How to Boost Your Wellbeing

Dear Friends,

(Today I want to share with you a summary of a message I recently gave at my church.  As it's a bit longer than usual you may like to split it into two readings or make yourself a cup of tea and take the time to sit, relax and read.)

Towards the end of last year I was not in a good place, emotionally or mentally and so I was advised by my G.P to attend a Stress Control Course. The course gave me some useful, practical information and in the last session we looked at 7 key things which help to boost our wellbeing so that we can move from languishing to flourishing. Now, while it was good, it was missing one key element – the presence of God and our relationship with him.  When he is included then there is a significant increase in my sense of wellbeing, and I can experience a life that is worth living.

I’ve tweaked these 7 things so that I can share them from a biblical perspective.

1.            Connecting - primarily with God

There is a deep seated need in all of us to know that we ‘belong’, to know we are loved, accepted and valued for who we are.  Whilst we may seek to have this need met in other people or things, this need can only be fully met and satisfied in a relationship with God, the one who created us for relationship.

I really like the amplified bible’s translation of Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He [God] also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds (a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy)”

When we come to God, when we ask him to be Lord of our lives, he gives us a new life and a new way of living: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

And it’s this life that truly is worth living!

Connecting with others

Becoming a child of God also means that we become part of a larger family, God’s family.  Within church we can build strong and meaningful relationships with one another.  Loved and accepted by God we now love and accept one another.  We are there to support one another, celebrate together, encourage one another, and share together in all manner of experiences.

“And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows."  1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)

If we know the secret of having a life that’s worth living, we will want to share it with others, it’s not something we will keep to ourselves, so we will give time to building new relationships, investing in people’s lives, with those in our community, our neighbours, our work colleagues etc.  Our desire will be for others to know for themselves what makes life worth living.

2.            Spiritually Active

Living obediently is our spiritual exercise. Being spiritually active means putting into action what God is teaching us.  It’s not just about reading the Bible, but it’s about application, such as what does it mean to me?  Is there something I need to change in my life?  What direction should I take? How do I relate to those around me? What can I do to have a better marriage? What should my attitude be towards my demanding boss?

If all I do is sit and gather information about living the Christian life by coming and listening on a Sunday morning I’m not going to be spiritually fit.  What I learn needs to be put into action.  Being spiritually active is a huge part of having a life that’s worth living.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out [our spiritual workout] your salvation with fear and trembling,”  Philippians 2:12 (NIV)

3.            Keep Learning

God expects us to grow and mature as Christians, to become more like Jesus.  To do so we need to learn more about Jesus, and to learn more about him we need to be regularly reading his word, regularly connecting with him, building a close relationship with him.

There are a variety of ways we can learn - for example, reading God’s word, reading books by Christian writers, listening to bible teaching, gathering with others and learning from their Christian experience.  Building and strengthening relationships with other Christians who are further along on their journey.

Learning in itself is not enough.  It goes back to our previous point of being active – for it to make a difference in our lives we need to put it into practice.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (NLT)

4.            Give to Others

When we realise how much God has blessed us, that he has made it possible to have a life worth living, we are prompted to give to others out of gratitude for all he has given and done for us.  Our giving comes from our love for God and for one another. 

It doesn’t always have to be something big, it can be small but meaningful things such as saying thank you to someone, phoning a relative or friend who needs support or company, asking a colleague how they are and really listening to the answer, offering to lend a hand if you see a stranger struggling with bags or a pushchair.

Using our spiritual gifts within our church family is another way we can give to others, eg playing in the music team, welcoming people at the start of a Sunday morning, helping in the crèche, praying with someone, serving tea and coffee etc.

We can also give to others in our community, for example by being involved in any church activities which have the purpose of reaching out to the community, sharing with others the Good News of Jesus and what it means to have a relationship with him. When we do we see how we are part of something far bigger and greater than ourselves. 

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

5.            Goals

When it comes to our goals, we need to come before God and ask him to reveal what his plans and purposes are for our life so that we can set godly goals.  They need to be goals which are in line with God’s will for our life because then the life we live will be far more fulfilling and satisfying. 

“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (AMP)

6.    Healthy spiritual food
What we feed our minds is just as important as what we feed our bodies: the books we read, the people we talk with, the films we watch, our use of the internet etc.  What we feed our minds influences our total health and well-being.  So it’s important to feed our minds with what’s good and right and healthy. Eg, music, reading my bible, group bible study, meditating on God.

“A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.” Proverbs 15:14 (NLT)

7.            Gratitude

As Christians we have so much to be grateful and thankful for.  God has blessed us in so many ways, starting from enjoying an incredible relationship with him where we experience unconditional love.  He is the one who makes our life worth living.  Yet, it’s so easy to take all that he has given to us, all that he means to us, for granted.

Once we get in the habit of expressing gratitude to God and also to others it enhances the life we are living.  We become more and more aware of the incredible gift of life that God has given us.  While gratitude is about giving God praise and honour he is due, it also blesses us.  Gratitude has an impact on our relationship with others, our relationships improve, they become stronger.  When others see how grateful we are about life they notice that there is something lacking in their own life and it again brings us the opportunity to share with them the Good News about Jesus and that they too can have a life worth living.

To Think About:
Is your wellbeing languishing or flourishing?  Which of these 7 key points would make most impact on your life and help boost your well-being?

Which of these 7 key points do you sense God is drawing your attention to?  Why do you think that is?  How will you respond?

Is there something that God may be wanting you to share with another person?

Vicki