Almost everyone starts the new year off with concern for their health and fitness. That’s the good news.

Almost as many people neglect their health and fitness again before Valentine’s Day. That’s the bad news.

How can you guard your health?

Almost everyone knows what to do. We just need to do it. Let me give you three things to help you guard your health.

First, give your concern for your health as an offering to God. After all, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul was primarily concerned with the problems of prostitution and immorality in Corinth, but, of course, how we treat our bodies fits into this same context.

We are to glorify God in all things, including our bodies.

Second, instead of going on a diet, go on a journey to eat healthy. I’ve often said that almost any diet works. It’s not that the diet won’t work; it’s that we won’t work the diet.

Maybe a better thing than going on a diet is to go on a life long journey to eat and live healthy. Doing so will affect the quality and quantity of our lives.

My mother used to say, “You are what you eat and what you think.” That is true. We need to fill our minds with Godly thoughts, and we need to eat healthy.

Third, live actively. One of the ways I stay active is to try to run.

People often say that I like running. I don’t. I like having run. I enjoy how it makes me feel to know that I have been active.

I want to encourage you to do the same. Physical activity is not the answer to all your problems, but living an active life will help you be productive in many areas.

Yesterday morning I read that if you are blessed to be active at age 65 you will possibly be active till 85. Can you see the ramifications of that for your service for the Kingdom of God?

May you and I give our best to serve God for as long as we are able.