By Joy Allmond
Ronnie Floyd wants people to understand that all areas of their lives—spiritual, physical, emotional, financial and relational—are connected.
And he wants to take this message beyond the congregation of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, where he is senior pastor. His latest book, Living Fit: Making Your Life Count by Pursuing a Healthy You, released June 1 by B&H Publishing Group, is intended to help people pursue a holistic healthy lifestyle for today and tomorrow.
“I am convinced that each of us needs to do all we can to live in the highest way for our Lord and for others,” Floyd said. “Life is not a dress rehearsal. We have one shot with our life. Living Fit prepares and equips people to make their lives count.”
Although he addresses five areas of life, Floyd has observed that Christians generally neglect the physical aspect of healthy living.
“People know the other areas are important, but living fit physically seems to be dismissed or ranked lower in the order of priorities,” he said.
“Additionally, some Christ followers have convinced themselves they are physically invincible. We are not. I cannot add days to my life, but I can add value to the days I have when I am living fit physically. A person is not able to go places and do things their body is unable to take them.”
Floyd said another reason he was motivated to write Living Fit is because he has the sense most Christians are living as though their spiritual lives are disconnected from the other areas of their lives.
The typical Christ follower will check his or her spiritual life gauge, and if it is pointing toward health, they assume their entire life is healthy. Yet, the reality is, life does not work that way. Living Fit connects your spiritual life to your entire life. We are not one part; we are many parts of a whole. Holistic health is greatly needed.
Living Fit was written with both individuals and groups in mind. Pastors, Sunday school teachers or small group leaders can teach the content of this book in five high-level messages or go deeper and teach it in 20 sessions.
“There is a deep hunger in the lives of people to live holistically,” Floyd said. “They just may not know how to do it or believe they can do so.”
Another benefit, he said, to living holistically healthy, is that doing so nurtures the prayer life of an individual as well as a congregation. And as president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, individual and corporate prayer is a personal passion of Floyd’s.
“The more people grasp their own life and the lives of other people, the more they will be able to engage in communication with God effectively,” Floyd said. “Being aware of yourself and the true health of your entire life will help you pray more effectively.
“Additionally, if you know how to think holistically, you’ll recognize areas of weakness in your life. This will give you matters to pray about related to your future. The healthier you are holistically, the more effective you will be in praying with and for others.”
Ultimately, Floyd wants Living Fit readers to live the fullest life they can to bring God glory here on earth, and best carry out His will.
“I hope readers grow to understand God wants to use them in a great way to live out God’s purpose in their life,” he said. “The healthier they are personally, the greater the impact will be in their life.”
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JOY ALLMOND (@joyallmond) is managing editor of Facts & Trends.
