Our bodies are important to God. God designed and formed our bodies to be the temple of his Holy Spirit. The body is made for the spirit and the spirit for the body. They are inseparable. When God created man he didn’t just turn him loose to do whatever he wanted with his body. Instead, he created him to live within the moral code and order of his created universe. This means that we are called to steward our bodies. Our health and energy are essential to human flourishing. If we want to live the abundant life Jesus has created us to live we must eat healthy, exercise, and get the proper rest. Taking care of our bodies so that we can love God with all of our strength is both an act of worship and obedience to the Lord.

Without conviction there is no transformation. Oftentimes, we look at the body and give ourselves an excuse for not caring for it because “it is not spiritual” and we think to ourselves “God does not care about the physical. He only cares about the spiritual.” This belief is a lie from the enemy that is rooted in the ancient belief called Gnosticism which says that the physical is not important since we are immaterial beings. The Bible is clear that we are not only spiritual but both physical and spiritual. When Jesus returns to this earth his followers will all receive new physical bodies. Heaven and earth will become one and we will remain on this physical earth for all eternity. 

Pray for a Godly conviction that leads to repentance to heed his commands on caring for your body and for the lies that lead to making excuses to be extinguished in you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for fashioning and forming my body for your purposes. Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Lord, thank you for reminding me today that my body was designed and created by you so that your Holy Spirit can dwell in me and so that I can have a relationship with you and do what you have created me to do on this earth. Lord, help me to heed your commands on caring for your body. May what I put into my mouth honor you. May my desire to exercise not come from self-glory and self-love but from a heart that longs to bring glory to your Name. As I submit to your word I ask that you would bless me with long life and that I would be fruitful and live abundantly with an energized body that is full of life! In Jesus’ Name, amen.