The Bible has a lot to say about health, healing, and caring for our bodies. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses related to health:
Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
This verse reminds us that our bodies belong to God and we should care for them accordingly. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we should make choices that honor God by keeping our bodies healthy.
Ask God for healing
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)
When we are sick, we should turn to God in prayer and ask the church elders to pray over us as well. God can provide healing if it aligns with His will.
Trust God in sickness
“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5)
This Psalm encourages us to praise God even in sickness, trusting that He is good and can heal us. God cares for our total well-being – physical, spiritual, and emotional.
Ask God for strength
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
When our health fails, we can cast our burdens and anxieties upon the Lord, trusting Him to provide strength and lift us up.
God’s discipline can lead to healing
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)
Hardships and suffering can serve a purpose to refine and purify us. God can use pain and disease to produce character growth.
Have faith in Christ’s healing power
“He called out, ‘If you want to be made well, get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ Immediately the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:8-9)
As Jesus healed the lame man, he only needed the faith to take up his mat and walk. We too can have faith in Christ’s power to heal our diseases.
Cry out to God
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)
God invites us to sincerely seek Him and cry out for healing. He is merciful and responsive to our pain and suffering.
Trust God’s timing
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)
Suffering has an expiration date. God promises restoration even if healing does not come immediately.
God cares about our whole being
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” (3 John 1:2)
Our physical health is important to God, along with our spiritual well-being. God cares about our whole person.
Turn from sin
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:5-6)
Sometimes sickness is intended to get our attention and serve as a wake-up call. We should examine our lives and turn from any sin that may be contributing to poor health.
Have a merry heart
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
Maintaining a positive attitude can improve mental and even physical health. Laughter and joy are good for the soul and body.
Pursue peace
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30)
Letting go of envy, anger, and anxiety counteracts harmful stress. Cultivating peace improves both emotional and physical health.
Give thanks in everything
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Gratitude helps perspective when facing health challenges. Giving thanks centers us on God’s sovereignty and goodness.
God’s strength in weakness
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Paradoxically, God’s strength and grace shine through most clearly in our weakest moments. His power sustains us in illness and infirmity.
Pray for healing of others
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Praying for others is important too. Our prayers make a real spiritual difference for those struggling with poor health.
Obey doctor’s orders
“Honor physicians for their services, for the Lord created them.” (Sirach 38:1)
God gave us medical knowledge to promote healing. Following medical advice demonstrates wisdom and prudence.
Strive for temperance
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
Exercising moderation in food, drink, and unhealthy habits helps us honor God in our physical bodies.
Help those in need
“Is anyone hungry? Let him eat. Is anyone thirsty? Let him come and drink. Is anyone among you ill? Let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
Caring for the health of others, especially through practical acts of service, demonstrates Christ’s love in action.
Avoid gluttony
“Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.” (Proverbs 23:2)
Gluttony and overindulgence harm the body. We should practice appropriate self-restraint for good stewardship.
Value all life
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17)
Caring for our health includes avoiding sexual immorality. How we use our bodies impacts our whole being.
Renew your strength
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Waiting on God provides strength for each day. Despite sickness, God renews us to press on.
God’s unconditional love
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39)
Nothing can separate us from God’s love – not even the hardships of illness. His love gives us victory amid health challenges.
Death is defeated
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
For believers in Jesus, death no longer has the final say. Christ defeated death, giving hope now and for eternity.
Future glory
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Current health struggles are temporary, but God promises eternal life without pain or suffering for those who trust in Christ.
God’s presence through suffering
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2-3)
God does not always take away suffering, but He promises to walk through it with us. His presence strengthens and sustains.
In summary, the Bible encourages us to seek God in prayer for healing while also pursuing practical means of health. It reminds us of God’s constant presence caring for our whole being – body, soul, and spirit. Even in illness, we can have hope and peace knowing Christ has overcome sin, suffering and death.