When I take care of my body, am I also taking care of my soul?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: My doctor told me that if I take care of my body, I’ll be taking care of my soul. How is that true? – H.A.
A: The Bible teaches that God has placed eternity in the heart (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). A person is more than just a body – each of us is actually a living soul! Our souls are created in the image of God. Just as our bodies have certain characteristics and appetites, so do our souls, such as personality, intelligence, conscience, and memory. The human soul longs for peace, contentment and happiness. Most of all, the soul has an appetite for God – a yearning to be reconciled to its Creator and to have fellowship with Him forever.
We give most attention to satisfying the appetites of the body and practically none to the soul. Consequently, we’re one-sided. We become fat physically and materially, while spiritually we’re lean, weak, and anemic. Or we spend enormous amounts of time and money on fad diets, expensive exercise machines, and health clubs. For many people, these things only demonstrate their preoccupation with the physical side of life. Our bodies have been given to us by God, and we are to take care of them in every way possible. But even more important is to take care of our souls. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7–8, RSV).
The soul demands as much attention as the body. Until the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes restless. The Bible tells us, “Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (James 1:21, NLT). Jesus said our souls are more valuable than all the rest of the world put together.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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