Signs of good health seem obvious: boundless energy, thick hair, strong nails, glowing skin, clear eyes, ideal body weight and the absence of disease. The World Health Organization describes it as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Good health also means we’re able to realize our full potential, handle stress, work productively and make meaningful contributions to society.
The importance of good health also seems obvious: It makes everyday work, play and living enjoyable, meaningful, effective and successful. It sets the stage for how well we age and how much independence we can retain in our later years.
Yet there’s a reason beyond practicality and happiness for taking good care of our bodies. God wants us to. In Paul’s words, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”
(1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NIV).
What we do to our bodies matters—in a practical sense for ourselves, yes, but more importantly because our bodies were given to us by God and, for believers, our bodies house the Holy Spirit. We must understand, appreciate and respect that.
Taking good care of our bodies reaps rewards. An ongoing University of Michigan study of Americans 50 and older and their spouses says that those in the study who never smoked, only occasionally drank alcohol and maintained a healthy weight lived an average seven years longer than those who did not fit this profile. Other studies also highlight the long-term physical and mental benefits of healthy habits.
Here are nine habits that can put you on the road to a healthy, happy and, yes, spiritual life worthy of the “temple” you inherited. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).
