Heart Healthy

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7

“A Peaceful heart leads to a healthy body, jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 NLT

Can our spiritual health affect our physical health?

When I worked in jail, I would often transport inmates to doctors and hospitals for appointments. In doing so I began to see a trend: sin creates sickness.

I had been on a 12 hour hospital shift with a jail inmate. I watched as the doctors came in and handed him a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 cancer that had spread inside his head.

The inmate had no idea, after hearing the news he lamented to me about being an alcoholic and in jail because he attacked his elderly mother. He told me that he did not remember doing so but seemed to accept his fate as punishment.

On another occasion, I had brought an inmate to the eye doctor for on going vision problems. The eye doctor informed him he had sexually transmitted disease that in the later stages was now progressively affecting his vision.

This is a reminder of 1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT to “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”

Among other things the bible warns us about pride, anger, bitterness, envy, and jealousy as forms of evil, disorder and sin(James 3:16, Hebrews 4:31, Ephesians 12:15 Colossians 3:8)

The scripture from proverbs compares these to “cancer in the bones.”

This is a warning that a sinful life can lead to health problems. Sin is a toxin to the mind, body and soul.

Anger and other negative emotions can even lead to spiritual and even physical death.

In fact researchers at Columbia University proposed that “repeated episodes of negative emotions like anger might have a cumulative effect on cardiovascular health.” (NIH.gov)

The research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on May 7, 2024 stated that “Over time, ongoing anger might lead to permanent damage and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.”(NIH.gov)

Sin affects our physical, spiritual and mental health.

The good news is the proverb says a peaceful heart leads to a healthy body.

A peaceful heart is a content heart. It isn’t seething in jealousy, anger or unforgiveness. It doesn’t keep one awake planning revenge or re-living trauma or moments of anger. A peaceful heart is doesn’t worry, or live in fear.

I learned personally what fear, worry can do physically to the body. When I was a police officer at the start of PTSD, my body acted out before my mind did. I was seeing all kind of doctors for eye problems, limb numbness, reflux, and headaches.

Now granted not everything health related is from sin. Well… ultimately it is from original sin but not always a direct result from your sin. Not every illness is a demonic attack or judgement from God.

Please understand if you have a condition or illness, I am NOT saying you caused it or brought it upon yourself, especially if you are with the Lord. No, you can blame Adam and Eve for that. We live in a fallen world.

What I am saying is bad things generally happen more to bad people when they dwell in bad circumstances. It’s amazing how a life of drugs, crime, and sexual sin will age and degrade someone’s health.

But the caveat here is that in God we can have that a peaceful heart and live a long life.

Scripture says that “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.” Proverbs 16:31 NLT.

Then again if you’re prematurely grey, you’re probably doing something wrong. I am joking of course…I already lost my hair, so I have no room to talk.

But what we can learn from the scriptures is that longevity and health can be affected by how we live our lives. That is we can bring disease and sickness upon ourselves.

We can harbor negative emotions that take a toll on our bodies and become aged in body and spirit.

Or…we can choose to make our heart right and walk in righteousness. When there is spiritual healing, the mind and body often follows.

Is there any sin in your life that might be contributing negatively to your health? Repent and release it God.

“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:3-4 NLT

Reference:

“Anger May Harm Heart and Blood Vessel Health.” National Institute of Health May 14, 2024 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/anger-may-harm-heart-blood-vessel-health