Becoming Happy & Healthy Starts With Faith
by Jeanine Amapola Ward
Sophia is the Greek word for Wisdom, and Propel Sophia seeks out the voices of truly wise women and asks them to share worked examples of how they express faith in daily life. Pull up a chair at Sophia’s table, won’t you? There’s plenty of space.
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When I was in my early 20s, I had it all backwards. I thought having a boyfriend, making more money, looking “perfect” and being part of the popular crew would make me happy. I chased feelings and pleasure, only to find out they did not satisfy. I knew God’s ways were better, but I just didn’t want to believe it.
Once I surrendered my life to God and let people speak into my sin and struggles, healing began. Freedom began. A better life began. But it all started with my faith. And it will start with yours too. As Christians, faith is the foundation of everything! If we don’t get this right, we’ll get everything else wrong.
A Free Resource Guide to Fulfillment
God has given us, His children, a free manual to live a more fulfilled life. The Bible has instructions for us on everything we can think of: love, work, money, sex, friendship, and more! He does this because He loves us. He gives us a guide to make life here on earth better, but it’s up to us to follow them. This doesn’t come easy, but with community support and the power of the Holy Spirit, it is possible.
But hold up! Before we go rushing off to make all the changes in our lives, we must start with faith. What matters most is a genuine relationship with God over the things He can give us. We do things out of our love for God, but not to gain his love. It starts with a genuine relationship with Him first. When you love and know God first, actions flow easier. So start with daily asking God, “Help me know and love you more.” Open the Word of God and let Him show you who He is and all that He has for you. He will help you in all you do, as He is called The Helper (John 16:7). If you need a starting point, I recommend starting with the book of John: my favorite book in the Bible!
Ready for Change in Friendships, Career, Dating and More
Now that you’ve set your foundation, we’re ready to go. Faith sets the tone for everything else in life. Whether you are trying to form friendships, pick a career, or date well, God has given us wisdom on how to do them well.
When it comes to friendships, God says:
“Bad company corrupts good morals” - 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”- Proverbs 13:20
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” - Proverbs 12:26
When it comes to love, God says:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
When it comes to career, God says:
“Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” - Ephesians 6:6
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17
In verses like these, God is giving us things to consider and do as we go about each day. As we continue to read the Word, we find wisdom for our betterment and quality of life. God’s ways bring life! Putting God’s Word into practice also shows that we are disciples of Jesus for people who may not know Him yet. Our lives are meant to represent Christ and glorify God in all we do.
Jesus said a house built on the sand will not last, but a house built on God will stand (Matthew 7:24-27). In a similar way, build your life on the foundation of God and you’ll stand when hard times come. Faith is the guide for your life and God loves you too much to let you stay unsheltered and unprotected from the enemy. If you make your faith a priority, everything else is better aligned. His wisdom works for life!
JEANINE AMAPOLA WARD
Jeanine Amapola Ward is the author of Becoming Happy & Healthy, host of Happy and Healthy Podcast, speaker, and Christian influencer from Dallas, Texas. Jeanine is passionate about helping women around the world know Jesus more and become secure in who Christ made them to be. Her goal is to help women become happy and healthy in all areas of life through God's Word and daily habits.
