You always know that when you break God's spiritual law, there are going to be consequences; but what about breaking God's physical laws? When you don't take proper care of your body, God is not glorified, and you can expect things to be more challenging in the mental and physical world than you'd like. God has set laws and rules for our own good, because He wants you to be healthy and strong in every part of your life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NCV) tells us, "You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves, because you were bought by God for a price. So honor God with your bodies." There is no doubt that being in shape spiritually is the most important kind of fitness as a Christian. But being in shape mentally and physically is very important as well. Some Christians know the Bible well and they pray often. They learn and know what to do, but they don't have the emotional or physical energy to follow through as a servant of God. Sleep is vitally important to not only our physical and mental health, but also to our spiritual wellbeing. This may sound a little simplistic, but lack of sleep can actually cause a spiritual problem. As a Christian, you should be able to sleep in peace at night knowing that God is in control. Psalm 4:8 (NCV) says, "I go to bed and sleep in peace, because, Lord, only you keep me safe." When you lose sleep, not only are you physically unprepared and mentally impaired, but you become emotionally and spiritually weak, because your mind is not sharp enough to be set on the things of God. Medically, lack of sleep can cause irritability, a grumpy demeanor, being short tempered and mild depression. Does this sound like characteristics of a victorious Christian? It is just the opposite. So you need to make a conscience effort to get proper sleep each night, and you'll be blessed with more energy, and be in a better mood and spirit, as well as feeling mentally and physically rested. Jesus as the Son, knew well of His Fathers gift to each of us as told in Matthew 11: 28-29 (NCV), "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives." Lack of proper nutrition and exercise play a role in our physical and mental well-being too. When we get in a trend and eat too little or to much it will affect our chemical makeup as well as our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. When we never seem to find the time to exercise, or exercise regularly, our bodies does not process the food that we eat properly. Our immune systems become weaker, and we become more vulnerable to sickness and disease. Does this sound like characteristics of a victorious Christian? It is just the opposite. All three parts of our being - physical, emotional and spiritual - should be healthy and in sync for you to function most productively. We each need to strike a true balance, and try to be healthy and God-honoring in every part and all aspects of life. Your body is your temple of God; His Christian gift to you and you must honor Him by taking care of it. If you will trust God's word, learn from the Bible and follow Jesus' instructions as a practicing Christian should; you will receive the Father's blessing for your obedience, and even move closer in your relationship to Him! By: Steven E Coffman (Owner) of Family-eStore.com Steven E Coffman may be contacted at http://www.family-estore.com/ . Click here to view more of their articles. A person with strong Christian and patriotic beliefs. Tenacity, faith, and a belief in God, Country and Family are key components to success in life. National Essay Contest (winner) 1969.