Your Health is Important to God

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own.

─ 1 Corinthians 6:19 AMPC

It’s a well-known fact that many people who buy gym memberships lose motivation quickly. Years ago, Harvard classmates came up with a novel new financial model for fitness clubs. Participants were given free memberships to a Boston gym, but would pay a $25 penalty for each week that they failed to show up for scheduled workouts. The program proved to be more effective in motivating people to stick to goals, because missing a workout created immediate financial pain.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says our bodies are not our own, but the dwelling place of the Spirit of God. The Bible makes a big deal of immorality and sexual sin; they abuse the very residence of God. It follows, then, that if you abuse your health, you’ll negatively impact your body and well-being. God encourages taking care of our bodies as His dwelling place.

You must attend to your health intentionally because the consequences of neglecting your body are usually deferred. The apostle Paul likened his life to a marathon, an event requiring consistency and tenacity rather than sprint speed. Every mile, every minute matters. Keep moving!

Today’s One Thing

Stay motivated today by acknowledging your health is important to God and remembering a lack of discipline today will create pain later.  List three ways a lack of discipline has hindered you spiritually or physically. Choose one thing you will do this week to be more disciplined in that area.

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