After a number of minor health problems over the last few months, I have finally got a diagnosis. Apparently I spend too much time at a computer, exercise too little, eat too many unhealthy foods, and drink too little water. All this has caused quite severe pain in my shoulders and neck. At one point in my assessment I was asked to use some muscles to push downwards. It was a bit like being asked to wiggle my ears. I just didn’t know I had muscles there, never mind how to put them into action!

The ‘cure’, apparently is some physiotherapy, some physician-led exercise three times a week - and a new diet! Quite where I’m going to find an extra six hours a week to do all this, I’m not really sure, but I know I must.

It’s a simple application from the physical to the spiritual, isn’t it? Many of us are spiritually weak, perhaps even having forgotten we are supposed to have some spiritual muscles, it being so long since we have used them. Is it any wonder we’re often so vulnerable to temptation?

The ‘cure’, for many of us at least, is a change of diet and some regular exercise. A healthy diet of solid nutrious food through Christian books, tapes and conversation, coupled with spiritual exercise in the corporate worship of God (perhaps at least three times a week is best?), and regular draughts of living water, would do wonders for our spiritual health.

Where will you find the energy and time to do all this? That I can’t tell you. There is no excuse for a Christian to have an unhealthy livestyle. We are to look after our bodies so we can use them for God’s glory. But equally there’s no excuse for spiritually weak Christians.

I hope that if your doctor explained that a lifestyle change was needed for you to stay healthy and do the work you are paid to do, then you’d find the time and energy somehow. Likewise if a pastor, or God Himself, shows you that a spiritual diet and exercise is needed for you to be spiritually health and do the work you are called to do, then I hope you’d find the time and the energy for that too. The work of the kingdom is too important to be left to those with an unhealthy lifestyle - be that spiritual or physical.

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