A New Series: Taking Care of Ourselves as a Spiritual Discipline

This week, we start a brief article series on taking care of ourselves physically as one component of our spiritual disciplines. I pray you will take these thoughts to heart (no pun intended) as you look toward the second half of 2026.

I confess that I haven’t always taken care of myself as I should. I have to work hard to maintain a healthy weight, keep my blood pressure down, etc. In fact, I can’t even remember how many sizes of pants I’ve worn over the years. I’m writing this article, though, as I walk on the treadmill, so I do want you to know I’m keeping my own commitment to this task. I don’t want to give guidance that I myself don’t follow right now.

As a Christian, I see this issue of exercise and bodily well-being as more a spiritual one than a physical one. Here are some reasons believers need to take care of ourselves physically:

1. We are created in God’s image. The Bible is quite clear here – we are made in the image of the Creator. That image was marred in the fall of Adam and Eve, but not destroyed. That fact alone should give us reason to take care of ourselves. God gave us this body.

2. This body is the only one we have. This point might sound silly, but sometimes we live as if we have bodies to spare. When this one is worn out, we don’t have a replacement until the day of resurrection. To not take care of it is to be a poor steward of God’s gift to us.

3. Poor discipline is a bad witness. It’s hard to tell people to be disciplined in their Bible study, prayer life, giving, etc., when they can look at us and see we are undisciplined in exercise and eating. A lack of effort in one area of life is often indicative of problems in other areas.

4. Bad health is costly. Eventually, the costs of poor health add up. Medical bills pile up. Insurance costs increase. Moreover, bad health makes us less productive at work. Others are forced then to carry some of our load. Again, we wind up being poor stewards.

5. Our families deserve better. Frankly, it’s unloving not to take care of ourselves. Our families worry about us when we struggle to climb steps or find clothes to fit. Our love for them ought to motivate us to do better. I know I don’t want to cause my wife any worry simply because I don’t take care of myself.

6. Being out of shape might indicate idolatry. Those words might be difficult to hear, but they’re necessary ones. If we cannot push away from food in order to take care of our bodies, we must ask if something other than God has become our god (though, keep reading below for another side of this discussion . . .).

7. Better health = more energy to do God’s work. God’s work is not easy. Those of us in ministry know that the burdens are sometimes heavy. The hours are often long. Being out of shape makes the work only that much more difficult. Rest, exercise, and good health help us to serve others well.

8. Proper care requires rest – and it’s biblical to get rest. God expects us to take time off, focus on Him, and enjoy His blessings. In fact, not taking time to rest can be self-centered (that is, we think we must be doing everything). I struggle here, but I’m learning. What I’m learning is that I’m not the answer to everything—so I need to quit trying to be.

9. We might be called to the mission field. Many missions organizations will not consider sending someone who is out of shape. The work is often rigorous, and the stresses of cross-cultural living are only compounded by poor health. Plus, health care can be costly for these organizations.

10. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This truth is difficult to comprehend, but God really does live within us (1 Cor 6:19). He who created us and indwells us expects us to be wise caretakers of the body He gave us.

    
    

Now, let me come back to a caveat. Even as I write these challenges, I’m also aware of the folks at my gym who are in great physical shape but also completely separated from God. They might be healthy physically, but they remain dead in their sin spiritually. They’re missing what really matters even as they strive to take care of themselves—and that’s seriously problematic. To be honest, I also know believers who are so focused on their looks that their own idolatry becomes apparent.

What I am not calling for here is any kind of physical well-being that causes us to neglect our own spiritual care. All you need to do is read my previous various posts on this site to know how much our own spiritual care matters to me. I want us to take care of ourselves physically, but I want us to do so because it’s a matter of our spiritual walk.

Maybe taking care of yourself physically is already one of your commitments for 2026. If so, press on – but make sure you’re living out your other spiritual disciplines, too. If you haven’t made this commitment to physical health, you have the next half of this year to move in that direction. Why not start today? And, more importantly, why not do it for God’s glory?