Faith With Works
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” — James 2:14–17 (ESV)
Faith
Faith is trusting that what we believe is true. Saving faith is faith in Jesus Christ, the one who died for our sins so that we are made righteous in the eyes of our Father. It’s not what we do that saves us, but our belief in the gospel. Our belief that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
James reminds us that faith is not just an idea or something we claim to have, it’s something we live. If we truly believe something will work, we act on it. If we truly believe something is true, we share it. And if we say we believe in God, our lives look different because we follow His word.
We live out our faith because God fulfills His promises. We trust that God will provide for us, and He does. Our faith is revealed in the ways we become more loving and generous, experience true healing in body, mind, and spirit, and learn to forgive ourselves and others as God works in us, on us, and through us.
Action
“Faith without works is dead” applies to every part of life, including our physical health.
If you want to feel strong, healthy, and whole, you need both faith and action. God created us to move, to work, and to care for the bodies He’s given us.
How to put faith into action:
Pray First: Invite God into your health journey. Ask Him for strength, courage, wisdom, and discipline.
Name the Problem: Be honest about what’s keeping you stuck whether it’s confusion, overwhelm, or doubt.
Remember You’re Unique: God made you one-of-a-kind. What works for someone else might not work for you, and that’s okay.
Start Small: Take one step. Change one habit. Seek wise counsel. Keep praying and adjusting.
Give Yourself Grace: You won’t get it all right and you’re not meant to. Forgive yourself, learn, and keep going.
Trust God’s Design: Believe that God will heal you and that He has your best interest in mind. Transformation will come as you trust His design and honor the way He created you, perfectly and with purpose.
Honor
James points out that it’s not enough to say “be warm and filled” if we’re not willing to meet someone’s real needs. The same goes for how we treat ourselves: we can’t expect to grow spiritually if we’re neglecting the physical body God entrusted to us.
If your body is undernourished, everything else will feel off including your relationships, your work, your purpose, even how you see yourself. Our bodies need real food, movement, rest, and care to function the way God designed them to.
A few reminders as you steward your health:
Feed Yourself Well: Choose quality. Eat real food, the kind God made and pause to pray over it with gratitude.
Move Intentionally: Movement is a gift. Go for a run if you’re full of energy. Rest when you’re tired. Stay consistent and show up for yourself.
Stay Accountable: Tell someone about your goals and let them check in with you. Accountability helps turn intentions into action.
Patience
God calls us to take action, to step forward, to work diligently, to move boldly. If you feel stuck, pause and ask yourself: Have I taken the steps I can take?
And as you keep stepping forward, be patient. Patience is part of God’s character, and it’s part of how He shapes us. Growth takes time. The fruit will come if you keep planting, tending, and trusting Him with the process.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
You were created on purpose and your health is one of the ways you reflect God’s glory.
Book your free discovery call here if you’re ready to take faithful, intentional steps toward healing.
