Wellbeing: An Invitation to a Flourishing LifeSample

Your Body Matters

The 1981 film “Chariots of Fire” tells the true story of two British athletes, Eric Liddell and Harold, competing in the 1924 Olympic Games. The iconic Vangelis soundtrack and the extraordinary story of commitment and conviction stirred many people of that generation. In one scene that stands out, during a walk in the Scottish Highlands with his sister Jenny, Eric finds himself defending his passion and desire to run. To address her concern that his running is distracting him from serving God, he says, “I believe God made me for a purpose, for China. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure… it’s not just fun, to win is to honour him”.

Unfortunately, most of us do not share Eric Liddell’s physique and are not destined for Olympic glory! We can’t all use our bodies in the way Liddell could. But every single one of us is all “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). We are marvelously created with a purpose. Our extraordinary bodies have an articulated skeleton connected by tendons, ligaments, and muscles. When we are active, our body systems work together in a complex and finely tuned way to keep us healthy and well.

Many illnesses, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, can be prevented and managed simply by looking after our precious bodies. Our joints and muscles maintain their strength and function. When we care for our physical well-being, we sleep better, feel better, and think better.

Regular physical activity has a huge impact not just on our physical well-being but on our emotional and spiritual being as well. We feel better about ourselves and find we have more energy to cope with the stresses of life. How we use our physical bodies is important to God. It pleases God when we use our bodies in the way He designed them.

Thought Point: How can you be physically active today in a way that gives you joy and pleases God?

Prayer Point: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be more disciplined about being regularly active to improve how you feel and function.