Holistic Health: A Christian Perspective and Morning Meditation for Women
As Christian women, we know that our lives are more than just our physical health—our spirit, mind, and body are intricately woven together by God. Holistic health is a way of honoring this divine design, embracing the truth that God created us as complex beings with interconnected layers. When we approach health holistically, we don’t just focus on one aspect—whether it’s physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. We seek to care for each of these areas, aligning our actions with God’s will and creating a life that reflects His goodness.
What is Holistic Health?
Holistic health refers to an approach that takes into account the whole person, not just isolated symptoms or illnesses. It’s the understanding that our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being are deeply interconnected. As Christians, we recognize that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator, and as such, we are called to care for ourselves in a way that honors Him.
Scripture teaches us the importance of caring for our bodies, minds, and spirits. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul reminds us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” This verse encourages us to see our bodies as sacred vessels, deserving of our care and respect.
Holistic health also recognizes that healing isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about nurturing the whole person—cultivating a healthy relationship with God, ourselves, and others. It’s about addressing the physical body with nutritious food, exercise, and rest, but it also involves nurturing our hearts and minds through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and emotional healing.
Why is Holistic Health Important for Christian Women?
As women, we often juggle multiple roles—wife, mother, friend, caregiver, professional—and it’s easy to neglect our own health while caring for others. However, taking time to invest in our holistic health isn’t selfish; it’s an act of obedience to God’s command to love ourselves and care for our bodies.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus calls us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Loving ourselves is essential in fulfilling this command, and part of loving ourselves is ensuring that we are healthy in every area—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. When we take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to love and serve others, whether it’s our families, communities, or the world.
A Christian Holistic Morning Meditation for Women
As we begin each day, it’s important to set aside time to center ourselves in God’s presence and invite His peace into our hearts. A holistic morning meditation is a wonderful way to prepare your mind, body, and spirit for the day ahead. Below is a simple meditation that you can incorporate into your morning routine to ground yourself in the Lord’s love and care.
Christian Holistic Morning Meditation for Women
Begin by finding a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. Take a few deep breaths and center yourself in the present moment. Close your eyes and quiet your heart before the Lord.
1. Connect with Your Body Start by thanking God for the gift of your body. As you inhale deeply, feel the air filling your lungs and think about how God designed your body to be strong, resilient, and beautiful. Prayer: “Father, thank You for the body You have given me. I recognize that it is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and I offer it to You this morning. Help me honor You with my health and strength.”
2. Quiet Your Mind As you breathe in and out, let go of any distractions or worries. Surrender your thoughts to God, trusting that He will help you navigate the day with wisdom and peace. Prayer: “Lord, I surrender my thoughts to You today. Clear my mind of anxiety, fear, and distraction. Fill my mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.”
3. Invite God’s Presence Into Your Heart Place your hand over your heart and ask God to fill you with His love. Allow His peace to wash over you as you center your spirit in His presence. Prayer: “Holy Spirit, I invite You into my heart. Fill me with Your love and peace. Help me walk in Your truth and reflect Your light to those I encounter today.”
4. Focus on Scripture Now, reflect on a Bible verse that speaks to your health and well-being. For example, you could meditate on Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Prayer: “Lord, help me to bring my anxieties and concerns to You today. May Your peace guard my heart and mind as I face whatever comes my way.”
5. Dedicate Your Day to God Finally, offer your day to the Lord. Ask Him to guide your steps, help you serve others with love, and walk with you through every challenge. Prayer: “Father, I dedicate this day to You. May everything I do bring glory to You. Help me love and serve others as You have loved and served me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Conclusion: Flourish in Every Aspect of Your Life
Holistic health from a Christian perspective is about more than just physical well-being—it’s about nurturing every aspect of our being: body, mind, and spirit. By seeking to care for ourselves in all areas, we honor God and reflect His love to the world. This holistic approach allows us to live more fully, love more deeply, and serve others with greater joy and strength.
So as you move through your day, remember that your health journey is a reflection of your trust in God’s provision. Start each day with intention and prayer, and trust that God will lead you toward the healing and wholeness He has planned for you.
A Personal Note: For the past decade, I’ve dabbled in the holistic wellness sector, initially as I navigated chronic illness. But in the past year, my journey has evolved into a true passion as I’ve encountered even more challenges, including additional chronic illness and the stress that comes with it. You can read more about that here. Through this ongoing process, I’ve come to deeply value holistic health as a way to nurture my mind, body, and spirit, trusting that God is with me every step of the way.
Prayer is an essential form of communication for those who are reliant on God. We recognize prayer as our direct-line to the Lord and as one of the most powerful tools we have for managing this rollercoaster called life. Here are 5 simple ways you can begin to incorporate prayer into your daily routine.
Simple Strategy for Success
Let’s face it, sometimes things get in the way. Between work, family, and the never-ending demands of each season, we often allow our prayer lives to become stagnant, distant, and neglected. One of my biggest convictions (that actually led to me wanting to write this post) was this; how often have you told someone in need “I will be praying for you!” and had every intention of following through on that, only to forget? Y’all, I am so guilty of this. I am convinced that I would forget my head sometimes if it wasn’t attached to my body.
When I first started asking God how to overcome this convicting, embarrassing, and frankly guilt-inducing habit, the first thing He prompted me to do seemed simple:
Slow down and be present.
A Short Backstory
I’m going to expose myself here a little bit now and let y’all know that your girl has ADHD. My brain (and also my mouth) want to run at 90mph at all times, even when I don’t realize it.
Since childhood I have been a talker and one who notoriously talks fast. If this is what is happening in my brain as an adult, causing my speech patterns to be in a perpetual state of “fast-forward”, it is no wonder why I sometimes forget things. Especially things that are not right in front of me. It is almost like everything that runs through my mind is like The Flash. I am aware of thoughts passing by, but only because I can see the remnants of the trail they’ve left behind. They go just as quickly as they come. My fellow ADHD-ers know the struggle! So how do you take a high-speed human like me and make her slow down and be present? One word: discipline.
With ADHD comes impulsivity. In general, it is very hard to make yourself do something that you physically do not feel like doing, right? It is a thousand times more difficult when your impulsivity tells you to go with what you’re feeling, rather than what your brain knows is best.
Practicing What We Preach
When someone asks you to pray for them, when someone pours out their heart to you, and/or when The Lord burdens your heart to pray with/for someone, you’ve gotta just stop and do it right then and there. Even if you don’t feel like it. We have to somehow get our brains to understand that when someone is communicating a need to us, that is our cue to stop and take a deep breath, and focus in. Everything else can wait for just a moment.
It is never going to be easy. It is never going to be second nature. Maybe at some point, by the grace of God, it will become routine and have an air of effortlessness. Until then, we have to force it. Or “fake it til we make it” as I like to say.
Thoughts Vs. Feelings
Did you know that the Bible actually tells us that our feelings are liars? It is true!
“The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it”
Jeremiah 17:9
Crazy, right? Our “heart” as written here (which is referencing our emotions/feelings) is heavily influenced by our flesh, which we know by nature is sinful! This is why the Word also says this:
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
Basically, this passage is saying “Hey, the culture is going to tell you to do things one way, but that isn’t God’s way. Your feelings will be heavily influenced by that culture. Instead, you must know what the Word of God says. Read it, meditate on it, hide it in your heart so that when your feelings start to cause you to want to justify your sin, you will realize it. You will then be able to tell the ways of God apart from the ways of the flesh and not walk into the trap of sin.”
I know this might feel like a little bit of a tangent I’m on, but man, is it ever true. We are so emotionally driven and the Word is clear. That is simply notGod’s way.
This strategy might sound simple (and even like common sense to some), but it was a revelatory lesson I learned that really changed the trajectory of my prayer life. It also changed my intentionality, which helped me to steward my gifts of mercy & encouragement. *GASP* – it is almost like God had it all planned out to work together for my good!
He’s the best, isn’t He?
Alright, now that we know the strategy, on to the long awaited list!
5 Simple Ways to Incorporate Prayer into Your Daily Routine
Fear not my friends, for I have compiled a list of 5 simple ways to incorporate prayer into your daily routine that will leave you feeling blessed, present, and guilt-free.
The Commute Prayer:
If you are like most people, your commute to work can be a real drag. Instead of listening to the same old playlist, try reciting a prayer or two aloud. Not only will it make you feel more centered, but it will also make the person next to you on the bus feel awkward (and I think that is funny!) Hey, it could be a great ice breaker. Just after saying “Amen”, pop an eye open and say “Hey, you need prayer for anything?” I bet they will share a request or two!
The Mealtime Prayer:
We all have to eat, so why not make it a spiritual experience? Before you dig into that avocado toast, take a moment to give thanks for the food on your table, the hands that prepared it, and those you are breaking bread with. And for an added bonus, try praying for those who don’t have access to such luxuries. This is a great way to teach empathy to children, too!
The Shower Prayer:
One of the best times to pray is when you’re in the shower! The warm water is not only relaxing, but it serves as a great white noise machine to help clear your mind. Take advantage of this time to say a prayer or two. Just make sure you don’t accidentally sing “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “Baby Shark”.
The Workout Prayer:
If you maintain a regular exercise regimen, why not incorporate prayer into your workout? Instead of listening to music, try reciting a prayer or two while lifting weights or running on the treadmill. Yoga and Isometric Stretching are also complimentary workouts to prayer and meditation. Try listening to Scripture set to music (like this playlist on Spotify) while doing these relaxing activities.
The Bedtime Prayer:
Last but not least, the bedtime prayer. As you lay your head down to rest, take a moment to give thanks for all the blessings in your life. If you are married, praying at bedtime with your spouse is diversely beneficial. You can empathize with one another, communicate about all of your feelings and stressors, and you can bear one another’s burdens in love. A core part of God’s design for marriage (which you can read more about here!) If you’re a parent, having an established bedtime routine with prayer incorporated has immeasurable benefits as well. So much connection can happen when we are vulnerable with those we love. When we are vulnerable and it is received well, we are able to build trust with that person. When we have trust, our relationship can deepen.
So there you have it friends, 5 simple ways to incorporate prayer into your daily routine. I hope these have sparked some ideas and encouraged you. Let me know in the comments how you best incorporate prayer into your daily routine!
Let’s Connect!
So glad you’re here!
Hey there! I’m Molly—a Jesus-loving, Disney-obsessed wife to my amazing husband, Jake. I’m a proud foster mom and dog mom, navigating the wild ride of life with a sprinkle of humor and a whole lot of heart. As a bariatric patient who’s lost over 170 lbs, I’m all about sharing my journey and cheering you on in yours. Think of me as your personal hype woman, here to lift you up and maybe crack a few jokes along the way. Let’s tackle life together—one laugh and one inspiring moment at a time!Read more about my story here.
