Below is a sampling of scriptures from various faith traditions; it is not meant to be a complete list, just a start.  You may want to use some of these scriptures for reflection with your wellness group, or choose others that are meaningful for your congregation.  Please send your ideas for other scriptures or prayers to include to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Islam, The Koran

On eating

“O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship” [Qur’an 2:172]

“…But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters.” [Qur’an 6:141]

On caring for the Earth on which our health depends

“Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth.” [Qur’an 40:57]

“The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, “Peace!”” [Qur’an 25:63]:

Christian New Testament

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable.”  Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

“…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”  3 John 1:2

from: http://www.faithandhealthconnection.org/category/faith-and-fitness:

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

For more ideas go to www.naltblackchurch.com

www.mihealthtools.org/faith/HealthScriptures.pdf.

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Hebrew Scriptures/Torah/Christian Old Testament

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth, every tree that has fruit with seed in it… They shall be yours for food.” Genesis 1:29

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits: Who pardons all of your iniquities; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:2-5.

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Take your choice of wine or milk-it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!”  Isaiah 55: 1-2 (NLT)

“The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.”  Psalms 145:15-16 (NLT)

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  Proverbs 4:22.

“You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.”  Psalms 63:5 (NLT)

The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank (v. 5)..Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank (v.8)..Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king’s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see. He agreed with them in this manner and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's food. So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. (v.12-17)  Daniel 1-5,8,13-15,

Buddhist Teachings

Encircled with craving,

People hop around like a rabbit caught in a snare.

-- Dhammapada 342

Health is the most precious gain, and contentment the greatest wealth.

-- Dhammapada 204

Zen Wisdom from the Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell’s Translation

Chapter 63

Act without doing;

Work without effort.

Think of the small as large

And the few as many.

Confront the difficult

While it is still easy;

Accomplish the great task

By a series of small acts.

The Master never reaches for the great;

Thus she achieves greatness.

When she runs into difficulty,

She stops and gives herself to it.

She doesn’t cling to her own comfort;

Thus problems are not problems for her.

Chapter 64

What is rooted is easy to nourish.

What is recent is easy to correct.

What is brittle is easy to break.

What is small is easy to scatter.

Prevent trouble before it arises.

Put things in order before they exist.

The giant pine tree

Grows from a tiny sprout.

The journey of a thousand miles

Starts from beneath your feet.

Rushing into action, you fail.

Trying to grasp things, you lose them.

Forcing a project to completion,

You ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action

By letting things take their course.

He remains as calm

At the end as at the beginning.

He has nothing,

Thus has nothing to lose.

What he desires is non-desire;

What he learns is to unlearn.

He simply reminds people

Of who they have always been….