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The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life
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.
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.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 1, 2025
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9481 people want to read
About the author
Justin Whitmel Earley
12 books678 followersJustin Whitmel Earley (JD, Georgetown University) is the creator of The Common Rule, a program of habits designed to form us in the love of God and neighbor. He is also a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. He previously spent several years in China as the founder and general editor of The Urbanity Project and as the director of Thought and Culture Shapers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community through arts. He and his wife, Lauren, have four sons and live in Richmond, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
January 29, 2026
Books about the human body (health in particular) are flying off the shelves these days. Many of these books have good things to offer in the way of overall fitness and include helpful principles that concern nutrition, exercise, longevity, and sleep.
Justin Whittle Earley’s book, The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life. Here, as the title suggests, we are confronted not only with the challenge to pursue a healthy life; we are called to a life of holiness. The combination of these themes makes Earley’s book stand out above the rest.
Christians have a nasty habit of pitting the secular against the sacred, thus buying into a sort of evangelical gnosticism, a theme that the author explores in some detail. The habits commended in this volume are:
Breathing
Thinking
Eating and Drinking
Sleeping
Sickness and Pain
Exercise
Sex
Technology
Worship
Death and Resurrection
Each chapter guides readers on a journey that should challenge them to a life of health and holiness. For my money, the chapter on worship is especially noteworthy. The author alerts readers to the importance of worship, reminding them that “our bodies are fine-tuned to worship.” Central to this chapter is a critical observation, namely - “Everything that is biological is also theological.” Highlighting this theme should be revolutionary for many, as they have been accustomed to emphasizing the spiritual over the physical, thus taking the gnostic bait once again. Chapter ten also emphasizes physical discipline and spiritual discipline, the sum total that equals holistic worship.
One critique of this volume, despite its many praiseworthy elements, is the author’s encouragement for readers to engage in Lectio Divina, the Latin term for “spiritual reading.” This novel approach to interpreting Scripture is highly subjective and is leading the unsuspecting down paths that are not biblical. This ancient practice that many contemporary Christians are utilizing is a dangerous departure from biblical hermeneutics and should be avoided. Or as David Helms implies, it leads us away from the right meaning and right application of a text instead of toward it.” See Tim Challies’ excellent article, A Danger of Lectio Divina for a more comprehensive critique.
Overall, though, The Body Teaches the Soul is a solid offering that I encourage readers to study and apply to their lives.
Justin Whittle Earley’s book, The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life. Here, as the title suggests, we are confronted not only with the challenge to pursue a healthy life; we are called to a life of holiness. The combination of these themes makes Earley’s book stand out above the rest.
Christians have a nasty habit of pitting the secular against the sacred, thus buying into a sort of evangelical gnosticism, a theme that the author explores in some detail. The habits commended in this volume are:
Breathing
Thinking
Eating and Drinking
Sleeping
Sickness and Pain
Exercise
Sex
Technology
Worship
Death and Resurrection
Each chapter guides readers on a journey that should challenge them to a life of health and holiness. For my money, the chapter on worship is especially noteworthy. The author alerts readers to the importance of worship, reminding them that “our bodies are fine-tuned to worship.” Central to this chapter is a critical observation, namely - “Everything that is biological is also theological.” Highlighting this theme should be revolutionary for many, as they have been accustomed to emphasizing the spiritual over the physical, thus taking the gnostic bait once again. Chapter ten also emphasizes physical discipline and spiritual discipline, the sum total that equals holistic worship.
One critique of this volume, despite its many praiseworthy elements, is the author’s encouragement for readers to engage in Lectio Divina, the Latin term for “spiritual reading.” This novel approach to interpreting Scripture is highly subjective and is leading the unsuspecting down paths that are not biblical. This ancient practice that many contemporary Christians are utilizing is a dangerous departure from biblical hermeneutics and should be avoided. Or as David Helms implies, it leads us away from the right meaning and right application of a text instead of toward it.” See Tim Challies’ excellent article, A Danger of Lectio Divina for a more comprehensive critique.
Overall, though, The Body Teaches the Soul is a solid offering that I encourage readers to study and apply to their lives.
October 28, 2025
A great and encouraging read!! Check this book out! Think theology of being embodied meets common rule practices for stewarding our embodiment.
January 22, 2026
An accessible primer on the integral role of spiritual disciplines for embodied, wholistic health.
December 22, 2025
This book offers practical steps to implement theological truth about our bodies—embracing both our limitations and our unique abilities in a way that images our Creator. This is a book I will keep referencing again and again.
January 13, 2026
This is not a bad book, but it's not the book I was hoping it would be. I think that's how I felt when I read The Common Rule from the same author.
In general, I was disappointed with how little of the Christian tradition each chapter interacted with. Willard shows up a couple times. Piper is quoted once, I think. Hauerwas is footnoted. In contrast, most chapters have an anchoring insight from a pop science/journalism source. For the topics in this book, it's just strange to me how little the Christian tradition explicitly informs the content. It's not as rich as I wish it were.
And hey, I'm a teacher. This is one of my academic interests. Maybe I'm expecting more than I should. As it is, this volume would probably be really helpful for a teen or young professional.
Even so, I wish it were introducing those audiences to the rich streams of the Christian tradition.
"Jason, it's no good bashing this book without giving examples of what would be richer."
Yeah, that's fair.
Across the board, if you work through the John Mark Comer free online course for Practicing the Way - with a group or as a church, if you can - you'll be farther ahead than if you read this book in each of the domains this book addresses, both in terms of theological development and life transformation.
I know it's trendy to hate on JMC for emphasizing *effort* towards growth too much or for drawing from too many theological traditions without naming the differences between them or explaining how he processes the disparities (... yeah, fair). Don't stop with JMC! But if you're at entry-level, you can do *so much* better than this book.
In general, I was disappointed with how little of the Christian tradition each chapter interacted with. Willard shows up a couple times. Piper is quoted once, I think. Hauerwas is footnoted. In contrast, most chapters have an anchoring insight from a pop science/journalism source. For the topics in this book, it's just strange to me how little the Christian tradition explicitly informs the content. It's not as rich as I wish it were.
And hey, I'm a teacher. This is one of my academic interests. Maybe I'm expecting more than I should. As it is, this volume would probably be really helpful for a teen or young professional.
Even so, I wish it were introducing those audiences to the rich streams of the Christian tradition.
"Jason, it's no good bashing this book without giving examples of what would be richer."
Yeah, that's fair.
Across the board, if you work through the John Mark Comer free online course for Practicing the Way - with a group or as a church, if you can - you'll be farther ahead than if you read this book in each of the domains this book addresses, both in terms of theological development and life transformation.
I know it's trendy to hate on JMC for emphasizing *effort* towards growth too much or for drawing from too many theological traditions without naming the differences between them or explaining how he processes the disparities (... yeah, fair). Don't stop with JMC! But if you're at entry-level, you can do *so much* better than this book.
March 7, 2026
Fantastic book. I’ve been an admirer of Earley’s work since the first book I read several years ago, and this is no exception. The combination of theory/thought/doctrine and how it meets practical living is so well done, complete with vulnerability and eyes on Christ. This is a book you can’t read without also engaging your heart, and being moved.
The title reminded me of the secular book, “The Body Keeps the Score”, but instead of learning about all the ways our bodies hold trauma, this felt so redemptive by comparison. Looking at our physical bodies as a temple of the Lord transforms everything, and gives everything a new lens. Instead of being trapped in trauma, they can be vessels of redemption while we live here on earth.
Powerful, beautiful read.
The title reminded me of the secular book, “The Body Keeps the Score”, but instead of learning about all the ways our bodies hold trauma, this felt so redemptive by comparison. Looking at our physical bodies as a temple of the Lord transforms everything, and gives everything a new lens. Instead of being trapped in trauma, they can be vessels of redemption while we live here on earth.
Powerful, beautiful read.
January 6, 2026
Easy five stars and hands down my favorite book from this author so far. Lots to think about but I love the blend of simple truths, habits to try, and the reminder that God’s love for us shapes our habits, not the other way around.
November 5, 2025
I can’t think of another author that writes as succinctly and thoughtfully as Justin Whitmel Earley. Another honest, thoughtful, and provocative book. Particularly the chapters on exercise and food.
February 25, 2026
Absolutely loved this book!
February 16, 2026
Wow. It wasn’t necessarily mind blowing, new information, but with each chapter I walked away convicted and given tangible tools and truths that were exactly what I needed in this season of life. I did learn a lot. I had tears in my eyes as it ended and as I reflected on the beauty our bodies and souls and how both are good and God’s creation. Definitely would recommend.
January 4, 2026
Whew! I needed this. Justin does it again. Sound theology and practical. The chapters on eating and drinking, exercise, and technology were especially helpful and convicting.
“Your habits of health won’t change God’s love for you, but God’s love for you should change your habits.”
“Your habits of health won’t change God’s love for you, but God’s love for you should change your habits.”
December 6, 2025
This is it - my standout, #1 nonfiction read of the year. Never would I have thought I’d find myself crying through chapters on exercise and the resurrection and the discipline of ordinary fare amidst feasting and fasting. This work is masterful- beautifully written and instantly practical. I will bring it up in every conversation for the foreseeable future and gift it to probably everyone I know.
“When our heads go one way and our habits go another, the heart follows the habit. This is the biblical wisdom of spiritual formation.”
“When our heads go one way and our habits go another, the heart follows the habit. This is the biblical wisdom of spiritual formation.”
December 27, 2025
This is the last book I will finish in 2025, and I have read so many good books this year that I did not think it was possible to end on a high note...but it was. This was one of the best and the perfect book to end the year on.
I've read Justin's other book "Habits of the Household," and thought it was phenomenal. Even so, I thought this one was better.
It's not just the clarity with which he writes, or the practicality of the advice he gives (both of which are superb); it's the timeliness of this book. I live in a world where embodiment/the physical body is either worshiped or completely ignored, and in both circumstances abused/wrongfully utilized.
This book paints such a hopeful and helpful picture of how the Christian is to use their body (a powerful and essential part of themselves) to educate and form the soul. It felt like Justin found a missing piece of the puzzle and placed it perfectly into my life.
10/10 recommend, and will be reading again.
I've read Justin's other book "Habits of the Household," and thought it was phenomenal. Even so, I thought this one was better.
It's not just the clarity with which he writes, or the practicality of the advice he gives (both of which are superb); it's the timeliness of this book. I live in a world where embodiment/the physical body is either worshiped or completely ignored, and in both circumstances abused/wrongfully utilized.
This book paints such a hopeful and helpful picture of how the Christian is to use their body (a powerful and essential part of themselves) to educate and form the soul. It felt like Justin found a missing piece of the puzzle and placed it perfectly into my life.
10/10 recommend, and will be reading again.
January 12, 2026
Really loved this! As always, Earley does an incredible job of connecting gospel truth to our everyday lives in a tangible and hope filled way. I also appreciated hearing his wife’s perspective on several chapters! I listened to the audiobook but plan to purchase the physical copy to refer to, as it is rich with reminders and tips.
January 4, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed it. He goes deep enough to challenge and gives a great starting point with balanced ideas for honoring and pursuing God with our physical bodies. Highly recommend.
February 1, 2026
(I expect I may edit my rating/review after an upcoming book discussion with fellow moms of young kids — looking forward to that!)
There was definitely a good bit of repeat content from The Common Rule, but I haven’t read it in several years, so the refresher was helpful. The new content gave me lots of food for thought and several immediate applications. Some of those for me:
- Breath prayers for patience, stress and fear
- Christian meditation (let me know if you have recommendations on Spotify or other free audio sources)
- Try fasting once a quarter (nervous/hesitant about this since I’ve never fasted)
- Reinstate highs/lows and prayer with Nathan before bed
- Disable some phone notifications and set limits
There was definitely a good bit of repeat content from The Common Rule, but I haven’t read it in several years, so the refresher was helpful. The new content gave me lots of food for thought and several immediate applications. Some of those for me:
- Breath prayers for patience, stress and fear
- Christian meditation (let me know if you have recommendations on Spotify or other free audio sources)
- Try fasting once a quarter (nervous/hesitant about this since I’ve never fasted)
- Reinstate highs/lows and prayer with Nathan before bed
- Disable some phone notifications and set limits
March 11, 2026
I loved this book. At first I was afraid it was going to be a little too much self help, but it was deeply theological and practical. I always struggle to connect body and soul, but Early provides a compelling argument for why our bodies are made to teach our mind. One of the reasons I think it’s hard for Christian’s to embrace the spiritual importance of the body is because it takes time and discipline unlike the mind where we can just “know something.” The last chapter tied it all together connecting our bodies now to our resurrected bodies. What an amazing truth!
March 9, 2026
The Body Teaches the Soul does the hard work of staying true to the Gospel message while challenging readers to examine ten bodily habits that promote spiritual growth.
Earley argues that God made us with bodies intentionally, so what we do with our bodies matters.
I found this book both convicting and encouraging. I appreciated the reminders in every chapter that our actions don't earn God's love, but God's love does change how we live. I highly recommend it!
Earley argues that God made us with bodies intentionally, so what we do with our bodies matters.
I found this book both convicting and encouraging. I appreciated the reminders in every chapter that our actions don't earn God's love, but God's love does change how we live. I highly recommend it!
March 1, 2026
Love these practical applications of how to have a healthy body and healthy mind as it relates to the way God beautifully made us! This book helped stir up praise for God’s creation and for the beautiful life he gives us. Highly recommend!
December 17, 2025
This is the book I wish I had in college as an exercise science student. Really insightful. My favorite chapters were the ones on breathing, exercise, food, and death.
January 2, 2026
Really loved this one. Written in a very clear, concise, and engaging way.
January 28, 2026
The last two pages were the sweetest of the whole book.
January 24, 2026
So very helpful, encouraging, and beautiful.
January 30, 2026
Loved this book! Encourages & challenges me to see & love in a way that honors the body God has given us & use it to deepen our relationship with God. Such practical applications at the end of each chapter that aren’t overwhelming & allows you to start small!
January 27, 2026
“To live with close attention to our body is to live with close attention to our Soul…”
Stellar. Been looking forward to reading this ever since I heard Justin mention the book on Instagram. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him narrate and the chapters on Death, Exercise and Eating especially stood out. Thoughtful, gospel centered wisdom…Thank you, Justin!
Stellar. Been looking forward to reading this ever since I heard Justin mention the book on Instagram. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him narrate and the chapters on Death, Exercise and Eating especially stood out. Thoughtful, gospel centered wisdom…Thank you, Justin!
January 2, 2026
One of the best books I’ve read 6/5 stars
January 13, 2026
The last chapter was the best part— a simplified version of NT Wright’s surprised by hope, which i think every Christian should know. Thankful for this more accessible explanation!
Some good nuggets in this one but felt a bit disconnected and scattered, where his other books follow a more solid theme. The idea is that this book is all about the body/soul, which is maybe just quite a broad topic to cover?
Some really good basic principles for discipleship and theology about the body. I wish he went a bit deeper into some of the chapters but at the same time maybe that wouldn’t fit well in the theme? (For example much more could be said on sickness and pain, for example disabilities weren’t mentioned much, etc)
This book is full of great recommendations to other books and feels a bit like it collects lots of ideas in an accessible way which makes it a great resource especially if you’re not a big reader.
Some good nuggets in this one but felt a bit disconnected and scattered, where his other books follow a more solid theme. The idea is that this book is all about the body/soul, which is maybe just quite a broad topic to cover?
Some really good basic principles for discipleship and theology about the body. I wish he went a bit deeper into some of the chapters but at the same time maybe that wouldn’t fit well in the theme? (For example much more could be said on sickness and pain, for example disabilities weren’t mentioned much, etc)
This book is full of great recommendations to other books and feels a bit like it collects lots of ideas in an accessible way which makes it a great resource especially if you’re not a big reader.
February 13, 2026
Y’all gotta get in on this. Everything is spiritual because we are made in the image of God and He gave us this body that is filled with Holy Spirit. The way we live and treat our body and think about our body is all connected with our soul and our spirit. The book goes through chapters you would of course think of food and sleep and exercise but it also talks about sex and technology and worship and even death. It really is a holistic view of how we live and offers a way to live that will help us grow to love God more and live out His will. It’s also really well written and I just enjoyed reading it as a book itself! He also offers grace in all aspects in application of these things in the book and offers a woman’s perspective which I think is really helpful! Will definitely be rereading this throughout my life
March 12, 2026
This book is great; definitely an easy read! It’s full of great truths and reminders. Our body is a temple and we are to steward it well! I’m glad he prefaces the book by saying that not all of the habits mentioned will work for all people.
4/5: Would recommend! Although, I do wish there were more Bible verses in the opening of each chapter instead of quotes from famous people. There are Bible verses mixed throughout in the footnotes, but it seemed to me that more resources came from scientists and researchers. However, I did enjoy learning more about the science involved in some of these categories (ie. sleep, thinking, sickness and pain).
*Many of his and his wife’s personal stories are about their kids and what it’s like raising them. I understand how helpful this would be for those with kids, but for singles or those without kids it can feel a bit hard to relate to at times.*
4/5: Would recommend! Although, I do wish there were more Bible verses in the opening of each chapter instead of quotes from famous people. There are Bible verses mixed throughout in the footnotes, but it seemed to me that more resources came from scientists and researchers. However, I did enjoy learning more about the science involved in some of these categories (ie. sleep, thinking, sickness and pain).
*Many of his and his wife’s personal stories are about their kids and what it’s like raising them. I understand how helpful this would be for those with kids, but for singles or those without kids it can feel a bit hard to relate to at times.*
January 26, 2026
Earley argues that the habits of our body are not to be ignored or idolized, but gardened. Cultivated. The body is valuable to God, and our spiritual life is tied to it in a way that many modern Christians don’t appreciate.
This book is theologically rich, scientifically researched and easily applied. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Worship and Death (ironically) as I found those two to be the most theologically robust and beautifully written.
You would love this book if the title makes you skeptical. 🤨 The ancient heresy of Gnosticism has a sneaky presence in modern evangelicalism, and I believe Earley successfully puts it to rest (at least in word- it’s up to you to put it to rest in deed 😉).
I think this book has landed itself in my Top 5 favorite Christian non-fiction list.
This book is theologically rich, scientifically researched and easily applied. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Worship and Death (ironically) as I found those two to be the most theologically robust and beautifully written.
You would love this book if the title makes you skeptical. 🤨 The ancient heresy of Gnosticism has a sneaky presence in modern evangelicalism, and I believe Earley successfully puts it to rest (at least in word- it’s up to you to put it to rest in deed 😉).
I think this book has landed itself in my Top 5 favorite Christian non-fiction list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews