Healthy Choices

“Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20

One of the healthiest choices you can make for your body is to be thankful for the body you have and to keep your body always thankful. Medical researchers are discovering that gratitude is the one emotional trait most likely to benefit physical health and quicken recovery from a serious illness. Grateful people tend to be happier, more satisfied with their lives and actually live longer.

As a follower of Jesus, we should be grateful every day not only for the body God has given to us but also that Jesus gave His body up for us. He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that He could send His Holy Spirit to live in all those who trust in Him. Christ gave Himself so that your body could be a holy temple – the place where His presence dwells. 

For this reason, God cares about what you do with your body. Health is not just a physical issue, but a spiritual one as well. Your body is His body. Some day this body will die, but it won’t be gone forever. It will be raised to live forever with the One who gave His body for us. This alone gives us more than enough to be grateful for each and every day.

What does a life of true gratitude look like? It is more than saying a quick prayer before you eat or going to church on Sundays. A life of gratitude lives in a constant state of humility and thankfulness. The grateful heart recognizes that each day is a gift from God. A grateful heart looks for reasons to thank and praise God, which leads to a deep, abiding joy in Christ. 

So the next time you think about living a healthy life, don’t forget to be grateful. It just might be the healthiest decision you’ve ever made. 

Father, help me to be grateful in every circumstance. Thank You for Jesus, the greatest gift I have ever been given. In Jesus’ name, amen.