When you hear the phrase “your body is the temple”, what comes into your mind?
For me, I think about the body in relation to food. How you feed your body, that’s how it grows and thrives.
Feed it with junk, and it leads to your body’s destruction… When you don’t take care of your temple and it ends up in ruins.
But I understand, sometimes, you wander and drift away from what you’re supposed to be doing and how you’re supposed to be treating your body.
Just like the story of the Israelites who shift, drift, and wander away from the Lord… A cycle of wandering, being delivered by God, and doing the same thing over and over again.
God kept redeeming them, they’d obey, then get bored and distracted. They continued to wander, get in trouble, cry out, and even though God hears and delivers them, the cycle would repeat itself.
The story is repeated numerous times and yet we too are repeating the same scenario and it is being played out in our health!
God gifted us with the best food ever!
We too have been tempted and distracted. Of course, that Hostess cupcake looks better than fruit. But look at the cycle we’re in. We got addicted, we cried out because of our obesity and tiredness.
God showed us the GOOD food, we tried it - it made us feel better, we achieved our goal of weight loss. We got distracted and we went back to our addictions! Whew! We are as exhausting to read about as the Israelites.
What if there truly was a way to take back our temple and be set free? There is and you were created for such a time as this - so let’s go for it!
The Holy Spirit Lives in You - Here’s Why it Matters Today and Tomorrow
How we live our life shows everyone around us who and what is most important.
When I worked at a mission agency the number one cost was the medical expenses. The number one reason people could not ‘be on a mission’ was because of their health. The number one reason they would return home from the mission field and end their dream was because of health problems.
Your body is the temple and as Christians, we should be the healthiest group of people in the entire world! Yet, if we were studied as a group, we’d probably be in the category with the highest amount of illnesses. Why? Because as people tell me: “Annette, we are saved by grace we can eat what we want!”
Wow, that comment alone slaps grace in the face. Just being honest.
Yet, all that can change. We can listen and learn how to have a healthy temple. To serve God as our best.
Here are 5 steps to make that happen.
How do I treat my body like a temple?
Treating your body like a temple means to honor and respect the body God has created for you. Christians believe the spirit of God lives within and the body houses the Holy Spirit. To keep a healthy temple it’s important to eat healthy foods, get the right amount of sleep and exercise.
What do you need to do to give it the respect, love, and care that it deserves?
Food and how you relate with food is important because your body is the temple and this is what you feed your body with.
1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
So the short answer to this question is this: Feed your body right and your body will thrive. But feed it with junk, and you get the exact opposite.
We go into detail below, which can help you get clear on how to treat your body the way it needs to flourish.
Why You Should Treat Your Body Like a Temple
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “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;20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
You were bought with a price by the blood of Jesus and by grace through faith, have new life. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. Not a house, not a residence, but a temple.
When we are at our optimal health we can do what Christ called us to do through the Holy Spirit. Follow and demonstrate the fruits of the spirit.
The Key Shifts in Treating Your Body Like a Temple
What can you do to really treat your body with the respect and devotion that it deserves?
There are five steps to do that:
Step 1: Real Love
God loves you. That’s where real love comes from.
It doesn’t come from food.
1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
God, is the embodiment of perfect love.
Your food doesn’t hug, embrace, or listen to you.
God does.
So you need to realize what real love is and who the source of that real love is.
Recognize God loves you. The number one reason people eat beyond their desired caloric preference is they eat for comfort, love, companionship, or some other emotional fulfillment.
When you truly understand the depth of God’s love, food is no comparison.
Step 2: Real Food
What is real food?
That packaged food from the restaurant?
That bottle of soda? That bar of chocolate?
God is very clear all throughout Scripture that certain foods were created for our enjoyment and nourishment.
When man tries to imitate and alter that design we become part of the disease process.
Go back to eating real food, not from a can or box. And don’t skip this important step - it is very possible and God desires to show you - just ask.
For more help read the Treasures of Healthy Living Bible Study.
Step 3: Real Hunger
Are you truly hungry or are you eating… Just because?
Just because others are eating or that food looks amazing, you have the habit to clean your plate, it’s that time of the day... there are so many reasons we eat and most of those are not because of hunger.
Hunger is when you have not eaten for at least 3 hours, preferably 4. Our body sends signals that are below the neck - stomach growls, plus other signals.
When we eat because of pure hunger, our body will take those nutrients and use them completely without needing to add to your storage bags!
Step 4: Real Satisfied
This is a new experience to learn.
Being satisfied with a meal or snack means stopping before we are stuffed.
If you have to lie down or loosen your belt after a meal or are belching as if you were back in college, then you have eaten too much. Learn to be satisfied with half as much food until you can recognize the body signals for truly being satisfied.
This step alone is all most people need to lose at least 10% of their fat and become leaner!
Step 5: Real Commitment
Commitment is key to regaining your body as a temple.
You need to make it an everyday thing to maintain that healthy relationship with food.
Not just after Thanksgiving or New Year’s. It has to be an everyday act of discipline to eat healthily, be satisfied with food, eat in moderation.
Commit yourself to see food as a gift from the Lord. A gift that should not be abused but cherished.
Yes, there are holidays and birthdays. But not every day. We can celebrate! We can also fast. This is how you stick to the shift!
Have Less Shame, Improve Relationships, Loose Body Weight
When you give your body the best treatment it deserves, which is by acknowledging your body as a temple and treating it that way, wonderful things will begin to unfold.
You will feel more confident about your body, you will no longer keep holding on to those extra pounds…
You will feel great inside and out.
And even your relationships will improve, blossom, flourish!
This is what happens when you live your life in alignment to what you really are supposed to be doing.
Everything just falls into place, and your life becomes more harmonious.
Isn’t that amazing?!
More Ways to Honor the Temple
When it comes to food, it can be confusing.
But within the scriptures, we can find an abundance of foods that are both nutritious and healing.
In my Treasures of Healthy Living Nutrition Manual, collaborated by myself and Dr. Richard Couey, a professor of health sciences at Baylor University, you can explore the complete resource on nutrition, vitamins, foods, and their medicinal properties, facts about fasting and so much more.
God has given us so many foods that are intended to heal the body and prevent diseases.
There was a time in my life when I was overweight, tired and depressed.
Through research and diligent searching through the scriptures, I realized that there was a better, more clear way to honor my temple which is why I share this with you because your body is the temple too.
Feel better, look better and be filled with the fullness of God by honoring the body God gave you.
For more information on additional topics relating to nutrition and spiritual health, please visit my website at Thebiblicalnutritionist.com
Conclusion
Commit to eating real food, only when you’re truly hungry until you’re simply satisfied, all with the understanding of God’s great love for you.
This will keep you off the cycle the Israelites seemed doomed to repeat. How many years have you suffered from eating problems, health problems or tiredness? Now you can divert that wasted energy to serving God more. Your body will be an example of His goodness.
People will ask, how do you stay so slim? Why do you always look so healthy? How come you never get sick like everyone else?
The answer? You have decided to love God more than food and now your body is a walking testimony of His goodness.
Now you have more opportunities to share with people - not a diet - but the Lord!
If you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below.
Not all things that come from a can or box are bad-beans and grains are very healthy and are packaged that way. If someone is more likely to use canned beans out of convenience rather than dealing with dried beans, then that is a healthier option rather than a fast food stop.