The LORD showed me a vision of Himself standing beside a wall and holding a string with a weight tied to the end of it. The string and weight had been used to measure the straightness of the wall. Then he asked, "Amos, what do you see?"
"A measuring line," I answered.
The LORD said, "I'm using this measuring line to show that my people Israel don't measure up”
Amos 7:7-8 CEV
There are vital signs that reveal whether you are healthy physically. In the medical field, vital signs are comprised of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation level and temperature. These five components help give caregivers some general information about how a patient is doing. But just as these vital signs are taken regularly to know about a patient’s physical condition, it may also be necessary to periodically check our own spiritual vital signs as well. After all, we are both physical and spiritual beings.
We need to check our vital signs to track improvement or need for change in certain areas of our lives. In many cases, our problems lay hidden unless we make a conscious effort to find and address them.
If vital signs are crucial and important in the physical world, is it possible they are just as important in the spiritual? And if they are, is it time for your check up? Do you know your spiritual health quotient (SHQ)?
SHQ - On a scale of 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)
rate yourself on each of the following 10 questions (I-X):
1. Temperature – Worship
noun. 1. degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale 2. the degree of heat that is natural to the body of a living being c: abnormally high body heat
Each week we have the opportunity to take our temperature as we come together in worship. Is it a battle of your will to come to worship? Do you look forward to this time?
Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 CEB
How warm is your heart towards God (I)? Is your heart lukewarm in following and believing in Jesus?
As long as we are taking temperatures, How warm is your heart towards others (II)?
Let us work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity
Galatians 6:10a CEB
2. Blood pressure – Study
noun. pressure that is exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries, and that varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall
Like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation 1 Peter 2:2 CEB
As a follower of Christ you should have a hunger for God’s word. So, How is your appetite(III)?
But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. 15 Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 CEB
Do you love to study and make the Word a part of your life? Are you a part of a study group? Do you have a daily or weekly time of study? Do you have growing knowledge of the Bible (IV)?
3. Pulse – Living Life
noun. 1. the regular expansion of an artery caused by the ejection of blood into the arterial 2system by the contractions of the heart 2. the palpable beat resulting from such pulse as detected in a superficial artery; also: the number of individual beats in a specified time period (as one minute)
You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. James 1:22-24 CEB
Have you revealed God’s grace in your life by doing good works? Or have you had an irregular pulse depending on your current situations or problems? How regular is your pulse of good works (V)?
Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives.
Matthew 3:8 CEB
Is your life drawing people to God? Are you producing fruit in your life (VI)?
4. Oxygen saturation - Fellowship
Oxygen noun. 1. a reactive element that is found in water, in most rocks and minerals, in numerous organic compounds, and as a colorless tasteless odorless diatomic gas constituting 21 percent of the atmosphere, that is capable of combining with all elements except the inert gases, that is active in physiological processes, and that is involved especially in combustion 2. something that sustains or fuels
O2 needs to permeate our system in order for you to live. Your faith needs to permeate your life in order to be alive.
A young fellow who was fed up with church went to see this wise old Christian in his cabin to get some advice. He told him all the things that were bothering him about church, and how he felt that he would be better off without the company of other Christians. As he was speaking, the old man silently took the fire tongs and removed a red-hot glowing coal from the middle of the fire and set it on the hearth. The coal glowed for a while, but eventually dimmed and turned black. He let it sit there a while and then took the tongs and places the coal back in the middle of the fire. Within seconds the coal was glowing red hot once again. The young man took the wordless lesson and left determined to stay with church and become an active member.
Just as coals soon burn out when they are removed from the company of other coals, we will not last long in the faith unless we are working closely with what other Christians are doing in the local church. A healthy Christian exercises his Spiritual gift to help make a special outreach, project or ministry become successful. It may be prayer, giving, encouraging, administrating or applying hands on work. The fact is he will be doing something. It must be noted, that he will not be a part of everything going on in the church.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 CEB
Are you engaged with other followers of Christ (VII)?
As iron sharpens iron, so one sharpens another Proverbs 27:17 CEB
Do you have someone or a group that holds you accountable (VIII)?
5. Respiration - Prayer
noun. the physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions
Someone a long time ago taught me this wise lesson: the secret to a long life is breathing. Prayer is the breath of life for the Christian. Prayer is the lifeline between you and God.
Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10a CEB
Do you spend regular time listening to God (IX)?
The believers devoted themselves . . . to their prayers. Acts 2:42 CEB
Are you devoted to prayer as a part of your life (X)?
Now, by no means is this a complete spiritual physical. It is merely a check-up. The questions asked may not cover all the things you want to ask yourself to improve your faith, but it is a start to begin to assess where you are spiritually.
Now total your score _______ (add each of the 10 ratings together)
The number today for SHQ is not as important as what the number will be in a year. Your health will decline, but your spiritual health should be on the increase. Until it is 100 consistently . . . you have room from growth.
From here you can begin to decide which step to take next in your spiritual fitness journey. In the coming weeks we are going to take a deeper look at each of these areas. Hopefully you will be encouraged in some way to commit to becoming more spiritually fit in the coming year.
Ready to begin your workout towards better spiritual health?
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