Today I’m changing it up a little bit by offering a prayer for making wise choices about our bodies. I admit I consistently make poor choices regarding my body, especially when it comes to eating healthy or exercising. Though the Bible says spiritual health is far more important than physical wellbeing, we’re still not supposed to completely throw physical self-care out of the window. We have been called to be good stewards of God’s gifts to us, which includes caring for the one body we’ve been given. Of course we shouldn’t go to the other extreme of making our body (physical appearance) our god. There must be a healthy balance.
Father God, our Glorious and Understanding Creator, You have blessed us with much wisdom and guidance. We praise you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. You remind us that in addition to godliness which is of great value in this life and the next, bodily training still has some value. Our bodies are the temple of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. We are not our own, we were bought with a price, so we are told to glorify You with our bodies. We remember that if we destroy Your temple, you will destroy us, for we are Your temple, and we are made holy through Jesus. May we then offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to You, which is a form of spiritual worship. Just as Daniel resolved not to defile himself through food and drink, may we too eat and drink in a way that glorifies You. May we continue to pray for wisdom and guidance in being good stewards of all You have given us, including these bodies, so we may have good physical health in addition to healthy souls. We realize that many health complications are outside of our control, though we ask You to please help us control that which is within our ability. In this way may we love You O Lord, with all of our heart, mind, strength, and soul, from this day forward, amen.
[Inspired by: Psa 139:14, 1 Tim 4:8, 1 Cor 6:19-20, 1 Cor 3:17, Rm 12:1, Dan 1:8, 1 Cor 6:20, 3 Jn 1:2, Lk 10:27 ]
~ Conqueror in Training