I almost ran out of gas in my car the other day. I was a matter of moments away from the engine shutting down and my car rolling to a stop. My car is old (1 year away from being considered an antique!) and it doesn’t have much of a warning system when the gas is almost out so I have to be diligent in monitoring the fuel level. Luckily on this day, despite my carelessness, I made it to a station just in time.
A car without gas doesn’t run. We have little problem accepting that as true. A little more difficult to admit however, is the reality that a body without proper fuel doesn’t run for long either. As pastors and ministry leaders if we fail to take care of our physical health our bodies, much like engines, will eventually clunk, sputter and come to a shuffling stop.
Excuses Abound
According to a recent study the physical health of most clergy (pastors and ministry leaders) is some of the worst compared to other careers. As a whole this group tends to be overweight, burnt out and poor at self-care.[1] Members of clergy also suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at higher rates than most.[2] The unfortunate truth is that many ministry leaders have a tendency to let their physical health go unchecked and there are plenty of excuses why: busy schedules, constant traveling, and the need to focus on “spiritual” things. As we continue in our Living life like a flamingo: In balance series we will examine the reality that maintaining good physical health is critical for a thriving body, ministry and life. Below are four concerns that all leaders should be aware of, four tips for maintaining good physical health, four benefits of good health and four suggestions to help you implement healthy habits.
Four concerns
For every excuse we come up with to ignore our physical health there are other important concerns to consider.
- Our longevity in ministry can be cut short by poor health.
- Our sharpness of mind is affected by what we eat and our activity level.
- Our physical energy level rises to the demands of ministry if we’re in shape.
- When you feel bad physically, it affects everything else! [3]
Our physical health has a profound impact on our lives as a whole. While what we believe is fundamental, so to is how we live. Our holiness involves wholeness. As wholistic beings we can experience the presence of God in every area of our life – our physical health is no exception.
Four tips for maintaining good physical health
Here are four basic tips that can contribute to good physical health.
- Eat a balanced diet
Focus on controlling both the quality and the quantity of what you eat. We eat to live not live to eat.[3]
- Exercise regularly
Your body was not made for inactivity. Even a daily walk can make a huge difference![3]
- Get enough sleep and rest
Rest is so important to our lives. It renews, heals, restores and re-energizes our bodies for the work God has called us to.[3]
- Drink sufficient amounts of water
Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly.[4]
Verses to research and read:
- 1 Corinthians 6:12-13;19
- Psalms 127:2
- 1 Timothy 4:8
Four benefits of good health
Maintaining good physical health has far reaching benefits.
- Mood booster
Depression and like struggles are often linked to low levels of certain “feel-good” chemicals in the brain including serotonin and dopamine. Regular exercise has been shown to boost levels of these chemicals, and by doing so can help to improve mood.[5]
- Illness prevention
There’s a considerable amount of research to show that regular, moderate exercise enhances the immune system.[6] As a general rule the healthier you are, the easier you’ll find it is to fight off infections
- Improved Self-esteem
When we take care of ourselves physically we feel better about the way we look (appearance) and feel (emotions). Research has clearly shown a link between positive self-esteem and physical health.[7]
- Stress management
Regular exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, improve sleep and boost self-esteem. It is thought that even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.[5]
Four suggestions for implementation
God designed our bodies for activity! While I realize that maintaining good physical health can be a challenge, I hope these four suggestions can help you along the way.
- Make a realistic game plan
Don’t try to run 10 miles the first day or cut out desserts for the rest of your life, be realistic and give yourself a chance to achieve your goals.
- Build the habit into your schedule
Plan your new habits. If not you will be too busy, too tired or find something more interesting to fill your time.
- Enlist support
You will find more success if you find others who can participate with you along the way. (A walking buddy for example) If you want to go it alone ask a friend to keep you accountable or use a journal to report your progress each week.
- Use goals and rewards
Celebrate your accomplishments! Find small, tangible and enjoyable ways to reward yourself for the progress you have made.
Good physical health is about stewardship
Stewardship is the faithful management of all that God has entrusted to us. That begins with ourselves and our bodies. We have to give ourselves to the Lord before we can think of giving Him our time, our talents, our money, and our work. We need to be wise managers of the body God has given us if we want to be in a position to also effectively use all the other gifts He has given us.
I pray that as you seek balance in your life that you will understand the incredible gift of life that God has given you and that you will cherish and steward it through seeking to be physically healthy. Leaders, as always, if you need some accountability or support let me know. I would be happy to serve in any way I can!
Growth Point:
Finding balance requires stewarding your physical health to maximize your ministry calling.
Scripture Point:
Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-19. How do Paul’s words bring encouragement to you?
Action Point:
Choose one thing to cut out of your diet this week and choose one exercise to spend 5 minutes three times this week doing.
Hi John. Enjoyed your thoughts. So much of our health and well being are lifestyle related. WHO has realized that the greatest growing disease burden worldwide comes from chronic diseases not the infectious diseases we often think about. These diseases, cardiovascular, COPD, cancer and diabetes,cause most mortality. They all have risk factors related to lifestyle…smoking,diet/nutrition, activity to name major ones. The public has been lead to believe that drugs can make up for the failings of poor lifestyle. But much research shows far better outcomes with improved diet and exercise than with drugs. Much confusion exists over what is a good diet, but there is good support for a Mediterranean type diet. But even what a Mediterranean diet consists of varies. Certainly the typical American diet is not healthy and is a cause of the epidemic of obesity,diabetes and cardiovascular disease. What we don’t eat is as important as what we do eat. Working out at a gym 1 hour a day will not make up for spending the rest of the day in a sedentary manner. Typical daily actives like vacuuming, yard work, climbing stairs, walking, biking instead of driving may do more good than a gym membership. The centenarians of today never heard old Gold’s Gym. Fresh foods, activity,social connectedness,and propose are all associated with groups known for their longevity. Lifestyle adds years to life and life to years.