Sweet friend,
Why do you workout and eat healthy? When we think of this question, we tend to respond with “to look good” or “to feel good.” However, our motivation for being “healthy” should go deeper! God gave us our bodies to use as His hands and feet to spread His word and to live fully. We were made to glorify Him!
One Body, One Purpose: Glorify Him
A common misperception among many people today is that the Lord is only interested in our souls and spirits. But in reality, He considers every aspect of our life important because He created each aspect. Our physical bodies are the means by which we connect with the world and other people. He intentionally designed our bodies with strong bones, coordinated muscles, bright eyes, a complex brain, and specific fingerprints for each of us to use to bring honor to Him. He’s the one who gives us each breath and keeps our hearts pumping day after day. Without God, we would be nothing.
In the first century, the Christians in Corinth believed what most people still think today—that the body isn’t that important, and we can do whatever we want with it. In Scripture, the apostle Paul corrected this misconception in 1 Corinthians 6 19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” We are called to use our bodies to glorify God, our bodies are His tools on the Earth to spread His word.
Here are 4 basic truths that reveal the Lord’s perspective on the body.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit . This one fact alone speaks volumes about our body’s value in God’s eyes because this is where He has chosen to dwell. Whatever we do and wherever we go, He is in us.
God owns our bodies. There is a popular belief in culture today, “This is my body, and no one else has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with it.” However, since we are made in His image, we all belong to Him. Someday we will give an account to Him for our lives in heaven. Colossians 1:16 reminds us, “All things have been created through Him and for Him.” Because we were created for Him, He has the right to dictate how we are to use our bodies.
We have been purchased by Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20). The price He paid to save us was His blood shed for us on the cross. With this one act of redemption, He restored us to a right relationship with the Father. This act began the process of transforming our souls into His image and was a promise to one day redeem our physical bodies. We will all suffer from weakness, disease, aging, and eventual death, but God considers the physical aspect of our life so valuable that He has promised to “transform" the body of our current state into conformity with the body of His glory.
God created our bodies for a purpose—to bring glory and honor to Him . This is the guiding principle for all that we do. We only have one body with which to serve and honor the Lord, so we need to do what we can to care for it properly.
Physical Obedience Brings Spiritual Breakthrough
The Lord designed our bodies to function with adequate rest, good nutrition, and appropriate exercise so we could have the health and strength to complete the work He’s called us to do. Although doing these things don’t guarantee good health, neglecting them can increase our chances of illness or weakness. The wisest approach is to do our best, to "live everyday to the fullest" by taking care of our bodies, and then leave the rest to the Lord.
“My motivation is to do whatever is required to stay in the best possible health so I can continue to spread His word and follow Him wholeheartedly. I want to live life fully so I can be the best mom, wife, and friend to those who I love. I want to be able to serve this community and make a difference in the lives of others eternally. What's your motivation to stay healthy? ” ~ Caroline Ward
Can we tell you the truth? He has an amazing calling for you too, beautiful friend. May there words encourage and motivate you to care for your body in a manner that glorifies Him.
Rest in His Presence
Finding time in your day to rest in the Lord’s presence allows your body, mind, and spirit to refocus on the true reason you want to be healthy. These “Legs Up the Wall” poses give your body a refreshing stretch while focusing your mind on the Lord with each slow, deep breathe. Renew your body, mind, and spirit with these 8 poses to begin or end your day focused on the Lord. Download the yoga poses below and add them into your daily routine to find rest in the Lord.
Meal Prep Checklist
TRANSFORM your Nutrition by planning out your meals and snacks for the week! Choose one day a week and set aside a few hours to make your meals for you and your family for the week! Meal prepping helps you eat healthy on a busy schedule and can save you lots of time during the week! Check out these meal prep “must-haves” and download it for FREE to start meal prepping today!
Let’s start #livetransformed and stay strong in September! We want to see you in the studio as much as we can to help you build STRENGTH in September!
Thank you for all that you do by being such an inspiring woman in this community! We are truly stronger together.
Check out our website for blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and more!
Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one.
Blessings,
Team TransFit