affect all that you are.
    Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being,
    for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Our innermost being is our spirit and our emotional state can affect our spirit which will eventually affect our physical well-being. I ask you this question: Do you have internal peace or is your inner-self in turmoil? The bible tells us in Isaiah 26:3:  You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

We learn from this passage that to be at peace in our inner-self two things are required: a mind steadfast or focused on Jesus and TRUST in His protection and promises, both will require FAITH. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Faith also requires an action or persistence on our part.  Google dictionary defines persistence as a “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition”. Being persistent means that you do not give up even when things get hard.  Persistence is actually required for true change to happen in our lives. This is true in any endeavor we undertake. How many of us make a decision to get healthy but when the first hunger pain comes we give in? Health begins when we set our mind to seek the Lord daily. It is the seeking to know Him and meditating on His Word that leads to a prospering soul and divine health. The problem is not food or drink really but the condition of our soul.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace, and joy. Romans 14:17 The Passion translation. 

As born again believers, we have been made righteous through Christ. Righteousness is a free gift that can’t be earned. Jesus is our peace and our joy. The peace Jesus gives is an eternal peace not the peace that the world gives. The joy we have is the joy of our salvation. The joy of knowing our eternity is in Heaven. We are secure in Him. The problem for most of us is our thinking or our mindset. Do we have a Kingdom mindset or a world mindset? A kingdom mindset will bring the peace that surpasses all understanding. Kingdom peace will bring rest and health. Health begins with a soul that is prospering. Let Jesus bring peace and joy to your soul. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). 

I will leave you with this passage:

Psalm 27:14 (TPT)

Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!

Please take time to listen to my interview with Dr. Eric Madrid a family physician from Southern California. He shares his personal story on how stress can lead to weight gain. 

Listen to the newest episode of my podcast, Healthy mind healthy body: Stress and Weight Gain https://anchor.fm/allison-rolston-pa-c/episodes/Stress-and-Weight-Gain-e2m2ql