Service: One Simple Way to Improve Your Spiritual Health

We’re always making plans. We plan for our careers, families and the dreams we want to accomplish. We set goals and catalog the changes we want to see in our lives. But do you make plans to improve your spiritual health?

Your spiritual health is more than reading the Bible and praying. It’s what you do to feed the spirit inside so that you can perform at your optimum.

Our spiritual health affects physical, social, and emotional well-being. But too often we ignore the spiritual in favor of the physical.

Ways to improve your spiritual health

There are many things you can do to improve your spiritual health. Some of these are praying, fasting, and Bible study. A huge way to improve your spiritual health is through service.

Why we should serve others

We are called to serve. As people who are striving to mimic Christ, service should be a part of our daily lives. Let’s think about it: everything Jesus did as part of his ministry was geared towards the education and edification of his people.

He taught the scripture so that others could understand the character of God. He put the expectations of God in such a way that people could relate to it in ways they never could before.

He healed the sick. Fed the hungry. Spoke love and healing to the people who were considered the least among their people. He did this even though he didn’t have a home. He did this even when they plotted to kill him.

He put the needs of others before his own even as they betrayed and took him before the court.

Why service can improve your spiritual health

There’s something about helping another person that takes us out of ourselves. We forget to focus on problems, worries, or fears. As children of God, we were created to worship. We were created to serve an almighty God. We do this when we spend time taking care of others.

When we act as the hands and heart of God, we show his love to the people who need it—just as Jesus did.

I don’t know about you, but have you ever felt so down you didn’t know what to do, but after helping someone else, you were cheered up?

Ways you can serve in your home

I live in a house with two males who have a psychological aversion to doing dishes. Who am I kidding? I don’t like doing them either. What I do like are clean dishes to enjoy the meals prepared for my family.

But I admit there are times when I grumble before, during, and after doing the dishes… like when I come home from work and the dishes are piled in the sink… or when I wake up in the morning and they’re piled sky-high even though I know I cleared the sink the night before…

Now, complaining while I do the dishes gets the job done, but it doesn’t make me happy. It makes me cranky and out of sorts. On the other hand, I’ve noticed that when I resist the urge to complain the chore gets done faster and I don’t have any lingering aggravation left.

When I remind myself to be grateful that we have things to dirty dishes and that I have a family to share it with—it changes my focus. I choose to remember that the act of washing dishes is something I do to serve my family.

You may share my pet peeve with dirty dishes or maybe there’s something unique to your family that irritates you… but maybe this year we can choose to perform that task as an act of service.

And while you’re serving your family, think about how it benefits your spiritual health.

Ways to serve in your church

Each of us who belong to the body of Christ is expected to play our part. That’s why the Holy Spirit gave us various gifts. Still, it can sometimes feel intimidating to serve the members of your church.

My advice to you would be to start small. Visit the various ministries in your church and see how you are able to serve. Ask an elder or leader where you can serve. They should be able to direct you to an area that is in need of assistance and suits your skills.

Above all, pray about it. Ask God to show you where he needs you to serve in the church. Ask him to reveal the spiritual gifts you’ve been given and how you can use it to serve your local church.

Ways to serve in your community

Community service is something that we complicate by thinking it ought to be a certain way. But there are ways you can serve your community. This may be as part of the church’s ministry. Some departments like Welfare or Personal Ministries are heavily invested in interacting with the community.

You may serve as part of this larger body or you may start your own ministry. Do you have a passion to see children learn the Word of God? Offer to take some of the neighborhood children to church.

Are you passionate about teaching the Word of God? Start a weekly Bible study in your home. Or, start one online and share it on your personal social media accounts.

Reflect

Your spiritual health is important and service is a great way to draw closer to the heart of God, while also sharing his love with his people. How will you practice Christian service this year?