March 31
Honoring
the Temple of God
"Don’t you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit is in you.
You have received him from God.
You do not belong to yourselves.
Christ has paid the price for you.
So use your bodies in a way that honors God."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIrV)
Amanda had always been the cheerful one in her group of friends, but behind her smiles was a deep sense of discomfort. Her weight had steadily climbed over the years, and she was now classified as obese. While her friends encouraged her to embrace her body as it was, Amanda couldn’t ignore the constant fatigue, the strain on her knees, or the way she avoided mirrors.
“You should just love yourself as you are,” one friend said over coffee. Amanda nodded politely, but deep inside, she felt uneasy. Was it truly loving herself to ignore how her unhealthy habits were affecting her body and spirit?
One evening, during a small group Bible study, Amanda’s pastor read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. He explained that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit—a place where God’s Spirit resides—and that we are called to honor God with how we care for them. Amanda felt as if the words were meant just for her.
She went home that night and stood in front of the mirror. “God,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face, “I’ve let myself go. I’ve treated this body—the one You created—as if it didn’t matter. I need Your help to change.”
The next morning, Amanda began her journey. It wasn’t easy. She swapped her usual breakfast of sugary pastries for a bowl of oatmeal and fruit. She started going for short walks, even though her feet ached and she was out of breath after just a few minutes. At times, the progress felt painfully slow, and she was tempted to give up.
“What’s the point?” she thought one evening after stepping on the scale and seeing no change. But then she remembered the verse: “Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.” It wasn’t about the number on the scale—it was about honoring God with her efforts.
Amanda decided to find an accountability partner. She reached out to her cousin Danielle, who was also a Christian and had successfully lost weight in the past. “I can’t do this alone,” Amanda admitted. “Will you help me stay on track?”
Danielle agreed, and they started walking together and sharing meal ideas. Over time, Amanda began to feel stronger—not just physically, but spiritually. She realized her journey wasn’t just about shedding pounds; it was about surrendering her old habits to God and trusting Him to help her care for the body He had given her.
One day, as she and Danielle finished a hike, Amanda looked out over the rolling hills and smiled. “I used to think loving myself meant accepting my bad habits,” she said. “But now I see it’s about loving the person God created me to be and treating this body as His temple.”
Amanda’s transformation wasn’t just external. She had gained a new sense of purpose and a deeper relationship with God. She wasn’t perfect, but she was making progress—and that was enough.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us in Your image and for entrusting us with bodies that are temples of Your Holy Spirit.
Forgive us for the times we’ve neglected or abused what You’ve given us.
Help us to honor You by taking care of our bodies, even when it feels hard or overwhelming.
Thank You for giving us strength and guidance in every step of our journey.
May we always remember that true transformation comes from You, and may we glorify You in all that we do.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
