A Healthy and Prosperous Soul

As God’s crown creation, we are not left without light or knowledge on how to properly take care of ourselves to optimize our health, longevity and prosperity. God says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 KJV. This scripture indicates that the health and prosperity of the soul is dependent on the overall health of the body.

When the Bible says, even as 'thy' soul prospereth, what is God referring to? ‘Thy' soul indicates that we all possess a soul individually. The term ‘soul’ is also used in a different context where persons are called souls (Genesis 46:18). In this issue of The Healthy Christian, we will discuss what the Bible refers to as ‘thy’ soul; and also how we can keep it in a healthy prosperous condition.

In order to keep the soul prosperous, we must first know and understand what it is. The Bible reveals the work the soul does, for example, emotions such as joy and sorrow are expressed through the soul. “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD.” “Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful.” Psalm 35:9 KJV; Matthew 26:38 KJV.

The Bible also reveals that the soul is the place where we receive knowledge. “So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward,” “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;” Proverbs 24:14; 2:10 KJV. “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good;” Proverbs 19:2 KJV. From our general lessons in biology, most of us know that the brain is the organ through which we exercise emotions and store knowledge.

How can we make our souls prosperous?

When we talk about the health and prosperity of the soul, we are looking at the health of the brain. Brain health as we know depends on physical health. Therefore God says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 KJV. The health of the body affects the health of the soul and vice versa.

The brain, like all other organs, is nourished and built up from what we eat. Thus our body, mind and soul are all affected by our diet. God says, “Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”Isaiah 55:2 KJV. God wants us to eat good things, so that the brain can be healthy, large and prosperous. A prosperous soul will have healthy emotions and will be better able represent Christ at all times.

The Lord would have us eat the best foods, that are full of life and vitality. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29 KJV. This diet is not only the best for physical and mental health, but also spiritual health.

How do we weaken our souls?

The inspired Apostle wrote, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” 1 Peter 2:11 KJV. This scripture is generally taken to mean the lusts of our sinful flesh, but it also has a broader application relating to diet. The Spirit admonishes us that our lusts for flesh foods weakens our souls. Meat eating is indeed injurious to our physical health. And because the physical health is injured, the brain will have difficulty thriving.

When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He changed their diet to manna. However, after a season they began to loathe the manna and requested of God to give them flesh instead. He yielded to their request; but in consequence many of the people died by a plague and suffered loss spiritually.

“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?” “And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea,…” “And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails:..” “And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”

“And He called the name of that place Kibroth–hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.” The Psalmist tells us how their souls were affected. “And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Numbers 11:4-5,18,,31-34 KJV; Psalm 106:13-15 KJV.

Instead of their soul being fat and healthy, it became lean or diseased as a consequence of eating fish. Anything that weakens our body will weaken our brain and affect our spirituality. Therefore the Lord would have His people to be plant based, so that they can thrive mentally and emotionally.

Is there any hope for those of us who are weak in diet?

The truth of the matter is that without God we can do nothing at all. Christ has given us the victory in diet, though it took Him a forty days and forty nights’ fast. He endured it for us. The way to overcome is by accepting Jesus as our Best Friend. What does this mean? It means that we seek Him diligently and earnestly. It means that we spend as much time in His word and in prayer as we possibly can. As we study His word, we can talk to Him as we talk to our human friends and family.

Christ is a Person, and He wants us to manifest faith in Him by talking to Him as we talk to each other. It is only if we have this close and intimate relationship with Jesus, and we let Him into our hearts, that we can overcome appetite and all other sins.

The Healer of our souls

Mental and spiritual health relies on body health. Our peace and happiness will be greatly improved as we constantly improve our overall health. Our soul will be strengthened to exercise the pleasant emotions such as love, patience, kindness and also to subdue the negative emotions of strife, envy and selfishness. This is what the Lord wants for us above all things.

God is a Mighty Healer who can restore us from any condition to a perfectly healthy state. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11 KJV. There is nothing too hard for Our Great Physician to do, let us have strong faith in God, and hearken to His instructions which are for our present and eternal good. God bless you.

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