The Difficult Truth About Your Spiritual Health

At the end of every year, our church participates in a year-end offering where we make a sacrificial gift dedicated to growing and expanding our reach as a church. This was my family’s second year to participate, and it’s become one of my favorite traditions.

One of the things I look forward to most is that we also look forward to the year ahead and choose a word to focus on and believe God for.

This year, after much deliberation, we landed on the word, “health.” That may sound like an odd word to believe God for, but over the past few months Courtney has been battling extreme sickness with her pregnancy.

We’re grateful for our baby girl who is due in May, but it’s been a tough season with several rounds of hospital visits, getting prescriptions filled, and fielding doctor’s bills.

But it’s not just our physical health that we want to strengthen in 2018. We want to be healthy in all aspects: emotionally, financially, and most importantly, spiritually.

Being spiritually healthy may not be written down as one of your resolutions this year, but if you’re a Christian, I’m sure it’s on your radar. In fact, if you’re like most people — including myself — you probably wrestle with some dissatisfaction about your spiritual health at times. Maybe that’s even where you’re at right now?

If you are, I can assure you that you’re not alone. Being spiritually healthy in today’s world isn’t an easy task.

For one, it’s much easier to focus on the more visible aspects of our health such as our fitness or our finances. There’s a reason Weight Watchers and Dave Ramsey are so popular

And while your spiritual health is not as visible, there are far greater consequences for being spiritually unhealthy. Your spiritual health affects more than just your physical appearance or the size of your bank account. It affects your future and those you’re closest to the most.

And this may not be easy to hear, but there is no one more responsible for your spiritual health than you.

That’s something I’ve had to come to terms with over the past several years in my Christian walk. In tough seasons, like the one my wife and I just experienced, it’s easy to blame a lack of intimacy with God on our circumstances and surroundings. But the truth is, there are no excuses.

Because…

1. God is always everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-10)
   2. God is always available. (James 4:8)

James 4:8 says that if we will draw near to God, then He will draw near to us. That’s not just a possibility, it’s a promise. If we will draw near to God, then He WILL draw near to us.

No one can do this for you, though. Not your parents, not your pastor, not your small group, and not your spouse. All of those relationships and people can help, but only you can make the decision to pursue God. God has extended the invitation, but even He won’t force you to accept it.

I don’t know where you’re at right now spiritually, but if you want to improve it, there’s some good news and bad news.

The good news is, you are in control of the intensity of your relationship with God.

This means it can get better!

The bad news is, YOU are in control of the intensity of your relationship with God.

This means it’s on you to do something about it!

While His presence is promised, it isn’t pushy. We have to pursue it. We have to steep our life in the reality of God.

It’s much easier to just make excuses, put your relationship with God on autopilot, and quietly neglect the responsibility you have for your spiritual health. But the stakes are too high.

We need God’s voice in our lives, and the most important factor for hearing His voice is being near enough to hear it.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8