Alright ladies, let’s tackle this whole “Your body is a temple” thing.
Learning how to respect your body starts with knowing what the Word actually says about honoring God with our bodies. We have all heard 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 used to encourage healthful living, diets, exercise regimens, lifestyle changes etc.
“Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore Glorify God in your body.” -1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It’s important to note that James was discouraging sexual immorality with these verses. However, the verses encourage us to respect our bodies which goes beyond abstaining from sexual immorality.
This is where things can get real messy! There are sooooooo many ideas in our culture of what it means take care of our bodies. As Christians, we don’t need to ask our culture how to care for our bodies because we have access to the One who created our bodies! To get a clear understanding of what it means to respect our bodies, we have to…
- Dig into the word to see what God says about it (grab my Bible Study here) and
- Sit down with the Holy Spirit to learn what we specifically need to do as individuals
After you have done those two things (seriously, don’t skip them) consider these 8 body respect tips:
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Practice Gratitude
Thank God for the body He created just for you. Make a list of the aspects of your body that you can be grateful for, and then praise God for each of them out loud.
Did your legs carry you up the stairs today? Did your taste buds allow you to enjoy your coffee this morning? Did your heart keep your blood pumping and your body equipped with the oxygen you need to stay alive? We are made to express gratitude for all the gifts God has given us, our bodies included!
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Get Comfy Girl!
If your clothes are too small, you will be uncomfortable no matter your body size. You’ll also probably feel uncomfortable in clothes that are way too big! Dress in a way that makes your body feel comfortable.
Trying to squeeze into a tight pair of jeans that pinch you and dig into your hips all day will make anyone feel too big and uncomfortable! It doesn’t matter your size, this experience often leads to negative thoughts about your body.
Instead of thinking the pants are too small, we often think we’re too big. Satan can take that thought and run with it until we’ve completely bashed our bodies! However, if you just go buy some jeans that fit, you’ll feel much more comfortable and confident in your skin. Your body deserves comfortable clothes!
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Stop Weighing Yourself
The scale tells you how much gravitational pull the earth has on your body. It does not tell you how healthy you are. It does no tell you how worthy, lovable, righteous, or good you are either.
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Stop Comparing
Comparison is the thief of joy. Whether you are using comparison to build yourself up or tear yourself down, it all leads to discontentment. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth” James 3:14
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Stop Dieting
Diet culture is so tricky to disguise itself as a way of life that respects your body. In reality, it teaches us that our bodies are wrong and deserve to be beaten into shape. Diet culture teaches us that we can’t trust our bodies, that we must follow outside rules and regulations to eat and exercise to keep ourselves well. This is the exact opposite of respecting our bodies. Respecting our bodies means that we let them take the lead, we listen to the signals we receive from our body and we give it what it needs.
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Stop Speaking Words of Hate
When we bash our own bodies or the bodies of others, we are creating more self-consciousness and body worry. Don’t talk negatively about your body. Don’t talk negatively about someone else’s body. Even when you’re alone. When you’re tempted to bash your body, return to that gratitude list and express thankfulness for your body.
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Praise God for Body Diversity
Thank God for making all our bodies differently! It would be so boring if we all looked exactly alike! Start taking notice of all the diversity in our bodies, and ask God to give you appreciation for it. It is possible to appreciate more than one body type, hair color, etc. Find respect for body diversity, especially your own!
How to Respect Your Body Tip: Be Realistic
We all were not created with the same body. Ask God to help you accept your body. Just as you wouldn’t try to make your size 8 foot a size 6, we are not meant to try and make our size 12 hips into a size 6.
I understand if you want to get into better physical shape so you have the ability to do more things. But, please let go of that “ideal” body you have in your mind. You are worth so much more than striving after that your whole life and your body deserves more respect than that!
Respecting our bodies means being grateful for them, listening to them and giving them what they need. It means being good stewards of them. It means using them to serve and glorify God. It does not mean restricting your diet, forcing yourself to do militant exercise, or achieving a certain body size.
Be sure the grab my Intuitive Eating Bible study and say goodbye to body anxiety now!
