How to Become a Healthy Christian

The late theologian, J. I. Packer, gives us a wonderful description on how to become a healthy Christian: “The healthy Christian is not necessarily the extrovert, ebullient Christian, but the Christian who has a sense of God’s presence stamped deep on his soul, who trembles at God’s word, who lets it dwell in him richly by constant meditation upon it, and who tests and reforms his life daily in response to it.”1

His four-fold prescription should be taken seriously by all believers. Packer’s roadmap to becoming a vibrant and God-centered servant of the Lord will not only make us healthy Christians but joyful believers. Let’s examine each of his points:

Christians need to have a sense of God’s presence stamped deep on their souls

As Christians we need to constantly be God conscious. Are we aware that Jesus is with us throughout the day? Are we thinking His thoughts, desiring to do His will, and working to rewire our old thought patterns into conformity to His? And is having God’s presence deep in our souls the constant desire of our innermost being? If these questions are not answered in the affirmative then we need to have a mighty spiritual revival in our hearts or else our spiritual health will always stay severely weakened. When we put into our minds a Christ-centered tape desk and constantly play and make His thoughts our thoughts be prepared to experience a whole new dimension of Christianity – one filled with deep purpose, joy, and peace.

Christians need to tremble at God’s word

Are you reading the Bible every day? Are the Scriptures making you fall more in love with Jesus? And do you tremble as you comprehend that every time you pick up your Bible that you are holding in your hands the holiest book ever written? My friends when Moses met God at the burning bush he understood that he was standing on holy ground. And so it should be with us. When we pick up and read any page of Scripture, we need to realize that we are reading God’s holy Word. And if we are not trembling, maybe we should ask God to help us, like Moses, realize that we are standing in the presence of pure holiness. One of the signs of a healthy Christian is having a deep reverence for the Word of God.

Christians need to let the Scriptures dwell in their hearts richly by constant meditation upon them

Do you want more joy and peace in your life? Do you want to become more Christlike? Do you want to defeat sin in your life? And do you want to become healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually? Well my friends there is only one way – and that is to read and meditate on God’s Word daily! (Isaiah 26:3) gives us the prescription for peace: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” And there is no better way to fix your mind on Christ than to read His Word. (Psalm 119:11) gives us the key to defeating sin: “Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.” And may I challenge you to read and meditate on all of (Psalm 119). For in its 176 verses is a treasure trove of precious thoughts that will meet and supply all of your needs, and give you a new perspective on how to live a victorious and healthy Christian life.

Christians need to allow the Word of God to test and reform their lives daily through obeying its precepts

I know in my own life that reading and meditating on the Scriptures presents me with many tests and trials. The key is how will I respond to these real life situations. Thankfully, the Bible gives us the answers to life’s tests and trials, and if we are willing to obey God’s commands we will always pass them with flying colors, since God’s ways are always the best ways, and, oh, incidentally in the process of obedience we will bring glory to His name! Christians will always be confronted with trials. But praise God the way through them is always to obey God’s commands. I guarantee you that blessings will follow.

So, if you want to be a healthy Christian, let the love of Christ envelop you, read and meditate on His Word daily, and if I can share one more thought – realize that life, with all of its trials and tribulations, is our training grounds for eternity!     

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1 Quote by J.I. Packer: “The healthy Christian is not necessarily the ex…”