Care and Maintenance of the Temple
Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God! I Corinthians 6:19-20 (The Passion Translation, TPT)
The Lord expects us to take care of not just our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being, but also our physical bodies. We are the physical carriers of the Holy Spirit to the people and the world around us. Failing to properly care for our bodies will open us up for illness and can prevent the fulfillment of our destiny.
It may seem purely physical when we exercise, observe good nutrition, and get a good amount of sleep each night. However, when we care for our bodies, we are actually doing something very spiritual. God wants us to live long and live strong so we can do great things for the Kingdom. By using discipline to avoid bad foods and by incorporating healthy habits, we are glorifying God with our bodies.
We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and our bodies are not our own. We are to present our bodies to God and use them to do His will.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (New International Version, NIV)
If you have not been focusing on a healthy lifestyle, start today. Find at least one thing you can do right away to improve your health. If you delay, you will never do it. Ask the Lord to point out something you can do to bring about a positive change in your physical well-being. He may show you something you need to adjust in your diet. He may tell you to add some movement to your daily life. Whatever lifestyle changes He shows you, ask Him for His empowerment to follow through on them, and then just do it. Your body will thank you, and you will be honoring God.
