In the words of the apostle John
as recorded in the second verse of
his third letter we read:

“Dear Friend, I pray that you may
enjoy good health and that all may
go well with you, even as your soul
is getting along well.”

Scripture makes many references to the concept
of health, well-being and the happiness that is a
personal celebration of these blessings. There is
no question that, as our Creator, God desires that
we experience life to the full, He longs for us to
know the joy of the being well in every aspect of
our lives. It is from this perspective that our hearts
are most appropriately tuned to praise Him for all
the blessings of life that He gives us.

The Psalmist even says in chapter 103:2-5

“Praise the Lord, my soul
and forget not all His benefits
Who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion
Who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”

Praise lives at the very heart of our sense of joy,
health, peace, and an awareness of God’s Presence.
And in the concept of praise we can begin
to truly appreciate the long-term benefits of living
our lives according to the order and instructions
given by our Creator. Unfortunately, with the
introduction of the effects of sin upon our bodies
we experience the effects of an earthly challenge
to health.

We were never meant to experience challenges of
declining health along with the impaired conditions
of our various functions and senses. In these
passages we are reminded that, even though the
impact of sin upon God’s perfect Creation has
touched all of us, He continues to desire that we
remain in relationship with Him. In this way, we
will experience His blessings that will grant us the
greatest potential sense of well-being while yet
enduring the challenges that we may face.

This weekend we are blessed to receive important
guidance that is intended to maximize the blessings
of better life-style choices upon our health
and wellness. May God bless each of us with
understanding hearts as we add our voices in
praise for the goodness of the Lord.

Warmly,
Pastor Phil