Sickness

I. Am. Sick.

This is the fourth time in four months that I have been sick. That’s kind of ridiculous, folks. In discussing my health with several people who know me well, I realized that the reason I have been getting sick so often is because I don’t eat the way I should. I have gotten into the habit of eating only what is available in the office, most of which consists of junk food. I wasn’t getting the nutrition my body desperately needs in order to fight sickness.

Our spiritual life is the same way. If we aren’t nourishing our souls with the things it needs, we are going to get spiritually sick. When satan comes along, feeding us doubt, temptation, loneliness, pride, and anxiety, we aren’t going to be able to fight back if we haven’t been feeding ourselves with the right things.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Just like our body needs doses of vitamins and minerals, so too does our soul need exposure to God’s glory and presence. Here are the things that are absolutely essential to the life of a follower of Christ that we cannot be successful without:

1. Relationship with God

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? This is absolutely essential to a healthy soul. Without Jesus, our souls don’t even have a chance. They are dried up and lifeless, completely unprepared for anything the world has coming our way.

Do you have a relationship with God the Father? What about the Holy Spirit? If we are neglecting the Father and the Spirit, we are missing so much of who God is, and won’t even be able to fully know the Son. Do you know your identity as a beloved son or daughter? Do you live as if you have incredible worth and are infinitely loved? If not, you might not know the Father. Do you ask the Holy Spirit to guide and use you? Are you set on fire with love? If not, you might not know the Holy Spirit.

2. Prayer

Relationships need to be cultivated. Spend time in prayer alone with God. Talk to Him throughout the day, ask Him questions, ask Him for help. Tell him the things that give you joy, and the things that break your heart. Sooner or later, He’ll start telling you the things that give Him joy and the things that break His heart. Make sure you set aside alone time with Him. And when you do set aside that time, don’t miss it. Remember, you have made an appointment with the King of the Universe. It’s best to keep that appointment.

Sometimes our lives get busy, and we get bored. But prayer needs to be a priority. I often don’t want to get into my car and drive to the store to buy the food I should be eating. I like to just eat what is in front of me. But if I want to get well and stay well, I need to make time to go down to the store and get what I need to survive. Get off the couch, turn off that laptop, and start spending time with God.

3. Scripture

Read. Your. BIBLE! The Word of God offers us ammo for the toughest battles, armour for the bloodiest blows, praises for the happiest moments, and consolation for the most broken of hearts. Scripture tells us of God’s love for us, and shows us how He gave Himself COMPLETELY to us even though we don’t deserve it. It is the story of how God went about to incorporate us into His family.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

4. Community

The Israelites back in the day believed that holiness was something contagious, that it was something you could catch. The more we are around people that live the way we want to live, the more we start living that way too. The opposite is true too. The more we are around those who influence us to live in a way that breaks God’s heart, the more likely we are to fall into that kind of living. Find a few people that you know have a heart for God. At least find people who are trying. Good community can be life-giving, and can be a great support system for when spiritual sickness rolls in.

5. Sacraments

When is the last time you’ve been to mass? What about confession? Frequenting the sacraments is a great way to keep your soul in check. By uniting with your brothers and sisters in the mass and receiving the graces that God pours out in the Eucharist, we receive the strength we need to resist sin. By frequenting confession, we receive continual forgiveness and the grace to overcome the sins we have a hard time letting go.

These things are all necessary to a healthy spiritual life, but if your heart isn’t in it, then it won’t do you much good. Ask the Lord to help you to desire a healthy spiritual life so that when temptation and spiritual sickness do show up, you will have the strength to fight. 

Originally posted on Ablaze Ministries’ blog 1/21/2014