5 Important Questions to Ask to Do a Regular Spiritual Check-up
If you’re like me, when you feel good and your aches and pains aren’t lasting or severe . . . it can be hard to push yourself to go to the doctor for your annual check-up. Although practically every doctor in the universe recommends that we show up for our regular poking and prodding and blood work, I prefer to put it off as long as possible.
It’s easy to take the attitude that says, “I’m fine and I don’t want to learn otherwise!”
Yet, we all know that a head-in-the-sand approach to health isn’t the wise choice to make.
And that is where Paul pushes the people as he concludes his second letter to the people in Corinth.
No, he doesn’t urge them to go get a physical check-up . . . but to pause regularly for a spiritual re-examination.
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
2 Corinthians 13:5
We know the routine when we go to the doctor weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart, etc. But what is the best practice for getting a spiritual check-up?
5 Important Questions to Do a Regular Spiritual Check-up
1. Do I spend time with the Lord in Word and prayer every day?
For the word of God is alive and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12) Never stop praying. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
2. Do I prayerfully ask God to help me trust and follow His will?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
3. Do I make loving God and loving others the most important goal in my life?
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)
4. Do I consciously remember that I am simply a steward of all the gifts that God has given me?
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23)
5. Do I live each day for God’s glory?
Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. (Isaiah 28:6)
A Prayer to Live Spiritually Healthy
Father, thank you for making me Your child . . . for graciously loving me, mercifully sending Jesus to suffer my punishment, and giving me faith by the power of Your Spirit.
I want to be spiritually healthy. Yet, I know I need Your forgiveness every single day. I fall short of Your goals for me. I get distracted by the noise of the world and the activity of life. Please forgive me and help me. I want to live my life fully surrendered to You, Creator, Redeemer, and Spirit of Life.
I love You! Please strengthen me. Prompt my heart and help me bring my burdens and concerns to You by spending time in stillness with You each day. Help me that I might love You completely and love others, with kindness and compassion, in obedience to Your will. Help me use the many gifts and blessings You have given to me in ways that honor You. And help me live every moment of my life for the glory of Your name.
I surrender myself to You. By Your grace, help me love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
We all know that getting an annual physical can help us learn about the physical problems we have that should be addressed sooner rather than later. And the same thing is true for spiritual check-ups!
The Apostle Paul drew his letter to a close with the following:
I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
May you and I make it the desire of our hearts to live spiritually healthy with joy, in faith . . . encouraging one another with His love and peace.
On today’s note write:
Today, with God’s help, I will do a spiritual check-up.
And today, I’d like to close with the final words of second Corinthians.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Yes, Deb, spiritual checkups are just as important, if not more so, than our physical ones. I know I need to do a daily checkup on my attitude to make sure I’m following the Lord.
Blessings!
I need that faithful checkup too, Martha! Blessings!
Thank you for your daily inspiration!! I have been reading them for a long time and I want you to know that your dedication and love do not go unnoticed. Your are a true light in a world full of darkness and I had to tell you what a difference you have made in my life.
Thank you, Stephanie! I appreciate your kind encouragement so very much! I thank the Lord for people like you! I love doing this and it blesses my heart to know that God is using it to encourage others. God be with you and bless you!
Deb,
Thank you so much for using your God given gift to to take the time to come up with these inspirational devotionals every day. They continue to be such a blessing to me☺️
I look forward to them every morning????
Thank you so very much for your kindness, Kathie. I feel so very blessed to be able to do this and friends, like you, make it all the more special. God bless you!
Answering yes to #4 will keep us from pride. Remembering we’re only stewards of our gifts given by God–not the originator of those gifts–will help us stay humble.
That’s so true, Carole. Answering yes to #5 will keep us from selfishness. Isn’t it a blessing that by His grace and through His Word we have a full set of instructions to bless and guide us? Now if I could only trust and obey Him more consistently and faithfully Thanks for visiting and for joining the conversation. God bless you!