Why Our Thoughts Matter to our Health

I’m hunkered down at home working on a Bible study that’s due March 1. It identifies the lies we believe about topics to which we can all relate, and then it delves into the truth about these things. The topics include obedience, forgiveness, prayer, who God is, what He thinks about us, and more.

Thinking the truth about these topics is vital to our well-being.

Why?

Because our thoughts determine our beliefs, and those beliefs ultimately influence our behaviors.

Wrong thinking undermines wellness

Here’s an example: For several years, I put my writing career ahead of my health. I sat for hours at my computer every day. I knew I should get up and walk or stretch, but I mistakenly thought, I’m on a roll with this article, so I’ll exercise later. But later never came.

I subconsciously believed that the need for exercise didn’t apply to me. Somehow I could stay healthy without taking the time to walk or go to the gym. That belief resulted in a sedentary lifestyle, and I paid the consequences. Stiff muscles led to leg injuries and loss of mobility. It also resulted in my becoming obese.

I’d look in the mirror and think, You’re a wreck, but this is all part of aging, so get used to it. Wrong thinking again.

Changed thoughts = improved health

God had to take hold of my mind and do a complete makeover. That involved giving me a new appreciation for the truth found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

“Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

Understanding that I’m a steward of my body and that God desires me to honor Him with it did a complete torque in my thinking. The change in my thought patterns changed the way I treat my body. Now I’m intentional about wise food choices and I exercise regularly. I want to live long and strong for Jesus, and my ability to do so won’t happen by itself.

I’m loving this assignment and learning so much as I study the Word. My challenge is to develop questions and anecdotes that will lead others into life-changing truth.

Here’s a gem I’m mulling:

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6 NLT).

If the sinful nature controls our thoughts about food and exercise, we’ll end up in rough shape. I know this from personal experience, and I never want to return to that place. If the Holy Spirit controls our mind in this context, then our appetite will no longer keep us in bondage. Instead, we’ll develop a healthy view of food and experience God’s empowerment to get our bodies moving.

The result? Life and peace.