“Do you want to be made well?” This is a question Jesus asked a man who had been ill for 38 years. The man had longed for healing, but his case seemed hopeless—until Jesus came by. Seeing a flicker of hope in the man’s eyes, Jesus said to him, “ ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:8, 9).
By immediately following the divine instructions, this man was made well. And while there is not always instant healing, and sometimes there are circumstances we may not be able to change, they are still choices we can make to improve our health.
The first step to good health is deciding that you want to be healthy. No matter what you might be dealing with, the way toward a healthier and happier life is in making that decision.
Mind and Body Connection
As Seventh-day Adventists we have known for a long time about the important connection between mind and body. In 1875 Ellen White wrote:
“Between the mind and the body there is a mysterious and wonderful relation. They react upon each other. To keep the body in a healthy condition to develop its strength, that every part of the living machinery may act harmoniously, should be the first study of our life. To neglect the body is to neglect the mind. It cannot be to the glory of God for His children to have sickly bodies or dwarfed minds.”[*]
Adventist health practices have been noticed around the world, and scientific studies have shown that adopting a plant-based diet, regular exercise, abstinence from harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, and eating nuts regularly can significantly increase a person’s life expectancy by several years.
A Good Start
Getting off to a good start can go a long way in maintaining healthy habits. I was fortunate that from my childhood my parents were careful to model a healthy lifestyle. I’ve been a vegetarian all my life. Water, rest, and exercise were all important aspects in our family.
As I became older I realized the importance of taking a proactive approach to a healthy lifestyle. After becoming personally acquainted with the Spirit of Prophecy, I grasped the importance of health reform and a healthy life. While I was studying for a Master of Science in Public Health at Loma Linda University, the importance of medical missionary work/comprehensive health ministry became very prominent in my thinking.
I believe it is vital that parents set a healthy lifestyle example at home. It will lay a foundation that will be there throughout the lives of their children. Not only instruction about healthy daily living, but more important, a daily and practical living demonstration by the parents will speak volumes to young people in the home.
Through the power of God, realize that the spiritual and physical aspects of life are very much bound up together.
So Many Wonderful Foods
Throughout my life I’ve continued to practice what I learned in my early years. I enjoy being a vegetarian and find that it is a healthier way of life for me. Science has proved that a vegetarian lifestyle provides much more physical stamina and greatly reduces the chances for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other diseases.
My wife, Nancy, is a great cook and has found many ways to provide simple yet very tasty and delightful plant-based dishes. A fully plant-based diet is easy while at home, but when we travel, we don’t demand to be served a strictly plant-based diet, although we remain vegetarian.
There are so many wonderful foods that are available around the world; we’ve found that it is not at all difficult to eat a vegetarian diet. Sometimes we may run into a challenging situation where the hosts may not have received information about our preferred diet. In those cases we can generally inform our hosts in a kind way that we are vegetarians, and they are happy to comply with our needs. When situations are handled with some Christian grace and kindness, there usually are no long-lasting misunderstandings. We’ve had hardly any difficulties.
The Best Exercise
When at home, I try to walk a little more than three kilometers (two miles) a day, and more when I can. I love to walk, and the Spirit of Prophecy indicates it is the best exercise. Although walking takes longer than jogging or cycling, it’s so easy, and you can notice many wonderful things around you as you walk. In addition, I often enjoy listening to the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, or other uplifting materials on my phone while walking.
To find time for devotions and for exercise, one must plan ahead to secure time for these important aspects of life. Sometimes life simply gets too busy. Then it’s time to reset your schedule so you don’t miss out on the daily blessings of Bible study, study of the Spirit of Prophecy, prayer, and physical exercise.
Sleep Is Important
Sleep is a very important aspect of our lives. When we don’t get adequate sleep, it affects us in many ways. This is an area in which Nancy and I are always trying to improve. No matter how busy you are, it is important to get adequate rest and sleep. According to many studies, most people need from seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Blessed Beyond Measure
It is so important to be mindful of what we eat and drink, how much exercise we get, how much water we drink each day, how much rest we get, and how we look at life in general as we lean on Christ each day. Through the power of God it’s important to realize that the spiritual and physical aspects of life are very much bound up together.
I encourage you to read God’s Word and see how many health blessings are provided in Scripture. In addition, there are many other helpful and inspired books available free at egwwritings.org or on the EGW app. Some of these include The Ministry of Healing, Medical Ministry, Counsels on Health, Counsels on Diet and Foods, and more.
As we submit our lives to the Lord and follow His health laws outlined in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, we will be healthier, happier, and spiritually stronger, all through the power and grace of Jesus Christ.
Apart from Christ, none of this is possible. But God adds His incredible blessings when we ask Him for help in keeping His laws of health. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
You will be blessed beyond measure as you allow God to work in your life according to His marvelous moral and physical laws, and it will be a great blessing to the worldwide church as we approach Christ’s soon coming.
[*] Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 3, pp. 485, 486.
