Get Healthy
O LORD, we wait for you;
your name and your renown
are the soul’s desire.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
- Isaiah 26:8-9
Lately, my husband and I have been on a little bit of a health kick. We weren’t terribly unhealthy to begin with, but we knew we could improve the ways we eat and exercise. On a given day you might find us drinking some green smoothies, throwing a few extra vegetables into our meals, eating less processed foods, or going on a long walk with our dogs. We aren’t revolutionizing our lives, but these small changes help us to live a little bit better. I have found that when I try to live a little bit better I also begin to feel better in my day-to-day life. I feel happier and more peaceful.
I have realized over the course of these few weeks of being intentional about my health that there is more to health than just eating right and exercising. Many of the changes we have made to improve our physical health have been simple and rewarding. It’s easy to go to the store and buy some extra vegetables. Who wouldn’t want to spend a little extra time on a walk while enjoying the company of loved ones?
If I’m going to be honest, taking care of my spiritual health has proven to be more difficult. In order to be healthy in that y, I have to examine myself deeply and critically to know where I stand, and where I need to go. It’s messy and challenging, and yet it is so important.
I know that I need times of quiet and stillness to meet with God, and yet I am always connected to something or someone. Can I disconnect from the world for a while? Can you? Exercise and eating right can improve our quality of life, but will it last? Taking the time to meet our spiritual needs and connecting with God can bring lasting peace and happiness. If we want to be truly healthy, we can’t ignore the yearnings and desires of our spirits.
We don’t have to turn our world upside to keep our spirits healthy. We can make those little changes that allow us to connect with God again. For each of us, those changes look different, but chances are you know in your heart what change you need to make. You just have to be willing to make them.
Discussion Questions: In what ways do you need to take care of your spiritual health? What challenges do you face in meeting your spiritual needs? How has making your spiritual health a priority improved your life?
See more devotions from Alyssa and our other Young Adult writers, or find our how you can become a writer yourself, at our By Young Adults for Young Adults devotion page.