How Can I Honor God With My Body?

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Ah, the big question, right? As a Christian woman, you know that honoring God isn’t just about Sunday mornings and reading scripture—it's about every part of our lives, including how we treat our bodies. But when it comes to health, wellness, and honoring God with our bodies, sometimes the waters can get a little muddy, can’t they? 🤔

Is honoring God with our bodies just about avoiding certain foods or working out to maintain a certain weight? Or does it go a little deeper? ⚠️Spoiler alert: it totally goes deeper! So, let’s dig in, spill some tea, and look at how honoring God with our bodies is actually a freeing, joyful, and worshipful act.

What Does It Mean to "Honor God With Your Body?"

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Powerful stuff, right? But what does that look like in everyday life?

Honoring God with our body means we see it as a gift, a vessel given to us to live out His purpose and love in this world. It’s more than the "don’t do this, don’t eat that" type of approach we see plastered across diet culture. Instead, honoring God with our body can mean embracing it, caring for it, and using it for good. So, if you’re feeling unsure about how to honor God with your body, let’s break it down with some practical steps.

1. Accept and Appreciate the Body God Created for You

Let’s start with some truth. God doesn’t make mistakes. Psalm 139:14 reminds us, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Girl, that includes you—all your quirks, curves, and every inch that makes you unique. Honoring God starts with accepting and appreciating the body He designed for you and ditching the negative talk that tries to make you feel less-than.

How Can We Do This?

• 🧠 Shift Your Mindset: Instead of looking in the mirror and nitpicking, start celebrating what your body can do. Thank God for the strong legs that help you run after your kiddos, the hands that make cozy meals, or the arms that wrap around loved ones.
• 🗑️ Ditch the “Good vs. Bad” Food Mentality: You know what I’m talking about. Food isn’t “good” or “bad,” it’s just… food. 🥑 It nourishes us, and that’s exactly why God created it. Honoring God through food means enjoying it without guilt.

2. Care for Your Body as an Act of Worship

If you’re like most women, your relationship with food or exercise has maybe felt a little (or a lot) like a chore. But what if I told you that taking care of your body could actually be a form of worship? 🙌 Honoring God with your body can look like simply making choices that allow you to feel your best so you can serve Him in the ways He’s called you.

Practical Ways to Care for Your Body

• 🥪 Nourish Yourself Intentionally: Rather than following the latest diet trend, listen to what your body needs. God has given us food to enjoy and to fuel us—so go ahead and embrace that freedom to eat!
• ⛹🏻‍♀️ Find Joy in Movement: Exercise doesn’t have to mean grueling hours at the gym (unless that’s your jam!). Instead, find ways to move that you love, that help you feel energized and connected to the life God’s given you.
• 🛏️ Prioritize Rest and Recovery: Remember, even God rested on the seventh day. Taking time for rest isn’t lazy; it’s essential. Get enough sleep, unplug when you need to, and allow your body to recharge.

3. Honor God Through Healthy Boundaries

This might be one of my favorite ways to honor God with our bodies because boundaries are everything, y’all! Setting boundaries can help us protect our mental and physical health. And healthy boundaries are Biblical; they show up everywhere in Scripture, teaching us to say "no" when it’s necessary and "yes" when it brings us life.

Setting Boundaries for Food and Body Image

• 🤫 Limit the Diet Talk: It’s easy to slip into conversations about diets or body complaints with friends or family. But, to honor God with your body, let’s start steering those chats toward gratitude and positivity.
• ⌚ Protect Your Time: Are you saying yes to a jam-packed schedule that leaves little room for self-care? Girl, it’s okay to say no sometimes! Protecting time for rest, for joyful movement, or just soaking up God’s presence is a wonderful way to honor your body.
• 📲 Follow Christ-centered Accounts: Find social media accounts (I'm over on the 'gram @brittanybraswellrd), podcasts (psst... like The Joy-Filled Eater Podcast! 😉), and resources that bring you peace and encouragement instead of making you feel pressured to look a certain way. Fill your mind with truth.

4. Cultivate a Joy-Filled Relationship With Food, Your Body, and Jesus

Can we have a real talk moment? So many of us have fallen into the trap of trying to control our bodies, thinking that once we hit a certain weight or size, we’ll feel complete. But God wants so much more for us! Letting go of control and cultivating joy in our relationship with food and our body is part of the freedom He offers us.

Ways to Cultivate Joy

• 📖 Reflect on Scripture: Spend time in the Word, and let it remind you of God’s love for you just as you are. Verses like 1 Samuel 16:7 remind us, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• 👌🏻 Let Go of Perfection: Honoring God with your body DOESN’T mean you have to eat perfectly or exercise every day. It’s about a heart posture, not an image. Give yourself grace.
• 🛠️ Use Prayer as a Tool: When you’re feeling down about your body or overwhelmed by diet culture, pray! Ask God to help you see yourself through His eyes and to guide you in honoring Him with your choices.

In Conclusion: Honoring God With Your Body Is a Journey, Not a Destination

At the end of the day, honoring God with our bodies is an ongoing journey—a beautiful blend of grace, growth, and gratitude. It’s about choosing to love the body God gave you, setting boundaries, caring for yourself, and shifting from a place of control to a place of freedom.

So, if you’re ready to make changes that honor God, ask yourself, “What’s one step I can take today?” Maybe it’s taking a day off to rest, maybe it’s switching out diet talk for encouragement, or maybe it’s just grabbing a cozy cup of tea, sitting with Jesus, and thanking Him for the gift of life He’s given you. You’ve got this, friend, and I’m cheering you on! 🎉

Ready to take the next step in honoring God with your body? 

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