05 Dec Lifestyle as a lid

Why do we talk about the importance of a healthy lifestyle? Because we are “bought with a price”? But is it only about honouring God–important though that is? As Adventists we are proud to say that our diet enables us to live much longer than the average. But is it just about living longer? Or being happier because we exercise or have good habits?

I would like to suggest that the primary reason for a healthy lifestyle is so we may be better equipped to deal with sin. Whether we like it or not, our spiritual lives are wrapped inside our lifestyles. That means that our lifestyles become a lid on our spiritual health, and our spiritual strength determines whether we overcome sin–or not.

Think about a sin you are struggling with that just won’t go away. There’s a good chance that you have been saying to yourself, I need to pray harder and do more Bible reading. While that might be true, there is a tendency in that moment to forget the shape of our lifestyle that is impacting our time with God–the amount of sleep I get, the time I leave for work, the stress I take on, what I watch for entertainment, and so on… all these things as a package are impacting the extent that I am able to operate as “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). And only when I come to that point of living in a state of sacrifice and emptiness before God, is Holy Spirit able to find the space in my hearts to baptise us with his power.

So here’s a question: in what ways is your present lifestyle acting as a lid on your spiritual growth?

All the best for the Journey, Gavin.