Ways to Obtain Optimal Health for My Temple

It was Saturday evening after a busy work week. I was nineteen years old and had been born again just three years prior. Settling in bed with a hot cup of tea and The Conqueror magazine, UPCI Youth Ministries’ magazine at the time, I became absorbed in an article by Dan Rigdon concerning our bodies being a temple of the Holy Ghost.

Being raised in a medical family, I had a deep passion for health. It intrigued me to learn that God also cared about bodily health. As I read the article, the presence of God filled my bedroom. I heard God say, “You will keep your temple of the Holy Ghost in good working or­der—spiritually, physically, financially, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, intellectually, and socially.” That was the moment I began my health journey. I researched how God would have me fulfill each of these categories to obtain optimal health for my temple.

God has placed much potential in human beings, but we often cap our abilities and only rise to self-imposed limitations. Click To Tweet

Spiritually

Spirituality is not religion; it is a relationship and experience with God. It is the quality or state of being spiritual. To foster a healthy relationship with anyone (including God), one must spend time and talk with that individual. It requires getting to know, understand, and grow deeply in love with that person. A relationship with God needs a consistent prayer life sprinkled with the discipline of fasting as well as the daily nutrients provided by ingesting God’s Word. Good relationships require active listening skills.

Physically

Optimal health requires the following:

• Daily intake of organic, nutrient-dense, whole, unprocessed foods. Nine or more servings of fruits and vegetables help alkalize the body.
• The body detoxes, repairs, and heals during sleep. Aim for nine hours per night. Use a good mattress and the right pillow. Sleep in a quiet, dark, cool room and comfortable position.
• Drink half your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily. This hydrates and cleanses your systems.
• Eliminate negative thoughts. These cause stress and damage to every system in the body.
• Schedule thirty minutes of exercise daily. It raises the mood, clears the mind, energizes, detoxifies the body, and helps you live longer. Please check with your physician before beginning any exercise program.
• Good communication is key to any healthy relationship or lifestyle. Positive speech has positive effects on everyone. Your thoughts become your words. Have good thoughts and you will have good communication.

Financially

Give to God first! You can never outgive God; He gave you everything you have. Give your tithe and offerings to God. Develop a budget and live within your means.

Mentally

Control your thoughts. If you don’t dwell on wrong thoughts, those thoughts won’t come out of your mouth. An adage says, “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Kick out wrong thoughts. Replace them with right thoughts.

Emotionally

What is emotional intelligence? It is the ability to have appropriately controlled emotional responses in any given situation. It involves self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. With the help of the Holy Ghost, God makes this possible in us.

Emotional intelligence involves self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills.

Psychologically

It is imperative we understand and work through the life experiences that have shaped us since birth (i.e., childhood wounds, father wounds, mother wounds, abuse, abandonment, and so on). We must face our fears. With God’s help and good counselors (if necessary), we can be all God has intended us to be to serve Him and His kingdom.

Intellectually

God has placed much potential in human beings, but we often cap our abilities and only rise to self-imposed limitations. Allow God to take you to the level He wants by being available and open to learning. Be a lifelong learner.

Socially

My mother taught me a valuable lesson when I was twelve years old and hang­ing with a rough crowd. As I entered the house one afternoon, Mother looked at me and said, “Annie, show me your friends, and I’ll tell you what you are!” I was insulted and hurt; however, the words accomplished the intended result. It shocked me into the reality that my character was directly affected by the company I kept. Be careful with whom you spend time, as you will become like them. Choose your friends wisely.

The temple of the Holy Ghost incorporates the whole person.

Being healthy involves more than what is on our plate. It is also what we have in our heart, mind, soul, and lifestyle.

We must assess these categories on a consistent basis to keep our temples in good working order. Being healthy involves more than what is on our plate. It is also what we have in our heart, mind, soul, and lifestyle. May your health journey be prosperous.

(A version of this article was published in Pentecostal Life.)

Ann T. Thompson -Licensed Minister | UPCI Founder | Transformational Living, LLC Integrative Nutrition Health Coach