How important is physical health? Today, we find people everywhere making the most of gyms and outdoor activities to keep their personal fitness in shape for many reasons, including good health. We understand the resources needed to promote and develop our physical fitness and health. Even the Apostle Paul acknowledges that physical training is of some benefit to us as God’s people (1 Tim 4:8). However, spiritual health is just as important, and in fact is the primary area we are called to personally nurture.
Where do we cultivate this vital area of our walk with God? Do we just turn to anywhere in the Scriptures? All scripture is God-breathed for our spiritual benefit and training, however, while this is certainly the case, God’s word has a helpful library known as the Book of Psalms. These are a wonderful resource of prayers, songs, and expressions of worship with raw human emotion towards God.
Our Lord Jesus at the Cross, in his dark valley, expresses Psalm 22:1 as his prayer to God the Father. Jesus drew upon the spiritual resources of God’s Word in his darkest hour. Our Saviour knew the reality of physical agony experienced when bearing our sins in his death. Jesus' dark valley was for the ultimate purpose that purchased our redemption. God’s Word is the spiritual resource to be used in every season, whether it is in green pastures, by still waters of peace, sharing a table with an enemy, amidst people who are hostile to us, or even when death is knocking at the door.
The Psalms often push the theme of unswerving confidence that God is not only intimately with us but is a strong shepherd who is our personal guide through the different situations we may experience. God is leading us through every circumstance for our care even if we are in the darkest valley. We must ask ourselves is God only protecting and caring for us in the good times? or is he shepherding and guiding us to his home through the dangers of life? This is not easy for anyone to fathom, and in the hardest situations it can leave us to question the goodness of God and his benevolent care. Part of the Faith we confess is that our God exercises his loving care through the Spirit of Christ， as a Shepherd over his people. The ultimate guarantee that he will lead us to his eternal dwelling place is shown to us by the glorious power that rose His Son from the dead. For all those who believe in His name the resurrection is the goal but remember our Good Shepherd will provide, guide and care for our body and soul until we reach our final destination.
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身體健康有多重要？今天，我們發現隨處都有很多人充分利用健身房和戶外活動來保持個人體格，原因有很多，其中包括為了有健康的身體。我們知道促進和發展體格和健康所需的資源。甚至使徒保羅也承認，鍛煉身體對我們作為神的子民確實有益處（提摩太前書 4:8）。然而，靈性健康同樣重要，甚至是我們被呼召去親自培養的主要領域。
我們該從何處培養這個與神同行的重要領域？我們是否可以參考聖經任何一處？聖經都是神所默示的，為的是讓我們靈命得益處並教導我們。然而，聖經眾多書卷中的詩篇，是一卷能提供很大幫助的書卷，內裏有豐富的屬靈資源，包括充滿人類對神真實情感的禱告、詩歌和敬拜的表達。
當我們的主耶穌在十字架上經歷黑暗的幽谷時，是用詩篇22章1節向天父禱告呼求。耶穌在最黑暗的時刻依靠神話語為屬靈資源。我們的救主深知背負我們的罪要經歷肉身痛苦的事實。耶穌所經歷的黑暗幽谷，最終成就了我們的救贖。然而，無論我們是身處青草地、在可安歇的水邊、與敵人一同坐席、在對我們存敵意的人當中，甚至是死亡臨近時，神的話語始終是我們任何時候都當去使用的屬靈資源。
詩篇經常強調堅定不移的信心這個主題，提醒我們神不僅與我們親近，更是我們大能的牧者，祂在我們可能經歷的不同情況下，作我們個人的指導。神帶領我們走過生命每一個境況，即使我們身處於最黑暗的低谷，祂都在看顧我們。因此，我們必須問自己：神是否只在順境時保護和看顧我們？在走過危難時，祂是否作我們的牧者，領我們回到祂的家？這確實不是容易參透的事，甚至我們可能會在最困難的情况下質疑神的良善與眷顧。然而，作為我們信仰的一部分，是相信神透過基督的靈作祂子民的大牧人，施行祂的慈愛。神帶領我們走向永恆住處的最終保證，就是叫祂兒子從死裡復活的榮耀大能。那些信靠主名的，復活就是他們的目標。但請記着，我們的好牧人將供應、引導和看顧我們的身子和靈魂所需，直到我們到達最終目的地。
