Spiritual Experience

The Value of Spiritual Health

The “spirit” as depicted in scripture, is not something that is quantifiable, tangible, or controllable. It is like the wind… a breath. You can’t see it but you can see the transformation it brings to whatever it touches. It gives life and movement. It can be gentle or powerfully destructive. The New Bible Dictionary describes the spirit in the New Testament as, “[a] dimension of the human personality whereby relationship with God is possible.”

The spirit is our conduit to God. It is that invisible thread that connects God with His creation. When the spirit is taken away, there is stillness and death. That’s why spiritual health is so important in the life of a ministry leader. It connects a person to God and the depths of their whole self. This alignment allows them to be a spiritual conduit for others.

The pursuit of spiritual enrichment reminds us of who we are within the roles we play in life. It’s an acknowledgement that the Holy Spirit is at work within all facets of our life. It’s a reminder that we are spiritual and physical beings. The breath and life we bring into a space matters.

If ministry becomes more or less a business, if Bible study becomes a means for sermon construction, if Sunday symbolizes attendance numbers and signs of material growth, we will lose ourselves. This is when a church congregation can get really annoying. Scripture becomes a text. Grace becomes law. The wind stills. We need to know and believe that there is more to the work we do each day than material gain.

Spiritual health must be valued. It keeps each of us connected to God, open and honest with ourselves, and free to live out the life God has designed us for. Our spirit allows us the privilege of seeing beyond the present circumstance. It brings about curiosity, healing, and transformation. It draws people to us and to their Creator.