By guest blogger Trevor Deal, December 15, 2023

This isn’t just another article on why you should workout. 

It is so much more.

My hope is that by the time you finish reading this, you will see your body differently AND have a practical framework for how you can invest in it daily. 

First, let’s address this problem: 

We live in a culture that constantly toggles back and forth between hating how we look and being overly obsessed with how we look. 

Almost everywhere you go, the body is either glamorized or demonized.

We check out at the grocery store and find magazines filled with “perfect” bodies and guides on how to “lose 30lbs in 30 days”.

Or when opening social media, we see post after post putting the body on a pedestal.

We literally obsess over the body. So much so that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get our own “perfect” body.

For crying out loud, we made a shot that suppresses appetite so that we could lose weight… 

You see, culture’s view of the body is all about image manipulation.

“I have to work out today to keep my abs.” “If I eat that, then I will gain weight.”

You put in the hard work only to end up unsatisfied regardless of the results you got.

Does this sound relatable? I know I have been there.

Pursuing a healthier body doesn’t have to be about manipulating your image.

What if you could be proud of your body while still having deep peace in your soul?

What if instead of manipulating your body for your happiness, God created you to use your body to glorify Him, which ultimately will bring you peace?

Read that again.

I believe that God didn’t intend for health to be focused on image manipulation but as a tool that helps us love Him and others better. 

Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 6: 

“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.”

That is significant. 1) Your body is a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. And 2) Your body is not your own.

God obviously has a high view of the body if He designed it to be a temple for His Spirit and paid a price for it.

We cannot miss the charge to us as followers of Jesus at the end there… that we are to honor God with our bodies. 

Put another way, God is asking us to steward our bodies well. 

Just like He asks us to steward our marriages, our families, or our jobs well. 

We often neglect our bodies and view them through a cultural lens rather than how God wants us to see them. 

So, how can you steward your body well? 

I’ve put together a list of 3 daily habits, which all enhance our ability to love, that you can start doing to invest in your physical health:

1. Get 7-9 hours of sleep. To do your best, you need your rest. Scientifically, we see everyone needs 7-9 hours of sleep. I will spare you the research on this, but just know that depriving yourself of quality sleep is like operating in “low power mode.” It’s less than ideal and makes it way harder to walk by the Spirit. 
2. Eat one meal that consists of whole, clean, real foods. Think of foods that occur naturally and can be found on the grocery store’s perimeter. Foods like animal and plant protein sources, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. When building your plate, let ½ of it be made up of fruits and/or vegetables, ¼ be made up of a protein source, and ¼ whole grains. 
3. Get 30 minutes of continuous movement. Our bodies are designed to move, but sadly, our culture primes us to live a sedentary lifestyle. We encourage you to choose a form of movement you enjoy and do it for 30 straight minutes each day. You could go for a walk in the morning, hit a session at the gym, play tennis with friends, or do yoga after work. The application is less important than the consistency. We can all find 30 minutes to move during the day. Don’t forget the enjoyment part. 

I encourage you to try to be as consistent as possible with these 3 habits for the next 30 days and watch what happens. 

Yes, your body will feel better. But pay attention to your mind and soul too. 

After all, it’s all connected (more on that another time).

Remember this as you go: 

We invest in our physical health so we can love God and others better.

^“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Start today.

Trevor Deal works at Ironwood – an insurance brokerage firm in Atlanta. He and his wife, Erin, love the local church and lead the young adult ministry at Northlands Church.