A long time ago, I instituted the post-shower “sniff test” to ensure that the boys actually used shampoo instead of just rinsing off their hair (or, in some cases, “forgetting” to get it wet at all). Now that they know I’m serious about hygiene, I’ve been trying to encourage the older boys to get into the habit of washing their faces regularly, too. One asked why you have to wash your face if you don’t have any pimples. Well, do you wait to put on deodorant until after you start to stink? It’s preventative.

We also talked about how drinking water is important for our skin, because it helps the skin from the inside out. When you put good things in your body like water and veggies, then your body simply works better. Our bodies thrive on nutritious foods.

So, what does this have to do with anything spiritual? When we don’t take care of our bodies on the inside, it shows on the outside. And, not to take the b.o. illustration too far, but when our spiritual lives stink, it spoils everything else. If we wouldn’t want to live in a sweat-reeking locker room, then why would we want to live with foul attitudes and worldly behaviors that make the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) look like rotten produce?

We need water to survive – and to thrive. Similarly, we need to feed our spirit good things, as well. “[M]an does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3b). God’s Word is nourishment to our souls. Read it. Memorize it. Share it. Live it.