Becoming Healthy HumansSample

Becoming Physically Healthy

One of the things that made Christianity, and Judaism before it, stand out from many of the other religious systems in the ancient world was the dignity and value it attributed to the human body.

And that distinction is still noticeable today. Because unlike every other worldview, Christianity claims that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1), that our physical bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6), and that the God of the universe chose to inhabit a physical body and live a rich and full life alongside His creation (John 1).

Your physical body is not an afterthought or an accident. It is an essential part of what makes you you. In the poetry of the Psalms, we read:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

God wants you to be healthy and whole—emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Every part of you matters to God and, as Jesus followers, we do our best to give God our best. But we can only do that if we are truly at our best.

Before we go further, we have to address a couple of big ideas about pursuing physical health.

First, we’ve got to be brutally honest about our motives because superficial motives will sabotage your spiritual health. If your pursuit of physical health is primarily about becoming more attractive or earning someone’s (even your own) approval, it will make you miserable and move you away from health and wholeness.

Second, it’s important to remember: becoming physically healthy isn’t about looking a certain way or performing at a certain level. It’s about giving your body what it needs to function well within the capacity and in the calling God has given you.

So, what does it look like to pursue physical health in a way that leads to energy and joy, not frustration, disappointment, or disorder? While there are probably a thousand things you could do, here are five key practices that we believe will make the biggest difference:

1. Eat real food.

This may seem obvious, but the difference it makes cannot be overstated. The food we eat has a tremendous impact on our health, mood, energy, focus, and overall well-being. This is why being thoughtful about what we eat is so important. Instead of going for food that just tastes good, look for things that actually make you feel good. Usually, that means food that isn’t packaged, overly processed, or from a drive-thru. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever eat things you enjoy or have to be religious about your diet. Jesus Himself declared that no food is inherently sinful (Mark 7:19). But that doesn’t mean all food is equally beneficial. So, when you can, look for real, nutritious foods that help you become healthy.

2. Drink enough water.

When you are not well hydrated, you feel more tired than usual, your thinking and decision-making are impaired, your body’s functions slow down, and your performance in sports and exercise decreases.

When you are well hydrated, you are more energized, your thinking is sharper, your body functions properly, and you can perform at a high level.

For most people, being well hydrated means drinking 64-100 ounces (depending on age, size, and activity levels), which is between ½ and ⅔ of a gallon.

3. Move your body.

Our bodies are made to move. And the more we move them, the better they work. The less we move, the worse they do. If you want to be physically healthy, find an activity that you enjoy doing, that challenges your body, and that you can do consistently. Earlier in this Plan, we laid out a few recommendations that you could add to your routine. But if none of those interested you, here are a few more: swimming at a local gym or YMCA, running laps around your school track, weight training with some friends after school, playing pickleball or basketball on the weekends, or riding your bike through your neighborhood. Being physically healthy doesn’t require you to destroy yourself in a gym for hours at a time. Getting active in a way you enjoy for 30 minutes a day is more than enough to move you forward in your health journey.

4. Get some sun.

There’s something special about being outside in the sun. Like the other practices listed above, the simple act of getting sunlight does wonders for our physical health. Here are just a few benefits of sunshine: better sleep, stronger bones, reduced depression, improved mood, stronger immune system, and less inflammation—with as little as 15 minutes of sun a day. Give it a try and see for yourself the difference it makes.

5. Sleep 8 hours.

This is a big one. And for some of us, it’s the most difficult one. There’s almost always something more interesting to occupy our time than going to sleep, right? That next video on social media, the next episode of the show you’re watching, one more match of your favorite video game, one more message to send to a friend, etc. But, when we actually make getting eight hours of sleep a priority, we set ourselves up to feel better, live longer, and do more with our waking hours. If making changes to your sleep patterns sounds overwhelming, here are some easy ideas to help you make this a reality: Go to bed at the same time every night, don’t bring your phone to bed, and create a bedtime routine to help you wind down. Other helpful practices include reading a book or journaling your thoughts from the day to keep them from racing around in your mind.

Remember, none of this will be easy, but it is more than worth it. Because the more healthy you become physically, the more you’ll be able to thrive emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, and the more you will be able to love God and love others the same way Jesus does.