Spiritual Health

Overview

Your pattern of church attendance is your basic outward expression of your spiritual health, but only you know if your attendance is forced out of a sense of "religious duty" or genuine out of your love for God. We recommend that you do not list "Attend weekly church services" as an Element of your Faith Component for Spiritual Health.
Instead, visualize what true Sabbath keeping involves. Then, concentrate on the recommended Faith Elements listed below, so that your Sabbath keeping becomes a natural expression from your heart, brings honor to God, and is a joy for you and your family.
Exodus 20:8-11 - Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
What do your Sabbaths look like? What do you want them to be? How do you "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." ?
The following is not a checklist of religious obligations. It's a suggested examination of your heart:
  • Are you prepared for the Sabbath before sunset on Friday?
  • Do you have a simple Friday evening family worship at sunset?
  • Do you attend both Sabbath School and the Worship Service at church?
  • Do you stay awake while the pastor is preaching?
  • Do you refrain from over-eating when your Church hosts a potluck?
  • Do you have a healthy (simple and light) family meal at home after church?
  • Do you refrain from taking an extended nap after your Sabbath meal?
  • Do you enjoy a few hours of family time outside every sabbath afternoon (weather permitting)?
  • Do you have spiritual conversations with each family member during your Sabbath afternoon activities?
  • Do you have a simple family worship at sunset on Sabbath?
  • Do you host a fellowship meal at your home with another family from your church at least once a month?
  • Do you go on a "destination" nature hike on Sabbath afternoon at least once a month?
  • Do you fast for 24-hours (water only) on Sabbath (sunset-to-sunset) at least once a month?
  • Do you invite a non-SDA friend, relative, neighbor, or co-worker to church at least once a month?
We are not suggesting that you "force yourself" to make your Sabbaths "a blessing." Trying to "Fake it, 'til you make it" does not work. The question is: Do you have faith in the promise of God that your choices throughout the week for developing your relationship with Christ will result in naturally keeping His Sabbath Day holy as a special opportunity for you to receive a divine blessing of rest and spiritual renewal?

Faith Elements

Regular church attendance (alone) is far from sufficient to feed and strengthen your soul. For optimal health, we strongly recommend that you develop your Spiritual Health by engaging in the Faith Elements outlined below to the best of your ability and allow the grace of Christ to do its miraculous work of transforming your heart.
Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (worship). 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (spirit), that ye may prove (experience) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1. Study the Bible in the morning every day.
  • Wake-up early enough to have quiet, private time dedicated for your Bible study.
  • Study for at least 15 minutes each morning.
  • Close your study with a sincere prayer on your knees.
  • PRAY = Praise + Repent + Ask + Yield (submit yourself to God)
  • Create a list of Names for whom you want to intercede in prayer.
  • Apply the principles you learned from your Bible study to your daily life.
  • Thank God for the changes you see in yourself and your life because of the power of God's Holy Word.
2. Be in constant communion with Jesus through Silent Prayer.
  • Be alert to wandering thoughts and distracting temptations.
  • Recognize opportunities to be kind and helpful to others.
  • ​Readily apologize for your mistakes and forgive others for theirs.
  • Appreciate the many blessings from God that you experience each day.
  • Thank God for both the joyful moments and the character-building trials.
3. Take time throughout the day for brief Devotional Readings.
  • Schedule a few of your devotionals at convenient times, such as before meals and at bedtime.
  • Each devotional session (reading, reflection, prayer) should be about 5 minutes.
  • Take a break to read an extra devotional when you are stressed or discouraged.
  • In the evening, share your favorite devotional of the day with your spouse or family.
4. Keep a Journal of your walk with Jesus by writing a thoughtful paragraph each evening.
  • Repent for the day's defeats.
  • Thank God for the day's victories.
  • Ask God for more faith to depend fully on the grace of Christ to overcome the trials of tomorrow.