Health to the Bones

PROVERBS 3:7-8
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

PROVERBS 14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

PROVERBS 18:14
A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

What stands out to you from these verses?

These verses show the connection between our spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Health to the bones comes from a heart at peace or a cheerful heart. Maybe we would expect it to say that health to the bones comes from calcium, fruits, veggies, exercise, but the focus of these Proverbs is the spiritual and emotional condition of the heart that impacts our physical condition.

How often we see this in ourselves and in those around us…

Examples:
• Stress can lead to sickness, headaches, ulcers, shingles
• Nervousness can lead to butterflies, nausea, dry mouth, clammy sweat
• Worry can lead to lack of sleep, sickness, grey hair

It’s like God has connected the emotional/spiritual with the physical to get our attention, to let us know something isn’t right.

Like warning sensors in our car, telling us when something needs attention
These things are indicators that something needs attention in our hearts and souls.

The path to health starts with God and following His ways
Physical exercise is of some value…

God cares about our emotional and physical health

Healing often includes the elements mentioned in the Proverbs

Not to say we don’t need medicine at times, but there are probably times we reach for medicine, when what we really need is peace, rest, good news, wisdom, cheerful people, time with God.

And even when we need medicine, our spiritual and emotional health will also help us get better physically too.

Try this elimination diet: Remove anger, regret, worry, resentment, guilt, and blame. Then watch your health and life improve!

The life of Christ in us can truly transform our physical selves
Scripture is full of invitations to come to God with our troubles, worries, cares
Scripture declares peace and fear not

Why? Because we serve a big God who loves us and has our lives in the palm of His hand

We actually forfeit a lot of peace, joy, and health that we don’t need to, all because we hold onto things we shouldn’t. We let things “eat us up”.

Jonah 2:8 “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

Sometimes worry, anxiety, needing to be in control becomes an idol.
We don’t allow God to be God in our lives every day.

Bring those things to Jesus
Time at the alter has been a wonderful way for me to bring the burdens to Jesus
Daily quiet times are always a chance to let go and hear the good news
Journaling what’s troubling me-turns into prayer

Let God give you the peaceful, cheerful heart he wants you to have