by Steve Reynolds
Tired. Stressed. Sick. Overweight. Do these words describe you? For the vast majority of pastors, they are the norm. Over the course of our years as church leaders, too many of us have sacrificed our health and wellbeing on the altar of ministry. We have lost the vibrancy — and the waistlines — we once had, opting instead for the poor, counterfeit version of health that has become the acceptable average in our culture.
If you are ready to live a life with the physical vitality you need to do all God has called you to, then it’s time to make a change. A healthy pastor lives in a state of faithful pro-activity. The church is healthy and growing, as is the pastor. He is intentional about keeping his body — his most critical tool for ministry on this earth — healthy and strong. He knows how to identify godly health goals and pursue them. He experiences the fulfillment that comes with embracing the life God has called him to.
You know as well as I do that spiritual warfare is nothing to be taken lightly. What you may not realize is your health is not exempt from the war. Satan will do anything he can to raise roadblocks to your ability to live the life God has in store for you. Getting you to sabotage your own body is one of his most cunning tactics. As Jesus said:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10)
If Satan can steal your health, kill your drive, and destroy your peace of mind, then your ability to do God’s work will be obliterated. Thankfully, there are things you can do to keep the enemy’s schemes at bay. Start by surrendering your body to God. Then stop making excuses.
Excuses, excuses, excuses! I’ve heard them all as I’ve worked with people across the country to get healthy. I hate excuses, but I can tell you Satan loves them. The enemy of your soul loves using carefully crafted excuses to cast doubt over the best intentions. Just think about this: if you are stuck in the rut of average — unhealthy, not living the abundant life in Christ, and not working to your full potential as a church leader — then the enemy is thrilled. He’s getting his exercise doing a happy dance because you are compromised; you are not being as effective for the kingdom as you could be.
Excuses are a natural byproduct of wrong focus. They are the result of concentrating on the obstacles to a healthy lifestyle — and, believe me, there will be plenty of obstacles — rather than on the opportunities good health provides. Instead of bemoaning how hard it will be to change your bad habits, shift your attention to all the ways being healthy will transform your life for the better. When you have a big enough why, the how won’t seem intimidating. Here are just three of the benefits a healthy lifestyle provides:
Good health helps you maximize your life. Since God went to such lengths to design the intricate details of your body (Psalm 139), you should maximize what he can do through it while you are alive. When you run it down with unhealthy foods, lack of exercise, and massive doses of stress, you block that opportunity — you trade it for a counterfeit version of God’s best. Poor health choices limit your potential and likely shorten the length of your days on this earth, but taking care of yourself will open the door to fully engage in the abundant life God has in store for you.
Good health can help you feel better and be more productive each day. When you get your health on track, you will have more energy each day. You may have fewer aches and pains. Your mind will be clearer. You can work harder and connect with people in your life with more enthusiasm. Don’t let excuses rob you of opportunities to live the life you were created for.
Good health gives you a new opportunity to worship God. Since your body is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), taking care of the temple is a form of worship. Intentional good health brings God glory. Again, you and I are to honor God by reflecting his excellence in every way — including with our physical wellbeing. Don’t miss the opportunity to worship your Heavenly Father and show His excellence to the world by being an example of refreshing, vibrant health.
Don’t let excuses rob you of living the life you were created for.
Steve Reynolds co-authored the book The Healthy Renegade Pastor with Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson. Steve can be contacted at sreynolds@bod4god.org.