Have you ever stopped to contemplate that your body—this vessel you walk in each day—is a sacred gift from God? From the very starting, Scripture tells us, “God created mankind in his own image, within the image of God he created them; female and male he created them.” Genesis 1:27 That means your body isn’t only a random being; the Creator Himself intentionally crafted it. Yet, how often will we truly treat it because the gift it’s? Our bodies should not just ours to make use of and abuse—they belong to God and are a mirrored image of Him, and He calls us to honor Him by caring for caring for our bodies.
What Does the Bible Say about Physical Health?
When we keep our bodies healthy, we’re in a position to do the work God has called us to do and glorify Him. When we’re sick and drained and run down by incorrectly fueling our bodies, overeating or undereating, not exercising, not getting sunshine, not sleeping, and never managing our stresses, we’re then not properly equipped to listen to the Holy Spirit or to act on the fulfilling of God’s calling for our life. It is far more difficult to grow in our relationship with Jesus or mature our spiritual gifts because we simply don’t feel well and don’t have the energy. As Jesus was preparing to endure the cross and lay down his life for us, he shared with the apostles his plan for us to have the Holy Spirit reside in us. John 14:16-17
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who’s in you, whom you have got received from God? You should not your individual; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God along with your bodies.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Friend, we’re created within the image of God and redeemed, bought by the blood of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 6:20) Our bodies should not our own. They are a precious gift from God. Our bodies are exalted (held in high regard) and called a temple (a constructing for worship) on purpose. In the Bible, the temple is a holy place where God resides, and that’s in us. Would you expect to walk right into a holy place and find it filthy, cluttered, full of trash and dirt and graffiti far and wide? Never!
Taking care of our bodies honors God and shows Him that we value our life. It shows gratitude for this incredible gift and for the opportunities He gives us to experience all the wonders that He created: walking, mountain climbing, exploring mountains, beaches, and valleys. And to meet His calling on our life and glorify Him.
No matter where you’re in your journey of taking good care of your body, it’s vital to know that God created our bodies to heal. If you’re in a spot where you haven’t been loving and taking good care of your temple, please know you may make the selection without delay. You can pray and ask for help and direction. Exodus 15:26 says, “I’m the Lord who heals you.” Now is the time to start honoring God and praising Him for this beautiful gift. Now is the time to start out taking good care of your temple and cleansing it as much as glorify God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all of it for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to supply your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—that is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
What Does the Bible Say about Self-control and Self-discipline?
Self-control– is considered one of the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22–24 We are expected to have self-control and self-discipline, including not overeating and eating the foods God gave us. Exercising and maintaining our weight help keep our muscles, bones, organs and brain strong. We are expected to take care of control of ourselves. Mind, body and spirit. Here are some specific scriptures on self-control and self-discipline.
“No discipline seems nice on the time, but painful. Later on, nonetheless, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for individuals who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” Hebrews 12:11-12
“The end of all things is at hand; due to this fact be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” 1 Peter 4:7
“Do not join those that drink an excessive amount of wine or gorge themselves on meat.” Proverbs 23:20
(In the bible, the word meat is food.)
7 Practical Steps to Care for Your Physical Body
1. Nourish your body.
First, we must always care for our bodies by nourishing them with God-given foods and clean water. Choose the least processed and truest God-given form possible. This is organic. Organic will not be genetically modified by man, not grown in a lab, and never grown with harmful chemicals and additives, and animal meats and products by animals which can be free range and wild. The foods God created for us will provide nutrients for health and energy. God gives us specific instructions on what to eat. He says, “Everything that lives and moves about might be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now provide you with every part.” And “I provide you with every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and each tree that has fruit with seed in it. They might be yours for food.” Genesis 9:3/Genesis 1:29
God gave us animals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, herbs, and spices to be our food and our drugs. These foods give life. He gave us what we should be healthy and powerful. The world and man have altered our foods and created chemically processed and chemically grown junk that will not be life-giving. These man-made pseudo foods are literally poison to our bodies that make us sick and obese, cause disease, and mustn’t be consumed. “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.” Romans 14:20 Our bodies are fearfully and splendidly made, and we have now a responsibility to look after them and a responsibility to honor and praise God with how we fuel them. (Psalm 139:14)
One of crucial things to recollect is to all the time read labels, and in case you don’t know what an ingredient is or can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.
2. Keep your temple suitable for the holy spirit.
Avoiding harmful substances, minimal or no alcohol, and no drugs. The Bible could be very specific on this matter.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which results in debauchery. Instead, be full of the Spirit.” – Ephesians 5:18
When we drink alcohol to drunkenness or use drugs, we’re unable to listen to the Holy Spirit. We are told to not drink so far. This reduces and eliminates our self-control and opens us up for the enemy to attack.
3. Get lively – Cherishing our bodies through movement and exercise strengthens our bodies and allows us physically to do the things God is asking us to do. Plus, we get to live an extended and healthier life. I really like to hike and mountain bike. Because my body is powerful, I get to see and luxuriate in so lots of God’s creations because my legs and core can carry me there. This allows us the chance to praise God and worship Him as He desires for us.
God has no intention in your body to be idle and never used. “in case you can have discipline to coach your body well, you might be higher equipped to coach well and discipline, self-control in godliness” – 1 Timothy 4:8
“Do you not know that in a race all of the runners run, but just one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24
What an incredible prize it’s to point out gratitude to our Father in heaven by keeping our bodies strong and healthy.
4. Go outside and take in some sunshine.
“Light is good, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 11:7
There are many advantages to healthy exposure to the sun. It is thru the sun on our skin and thru our eyes that our bodies produce Vitamin D, which is crucial to our health and well-being. The sun also improves our mood, reduces stress lowers blood pressure, boosts our immune system, and offers us higher sleep.
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the ocean resound, and all that’s in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and every part in them; let all of the trees of the forest sing for joy.” – Psalm 96:11-12
5. Rest and sleep.
Taking care of our bodies extends beyond food and physical activity. God made rest an example of priority during His creation of the earth by implementing a whole rest day. So, it’s equally vital that we also take time to rest. And not only rest from work and activity, but it is usually extremely vital to take time to rest in Jesus. We can take time to rest by making reading the Bible spending time in prayer, and developing a deeper relationship with God and Jesus a each day priority:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I offers you rest.” – Matthew 11:28–30
Sleep is amazingly vital for our bodies to heal. Our body was designed to heal while we sleep, so make it a priority and get 8 hours every night.
6. Prayer, meditation, and stress management.
Each of us is created otherwise and must discover reduce our stresses. I enjoy reading in a shower. But all of us will reduce stress by spending time each day reading the bible, praying, and meditating. Exercise can be a fantastic stress reducer. Make time to take a walk or hit the gym.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he’ll sustain you; he won’t ever let the righteous be shaken.” – Psalm 55:22
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
7. Guard yourself from negative influence.
We must guard our hearts and minds from negative influences. We are the sum of what we see, hear, and eat. The people we’re surrounded by, the music, TV, movies, podcasts, etc., that we watch and hearken to all influence us and who we’re and what we elect. We can easily pick up bad habits from the influences we expose ourselves to. You get to decide on! Choose to feed yourself with positive and godly influence.
Taking care of our bodies may appear to be it’s hard and time consuming, but I urge you to take steps toward the goal of honoring your temple and thanking God for this incredible blessing. God knows that it takes sacrifice, moving away from the ways of the world, and He knows that the ways of the world are much easier and more enjoyable, but He’s asking us to purify our body in order that the Holy Spirit can dwell in us and we will hear Him. (Hebrews 12:11) He’s asking us to honor the gift He has given us.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to supply your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—that is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you’ll give you the chance to check and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and ideal will.” – Romans 12:1-2
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Venti Views
