As I reflect on my upbringing, one of my fondest memories is the ways my parents faithfully pursued their own spiritual health, as well as that of their children. Now, in a season of marriage and anticipating one day building a family, I often think of my parents’ example, and wonder: How do I cultivate rhythms, routines and habits that pursue spiritual health over the long haul?
Let’s examine why spiritual health is so important and what it means to be grounded in God’s Word, then dive into some practical tips and application questions to help you consider what spiritual health rhythms you can implement for yourself and your family.
Why Pursue Spiritual Health?
As followers of Christ, we pursue spiritual health out of obedience to his command and desire to grow in godliness. At the end of 2 Peter, the church is instructed to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Christians are commanded to “abide” in God and his word so they will know him, and in turn, bear fruit that honors him (Jn. 15:1-10). Just as I can’t grow in my knowledge of how to cook or bake without repeated practice, so also my knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ will not grow without regularly returning to the deep well of his Word. Paul similarly commands Timothy to, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:7-8). We pursue spiritual health in order to train ourselves in godliness, growing in greater conformity to God’s Word, commands, and instructions to his people. An athlete like Katie Ledecky or Simone Biles won’t have an Olympic medal-winning performance without extensive training. Similarly, we won’t know what God requires of us or reflect him well to others without first knowing him and his Word, a knowledge that grows and develops over time, with much patience. Our pursuit of spiritual health should be centered on obedience to Christ and desire to grow in him, and over time, it will bear much fruit for God’s glory.
What are the Fruits and Results of Pursuing Spiritual Health?
An ongoing pursuit of spiritual health has so many beautiful results that honor God. I’ll name a few here, although many more examples can be found in Scripture. In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul instructs, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” As we grow in our knowledge of God’s Word and pay greater attention to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we are able to discern what is “good and acceptable and perfect” before him. Similarly, when the Word “dwells in [us] richly” (Col. 3:16), we are able to “teach and admonish” our fellow believers, setting an example of godliness before them through our character and actions. 1 Peter 3:15 instructs believers to always be “…prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”. It’s impossible to defend the reason for our hope–Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection–when we don’t know why it’s the greatest reason for hope of all! These examples from Romans 12, Colossians 3, and 1 Peter 3 remind us of the tangible fruits of spiritual health, which honor God and set an example of godliness and encouragement for fellow believers.
As you consider this overview of why spiritual health is important and what its results are, here’s a few tips that I hope are helpful for your stage of life. As with any advice, take what’s useful and leave what’s not fitting for your season. In my mind, each of these stages builds on the previous stage, even if the disciplines or practices you implement vary based on time commitments and other restrictions. At the end of this article, you’ll find some application questions that I hope will help you develop a basic, sustainable routine for your ongoing spiritual growth and health.
Advice for Individuals
Whether you’re single or married, my greatest piece of advice is to individually pursue a relationship with Christ. To the best of your ability, set aside time each day to spend time in prayer and God’s Word. I know my mind tends to wander when I pray, so I’ve found writing down my prayer requests helps orient my prayer time and keep me focused. While time studying God’s Word is always valuable, not everyone has time for 30-60 minutes of study on a daily basis. If this is you, consider finding a manageable reading plan that has you in Scripture daily, or, after your Bible reading, listen to a podcast that deep-dives into the text, whether on your drive to work or as you do your dishes.
If you’re a parent with small kiddos to care for, let your kids see you spending time in God’s Word–and even invite them to join you! Some of my most influential memories as a child are those quiet, early mornings, eating breakfast and watching my parents read their Bible as they ate breakfast. While those moments may seem insignificant at the time–and the interruptions may make you frustrated–I have no doubt your children will look back with gratitude for that consistent, faithful example of studying God’s Word, even in the early mornings and busy moments of daily life.
Advice for Couples
As a couple, don’t neglect to encourage one another spiritually, even as you individually pursue spiritual health. In fact, your individual pursuit of spiritual health will provide even deeper knowledge and encouragement to share with your spouse!
Whether you have kids or not, take the time each day to pray with and for your spouse, as well as study Scripture together. Your routine and methods will vary by your season and schedule, and that’s okay!
If you don’t have kids, use this season to establish these study habits so, when you have kids, they’ll carry over into that new season, even if they might look a bit different in the content or timing. Once again, allowing your kids to see you study and discuss God’s Word together is so crucial, as it will likely prompt them to not only consider their own relationship with Christ, but also ask you questions, too!
Advice for Families
Whether your dinnertime is (relatively) calm or dominated by conversations about dinosaurs (intermingled by screaming), set a rhythm of studying Scripture together as a family. When your kids are young and have short attention spans, choosing a Psalm or a story from a trusted children’s Bible storybook (Kevin DeYoung’s The Biggest Story Bible Storybook is a personal favorite!) is a great way to start.
If your kids are older and able to sit still longer and respond to (and ask) questions, use these opportunities to read chronologically through books of the Bible, do a topical study, or allow your kids to ask you questions about Scripture or Christian living. If prayer before meals isn’t a habit for your family, consider doing post-meal prayer together, inviting your kids to take turns praying and sharing prayer requests.
Even when these times of prayer and study may feel useless or fruitless, I firmly believe the words of Isaiah 55, where God says his Word will not “return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). On the good and difficult days, keep pursuing spiritual health, trusting that God will use time spent in his Word for your good and his glory.
Application Questions
- What’s my current routine or plan for spiritual health? What am I doing? How much time am I spending? What results am I seeing?
- What season(s) am I currently in?
- When will I spend time in Scripture and prayer each day? How much time will I spend?
- What will I study or use to help me study? How will I stay focused in prayer?
- What practices (after dinner family devotions, morning prayer, etc.) can I implement to pursue spiritual health with my family?
Photo Credit: Emily Hughes
Leah Jolly is a graduate of Wheaton College where she studied international relations and Spanish. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband, Logan, and is pursuing her MDiv at Calvin Theological Seminary. She attends Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan. You can connect with Leah on Instagram and Substack.
