Fit Check | Week 3 | Pastor Mike Stephens
Fit Check: Assessing the Health of Your Soul
In our fast-paced world, we often prioritize physical health over our spiritual and emotional well-being. In this week’s message, Pastor Mike Stephens explores the concept of ‘Fit Check’—a deep dive into assessing our soul’s health and how it impacts our overall life. Join us as we discover how to align our mind, will, and emotions with God’s purpose.
Introduction to Fit Check
The concept of a “Fit Check” extends beyond just assessing our physical appearance; it delves into the core of our spiritual and emotional health. Just as we evaluate our outfits, we must also examine our inner selves. This practice encourages us to reflect on our spiritual state and align it with our purpose. It is a crucial step in recognizing the areas that need improvement and nurturing our overall well-being.
Prayer and fasting are foundational practices that enhance our spiritual fitness. They create space for us to connect deeply with God, providing clarity and insight. During moments of fasting, we often find ourselves more attuned to spiritual truths and revelations. This intentional time away from distractions allows us to refocus on what truly matters.
Understanding Fit Checks in Our Lives
Conducting a fit check in our lives means taking a moment to assess how well we are tending to our spiritual, emotional, and mental health. This includes identifying areas where we may feel depleted or disconnected. By regularly evaluating these aspects, we can better understand ourselves and make necessary adjustments to live a more fulfilling life.
Defining Our Identity as Creation
Understanding our identity as creations of God is vital. It reminds us that we are not the authors of our existence but rather part of a divine design. This realization can shift our perspective, encouraging us to seek fulfillment in our Creator rather than in worldly possessions or achievements. Recognizing our identity in Christ fosters a sense of belonging and purpose.
The Value of the Soul
The soul holds immense value, as it encompasses our thoughts, emotions, and will. It is the essence of who we are. Jesus emphasized this importance, reminding us that gaining worldly success means nothing if we neglect our soul’s health. Prioritizing the soul ensures that we live authentically and in harmony with God’s will.
What an Unhealthy Soul Produces
An unhealthy soul manifests through various negative traits and behaviors. Scripture outlines these outcomes, highlighting issues such as anger, jealousy, and division. Recognizing these signs in ourselves is the first step towards healing. By identifying these unhealthy patterns, we can actively seek to transform our souls and cultivate a healthier mindset.
Assessing Your Soul’s Health
To assess your soul’s health, consider the fruits it produces. Reflect on your emotions, thoughts, and actions. Are they rooted in love, joy, and peace? Or do they lean towards negativity and strife? This self-evaluation can guide you in understanding where you stand and what areas need attention. It’s a process of honesty and vulnerability that leads to growth.
Fit Check My Mind
A healthy mind is foundational for a fulfilling life. It shapes our perceptions, influences our decisions, and ultimately determines our happiness. As Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so he is.” This highlights the profound impact of mindset on our reality.
When we cultivate a positive mindset, we not only enhance our emotional health but also improve our physical well-being. Studies show that individuals with a positive outlook can experience longer lifespans and better health outcomes. Positive thinkers also tend to have healthier relationships and greater success in their careers. These statistics underscore the importance of actively managing our thought patterns.
However, the battle for a healthy mind is ongoing. Many of us grapple with negative thoughts that can dominate our daily experiences. On average, people have about 60,000 thoughts a day, with approximately 75% of those being negative. This means we may be replaying over 42,000 negative thoughts daily, which can severely impact our self-esteem and outlook on life.
To reclaim our minds, we must take every thought captive, as instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:5. This involves recognizing harmful thoughts and actively replacing them with truth and positivity. By engaging in practices like prayer and meditation, we can start to transform our thinking patterns, aligning them with God’s truth.
Fit Check My Will
Next, we turn our attention to the will—a crucial component in our spiritual fitness. Our will is tied to our decision-making abilities and reflects our intentions and desires. Ephesians 5:15-17 encourages us to live wisely and understand the Lord’s will for our lives, which is ultimately to be holy and set apart.
Choosing to act according to God’s principles requires conscious effort. Each decision we make shapes our character and the trajectory of our lives. When we align our choices with God’s will, we cultivate a life marked by love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit. This alignment not only benefits us but also positively influences those around us.
Fit Check My Emotions
Our emotions play a pivotal role in our overall well-being. They are not inherently negative; rather, they are a natural part of being human. God created us with emotions, and they can serve as indicators of our spiritual health. The challenge lies in how we manage and process these emotions.
Emotions can often feel overwhelming, much like toddlers that require guidance. We should not allow them to drive our decisions, nor should we suppress them entirely. Instead, we must learn to express and align them with God’s will, just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane when He expressed His anguish yet submitted to God’s plan.
The Importance of Self-Examination
Self-examination is vital for spiritual growth. As Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 13:5, we must test ourselves to ensure our faith is genuine. This practice requires honesty and vulnerability, allowing us to identify areas in our lives that may need healing or improvement.
As we reflect on our lives, we may discover discrepancies between how we appear to others and how we truly feel inside. This disconnect can hinder our growth and lead to feelings of inadequacy. Acknowledging these feelings is the first step toward healing and transformation.
An Illustration of Life and God’s Influence
Consider the illustration of a container filled with water and ping pong balls. The container represents our lives, and the ping pong balls symbolize worldly distractions and burdens. As we fill our lives with God—through prayer, community, and scripture—He pushes out the negative influences, allowing us to experience fullness and vitality.
When we prioritize God, we create space for His love, joy, and peace to fill our hearts. This process transforms our lives, enabling us to reflect Christ’s character and influence those around us positively. We must commit to pouring more of God into our daily routines, intentionally seeking Him in all areas of our lives.
Conclusion and Prayer
As we conclude this fit check of our souls, let us commit to ongoing self-assessment and growth. Embrace the journey of aligning your mind, will, and emotions with God’s purpose. Remember, you are not defined by the world but by your Creator.
Let us pray together: Lord, we thank You for the gift of life and the opportunity to grow closer to You. Help us to assess our souls honestly and make the necessary adjustments to reflect Your love and grace. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may overflow with joy, peace, and hope. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.