The Proverbs Series: Wisdom & Health
Walking the Wise Path to the Good Life
Dear #DailyFollowers,
Introduction
It’s a new week! Thank God it’s Monday. This will be an excellent week, bringing rewarding results and outcomes that reveal the glory of our God in and through your life.
It’s also another day continuing our journey through the Proverbs. Today, we explore the connection between wisdom and health.
Before we get into this exploration, I don’t take for granted that you’re spending a few minutes of your day with us on this #DailyFollower newsletter, so I want to say a big thank you for stopping by today.
Suppose this is your first encounter with this newsletter; welcome! Please spend a few more minutes checking out this post on the purpose of these letters and all of the letters from the Proverbs Series here. These letters share profound wisdom that sets us on paths to the good life.
Now, what does our wisdom coach have to say about the connection between wisdom and health?
The Text
Proverbs 3:7-8, EXB
7 Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [be wise in your own eyes]. ·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] the Lord and ·refuse to do wrong [turn away from evil].
8 Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be ·strong [refreshed].
Proverbs 3:7-8, AMPC
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.
8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews and marrow and moistening to your bones.
Some Thoughts
In Proverbs 3:7, Solomon teaches us how to walk in wisdom (see yesterday’s letter for more). When we follow his recommendations, we walk wise paths.
According to Solomon, when we follow his recommendations on how to walk in wisdom, he said, “Then... (or It shall be…)”, connecting our obedience to the outcome he shares in Proverbs 3:8.
What is this outcome? It’s “health for our body and strength for our bones.“ Isn’t it amazing that the same actions that help us access and exercise wisdom enable us to enjoy health in our bodies and bones? If you ask me, it’s incredible!
Two Questions To Ponder
What is the degree of my reverent fear and worship for the Lord? Have I entirely turned away from evil?
Health in the body and strength in the bones are guarantees for daily followers who reverently fear and worship God and are committed to entirely turning away from evil.
A consistently healthy life is attainable. It comes from our choice to walk in wisdom consistently. As we do, the God we walk with directs our steps into the right actions we must take to experience our promise of divine health.
Conclusion
I learned what I share today by experiencing it first-hand.
I’d been diagnosed in early 2021 with Stage 1 hypertension with the key symptoms of elevated blood pressure. My doctors placed me on beta blockers to keep my blood pressure in the normal range and suggested that I would be on these drugs for the rest of my life.
Thankfully, it coincided with the season when I started paying more intentional attention to following Jesus daily.
My intentional daily following commitment helped me improve my reverent fear and worship of God and commitment to turn away from evil; as my journey evolved, God’s Spirit began teaching me how to take action every day for my health.
By early 2022, I was off beta blockers on doctor's orders! Medications that I’d been previously told I would have to take for life.
God provides wisdom for healthy living. You don’t need to accept any ill health condition as part of your existence; instead, follow Solomon’s recommendations for the spiritual and natural actions we must take to walk in wisdom. Engaging in these recommended actions [fear God reverently and turn away from evil] will bring health to your body and strength to your bones.
I’ve tasted and seen the goodness of God on this matter, and I can’t wait to hear about your testimonies of healthy living because you increased the degree of your reverent fear and upright walk.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.