Overview

Your body is more spiritual than you think. How can we preach a gospel of peace, yet still find our bodies wracked by anxiety How do we call our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit, yet regard eating, exercise, or sleep as inherently ""unspiritual"" activities How is it that modern Christians who claim God made their bodies have come to care so little about them Justin Whitmel Earley--bestselling author of The Common Rule and Habits of the Household--is intimately familiar with the consequences of ignoring the body. As a young lawyer, Earley collapsed into anxiety and insomnia that nearly ruined his life. In his journey back to mental and spiritual health, he realized that the healthy and unhealthy habits shaping his life weren't physical or spiritual; they were physical and spiritual. The Body Teaches the Soul is a practical guide to the union of body and spirit in our overall health. With his characteristic vulnerability and story-driven approach, Earley shares personal failures, fascinating research, and biblical wisdom to reveal ten simple habits that will improve your health and deepen your relationship with God. In these pages, you will: Connect deeply and positively with your body as the image of God while avoiding the mistakes of ignoring or idolizing the body Explore how daily patterns of healthy eating can be as spiritual as fasting and how rhythms of feasting can become guilt-free celebrations of the world God made Recover your mental health through upper-brain spiritual truths that work together with lower-brain physical practices to reshape thought patterns Develop a sleep routine that honors your body's need for rest and your soul's need for sabbath Discover how to lament sickness and injury while still praying with hope for the miracle of healing Learn how exercise can create a humble lifestyle of loving others with your body instead of becoming a vain search for body image   Earley is not a health guru telling you how to get in shape; he is the ordinary Christian's guide to rediscovering the extraordinary gift of the body and the spiritual life that flows from it. Join this journey of wonder and well-being to reconnect with your whole self and repattern your whole life in the image of the God who made you and loves you as you are--body and soul.

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9780310368595

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Reviews

As Christians, we too often pit divine grace against human agency, and the result is that we misunderstand both. Justin avoids this by framing the goodness of habits in a way that ensures they are cultivated in light of God's favor rather than trying to make them the source of it. And now, in this wonderfully practical volume, he focuses on helping God's people remember that our bodies are a gift from God. As such, he suggests ten practices that affirm our embodied existence in a way meant to cultivate love for God, neighbor, and even self. I'm delighted his practical wisdom can continue to help many of us put our theology into practice. * Kelly M. Kapic, professor of theology, Covenant College; author, Embodied Hope and You're Only Human * Justin Whitmel Earley has written the book many of us didn't know we needed--until our hearts raced, our minds spiraled, or our screens numbed us into disconnection. This book shows how healing begins not in our heads alone but in our habits, our breath, our bodies too. * Russell Moore, editor-in-chief, Christianity Today * This book shook me--in the best way. Justin reminds us that discipleship isn't just something we think about or talk about, it's something we live with our whole selves. God is forming us not just in our minds and souls but in our very bodies, through breath, rest, meals, even our pain. If you're hungry for a faith that sinks deeper than words, read this book. * Brook Mosser, president, Intentional; host, The Intentional Parents Podcast; author, Sowing a Hidden Seed * We need to be regularly, repetitively reminded of what is good and beautiful in the world, not least of how we are to live. And with The Body Teaches the Soul, Justin Whitmel Earley reminds us what the ancient biblical writers informed us of so long ago: that our bodies together with our breath make us human, and we ignore or idolize the body to our peril. I invite you to read this book with hope and confidence that the God who made us, bodies and souls, is in the business of honoring and redeeming all of who we are for joy and glory. * Curt Thompson, MD, psychiatrist; author, The Soul of Desire and The Deepest Place *

Author Information

Justin Whitmel Earley is a writer, speaker, and lawyer. He is the author of The Common Rule, Habits of the Household, and Made for People, though he spends most days running his business law practice. Through his writing and speaking, Justin empowers God’s people to thrive through life-giving habits that form them in the love of God and neighbor. He continually explores both how physical habits are more spiritual than we think and how spiritual habits are more physical than we think. He lives with his wife and four boys in Richmond, Virginia, spends a lot of time around fires and porches with friends, and is a part-owner of a local gym. You can follow him online at justinwhitmelearley.com.

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