Title: Christian Perspectives On Physical Wellness: Honoring God Through Healthy Living.

Have you ever considered your body as a sacred temple? And not just any temple, but a temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Sounds a little far-fetched? Well, it isn’t.

Paul writes in 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; you were bought at a price." Therefore honor God with your bodies.

These verses serve as the foundation for our discussion. Seeing our body as temple of God, is an act of worship. It's a way of honoring God, showing gratitude for the life He has given us and acknowledging the Holy Spirit within us. When we eat healthily, exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep and avoid harmful behaviors, we are maintaining the temple that God has entrusted to us. We are showing respect for His creation and His sacrifice.

We reflect God's Image.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:27 that God Created man in His own image....

This echo resounds in every fiber of our being, calling us to reflect God's image in everything we do, including how we care for our bodies.

What does it mean to reflect God's image in terms of our physical health and appearance? It means to respect and care for our bodies as precious gifts from God, recognizing that through them, we mirror His handiwork. 

 When we're in good health, we are better equipped to carry out God's work and fulfill our purpose on earth. Health is a resource for everyday life and being in good health enables us to serve God and others wholeheartedly and energetically. It's harder to reflect God's love, kindness and generosity to the world when we are physically unwell.

Stewardship of God's creation: When we think of stewardship, we often picture the care of natural resources, our communities and even our time and talents. Rarely, though, do we consider that the concept of stewardship extends to our bodies as well. But let's pause and remember, our bodies are magnificent works of craftsmanship. The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 ... I am fearfully and wonderfully made.. We recognize that our bodies are gifts from God and we must maintain our bodies in good health. It means choosing a salad over fast food, going for a walk instead of watching TV, getting adequate sleep and rejecting habits that could harm our health. These daily decisions might seem small, but they accumulate over time, profoundly impacting our health and well-being. 

Promoting self discipline:

Here we venture into a territory that requires both perseverance and grace: the practice of self-discipline in maintaining our health. This aspect is more than just a physical challenge, it’s also a spiritual journey, a way of honoring God through healthy living, by exhibiting self-control in our eating habits and committing to regular exercise.

Just as Paul illustrated self discipline with the verse below, we must discipline our bodies to achieve good health.The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." Discipline is important to achieve a healthy life. 

When we are healthy we gain vitality and strength to serve God and humanity.  As Christians, service to others isn't just a nice thing to do, it's a fundamental call from Christ Himself (Matthew 28:19), who spent His life in service to humanity. Therefore maintaining our physical health allows us to answer Christ's call to service more effectively as it gives us strength to be active in our communities, energy to give of ourselves and the resilience to keep going when things get tough.

Caring for our bodies is not only an act of self-care, it's a commitment to the call of service

Witness to non believers: In our society today, health and wellness are at the forefront of many discussions. People are increasingly conscious about their lifestyle choices, seeking balance and wellness. And here lies an opportunity for us, as Christians. When we prioritize our physical wellness, it serves as a living testimony of our faith and God's work in our lives. It can pique curiosity, spark conversations and allow us to share the hope we have in Jesus. When our lives reflect balance, discipline and respect for our bodies, it catches the attention of those around us, including non-believers. And this often leads to deeper, more meaningful conversations about our faith.

Let's remember that our physical wellness is a means to honor God, serve others and share our faith.

 Honoring God With Our Bodies: Our bodies are entrusted to us for a time, therefore we must take good care of our bodies in our nutrition, physical use, taking adequate rest and managing stress.

  Honoring God with our bodies also involves listening to them. Our bodies are wonderfully made and often give us signals when something is off balance. Listening to these signals and taking appropriate action is another way of honoring God. 

  Ensuring Emotional and Mental Well-being:

As we navigate our path of wellness,  Regular exercise, balanced nutrition and adequate sleep, for instance, are proven to enhance mood and mental clarity. Conversely, persistent stress or emotional distress can negatively affect our physical health, often manifesting as fatigue, pain or even chronic diseases.

Scripture underscores the importance of ensuring emotional and mental well-being.

In Proverbs 17:22, we read:

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

This verse beautifully captures the profound connection between our emotional state and our physical health. It highlights the healing power of joy and contrastingly, the destructive impact of sustained emotional pain.

Ensuring emotional and mental well-being is, therefore, an integral part of honoring God with our bodies. It's nurturing our minds and hearts, just as we do our physical bodies.

Take time to rest and rejuvenate, process our emotions healthily and cultivate positive mental habits.

 Longevity and Fulfilling God's Purpose: 

 Making conscious health choices - like eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, ensuring sufficient rest and maintaining our emotional well-being - can significantly enhance our life expectancy. This may add years to our life, but also life to our years, enabling us to live with vigor and vitality.

As Christians, the pursuit of longevity is not about fearing death or desperately clinging to this earthly life. We look forward to eternity with Christ, after all. Instead, desiring longevity is to cherish the life God has given us and wanting to make the most of our time on earth for His glory. It's understanding that each day we are granted is a gift and an opportunity to serve God, love others and fulfill the unique purposes God has for us.

Wisdom and experiences can be fruitful in serving God and others

Preventative Care Reflects Wisdom: The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:3

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

This verse, while universally applicable, carries a significant insight for our wellness journey as well. Replace "danger" with potential health issues and it becomes a compelling call for preventative care.

Preventative care is a proactive approach to our health. It involves making decisions today that will help us avoid health issues in the future. This could mean opting for a nutrient-rich diet over processed foods, choosing to exercise regularly, getting regular health check-ups or even ensuring we have adequate rest and mental health support. It's all about making choices that not only honor God with our bodies today but also safeguard our health for tomorrow. Preventative care reflects wisdom because it means stewarding our resources wisely. Let’s not take our health for granted but do our part to maintain it

If we understand that while God is our healer, we should also consider that we have a role to play in caring for the bodies He has entrusted to us.

By practicing preventative care, we're not only taking steps to secure our health but also showing our respect and gratitude for the life God has given us. We're acknowledging that our bodies are not our own but God's and that we want to care for them in the best way possible.

Freedom from Idolatry of Food: Food, in itself, is a wonderful gift from God. It's a source of nourishment, a catalyst for fellowship and even an avenue to enjoy God's creativity. However, problems arise when food takes up a position in our hearts that it should never occupy. When we find our comfort, identity or control in food rather than God or when our eating habits become detrimental to our health, we veer towards idolatry. It's a delicate balance and maintaining it is key to achieving freedom from idolatry of food.

Philippians 4:5 calls us to live with moderation: "Let your moderation be known unto all men..."

Freedom from idolatry of food is an important aspect of living a life that honors God. Recognize that our ultimate satisfaction comes from God alone, not earthly pleasure. It means enjoying food as a gift but not allowing it to control us or determine our worth.

Fulfilling God's purpose in our lives:

We've discovered the wisdom in preventative care, seeking freedom from the idolatry of food and the role that balance and moderation play in our eating habits. Each of these topics highlights a different facet of the same truth: taking care of our health is a spiritual matter, an act of worship and a way of living out our faith in God.

What does this mean for us going forward? As we integrate our faith and health into our daily lives, I'd encourage you to start small. Small changes often lead to significant results. Perhaps it's choosing to replace one unhealthy food in your diet with a healthier alternative or making time for prayer and rest  to support your mental health. Maybe it's deciding to take a walk a few times a week, acknowledging the beauty of God's creation and praying as you do so. Each step we take towards a healthier lifestyle is a step towards honoring God with our bodies and our lives.

Our journey towards health isn’t to achieve perfection, but to show progress. It doesn’t mean setting unrealistic standards, it means honoring God with our bodies and lives. As we continue this journey together, let's encourage and uplift each other, always pointing back to the One who created us, loves us and calls us to live in health and wholeness.

©Marisa D'Amore, edited by Dr Joel Olanrewaju for devotional purpose. Reach me on gbemide09@gmail.com.