“If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.’”
Exodus 15:26
The health and wellness market is an industry that encompasses a range of products and services aimed at promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This includes fitness and nutrition products, personal care and beauty items, natural and alternative medicine, spa and relaxation services, and more. The U.S. health and wellness market was valued at an estimated $1.2 trillion in 2022.
Ironically, in an age where we have an abundance of food, resources, and information about wellness available at our fingertips, as a culture, we are not at the healthiest place. In the United States, about one in five adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year. The adult obesity rate is currently at 42.4%. Nearly 60% of adult Americans have at least one chronic disease, and around 66% of adults are on at least one prescription medication to control a chronic illness or condition. Sixty-two percent of men and 38% of women report never experiencing a sense of spiritual peace or well-being.
One of my favorite characters of the Bible is Daniel. When we hear of Daniel, we likely think of the lion’s den. But there was so much more to Daniel’s story. In addition to being well-respected and having an unapologetic and unshakeable faith, Daniel’s health and wellness was also detailed during his early years in Babylonian captivity.
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” (Daniel 1:12-16.)
“The Daniel Diet” focuses on eating foods like whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, fruits, and vegetables. By contrast, historians believe the “royal food” given to the other captives consisted mostly of meats and wine. After ten days, Daniel and his friends stood out among the other captives for appearing healthier and better nourished. The food they ate was natural, whole, and unprocessed.
In today’s terminology, their food choices would be considered in alignment with the “The Mediterranean Diet.” “If there’s one so-called diet that is widely acclaimed for its health benefits, it’s the Mediterranean diet. U.S. News & World Report ranked the Mediterranean diet No. 1 on its 40 Best Diets Overall list for 2022, citing a “host of health benefits, including weight loss, heart and brain health, cancer prevention, and diabetes prevention and control.” More of an eating pattern than a calorie-restricted diet, the Mediterranean regimen emphasizes lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds, and fish, with liberal use of olive oil, a moderate amount of dairy foods, and a low amount of red meat.”
The food given to us by God – often called “superfoods,” untouched or unchanged by man – has been proven to be the most beneficial to our bodies.
We can place our expectations on self-help, diet, and health products in hopes of achieving lasting results, but we often do not need to look any further than the Bible to find optimal wellness guidance.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline mentioned throughout the Bible. While fasting is not necessary for one to be a Christian, it is a means of worship, prayer, and intercession that aligns a believer with God’s Will. Ezra 8:23 states, “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.” King David said, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Psalm 69:10). For those who are given medical approval to fast, periodic fasting regulates blood sugar levels, maintains a healthy weight, and improves cognitive abilities. Research has even shown that participating in a 5- to 7-day water-only fast once a year significantly reduces one’s risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s, thanks to rapid cellular regeneration.
What God declares good for our spiritual health is also good for our physical bodies.
Colossians 3:23-24 states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-14 states, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” When we complete a task, specifically a task with our hands like crafting, carpentry work, playing a musical instrument, or writing, our brains release the chemical dopamine, which causes positive feelings of happiness, pleasure, and motivation. There are unnatural and unhealthy ways to temporarily elevate dopamine levels, but creative activities positively encourage us and provide us with lasting results.
What God declares good for our spiritual well-being is also good for our physical well-being.
Mark 1:35 states, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Psalm 46:10 states, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Christ modeled for His followers the importance of carving out intentional, quiet time with God. Remaining in a state of quiet calm helps reduce stress hormones and promote feelings of well-being. It has been found to boost dopamine levels in the brain and improve attention, memory, and mood.
The practices that God commands to grow our trust and faith in Him are also good for our mental and emotional health.
Is it any irony that what is good for the body is good for the mind? And what is good for the mind is good for the spirit? And what is good for the spirit is good for the body? After all, we follow a perfect and loving God. The Creator of the universe has intricately knitted all parts of ourselves together. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.
There may come a time when we need additional resources on our journey towards physical, mental, and emotional fitness. We may invest in a cookbook with healthy recipes, schedule a massage when our muscles ache, purchase a gym membership to exercise our bodies, or begin taking a specific supplement for optimal health. These can be beneficial for us, to help us better take care of our bodies; our “temples,” as the Bible refers to our physical frames.
But may we remember that the Word of God offers us powerful resources and guidance to optimize our overall health and wellness. “The whole of Scripture therefore demonstrates how God, by His Word, offers and bestows upon us every good thing.” – John Calvin
Tracy Huneycutt has been a member of the Journey Church family since 2020. She enjoys serving food on Breakfast Sundays, teaching Kindergarten-2nd grade JKids, and being a part of the Moms Group. Her family consists of her husband, John, her son, Reid, and her Labrador, Suki. Tracy writes blogs and social media content as a copywriter and freelance marketing agent. She is blessed to have additional opportunities to write, especially to share the love and wisdom of the Father.
