Stewarding Your Body: Honoring the Temple

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.”

— 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)

Let’s be honest—this one can be tender.

Of all the areas we’re invited to steward, our bodies are often the most complicated. For many of us, our relationship with our bodies has been shaped by decades of diet culture, shame, unrealistic expectations, and self-criticism.

But what if caring for your body isn’t about shrinking it, fixing it, or punishing it into submission?
What if it’s about honoring it—because it was created, loved, and entrusted to you by God?

A Temple, Not a Project

Your body is not a project to obsess over. It is a temple—a sacred dwelling place where the Spirit of God resides. It’s the hands that hold grandbabies. The feet that walk through your home. The arms that cook, hug, work, and comfort. It has carried you through joy, illness, grief, and celebration.

Stewarding your body isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
It’s about choosing habits that give you the energy and peace to live your life fully.
Practical Ways to Steward Your Health with Grace

Here are a few small shifts I’ve been working on—not because I “should,” but because I can. Because my body is a gift, and I want to care for it like I believe that’s true.

1. Choose nourishing foods that bless, not burden. Start with one gentle question: How will this make me feel afterward? Not “Is this allowed?” or “Is this healthy enough?”—but will this bless my body? Fill your plate with colorful, whole foods, but also enjoy the meal. Eat with joy, not guilt.

2. Schedule gentle movement into your day. You don’t need a gym membership or a training plan. Just move. A walk at the park. Dancing in the kitchen. Stretching before bed. Your body was made to move—not as punishment, but as celebration.

3. Drink water like it’s sacred. Water sustains everything. Most of us are walking around dehydrated and wondering why we’re tired. Keep a favorite glass or bottle nearby and drink regularly—especially first thing in the morning.

4. Create a “closing ritual” for your day. Honor your body with rest. Turn off bright screens. Make a cup of tea. Stretch. Breathe deeply. These small bedtime habits signal to your body that it’s safe to rest.

5. Speak kind words over your reflection. Instead of jumping straight into criticism, try this: look in the mirror and say thank you.

Thank you, legs, for carrying me.
Thank you, arms, for the work you do.
Even if it feels silly—speak life to your body.

6. Let one worship song speak life over you. Some days, music is the only thing that softens the noise in your head and heart. When you feel discouraged or disconnected from your body, play something that reminds you who you are—and whose you are.

Just in case nothing comes to mind, here’s one of my go-to songs:

You Say by Lauren Daigle – a healing anthem that gently replaces shame with truth.

7. Carry a verse for strength and peace. Some days, all you need is one verse to cling to—like a hand on your shoulder when you feel unsure.

Here’s one I carry with me often:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) –

"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

When You Feel Discouraged

If your body feels like a battleground right now, you’re not alone. There will be days you feel weak, frustrated, or disconnected. That’s okay.

Stewardship doesn’t mean loving every inch of your body every day.
It means showing up for it anyway.

Think of how you’d care for a beloved garden—gently, faithfully, patiently. That’s how you can care for your body, too. You’re not “starting over” every Monday. You’re continuing forward, one nourishing choice at a time.

A Journal Prompt for This Week

What would it look like to treat my body like a beloved garden this week?
What could I add, remove, or shift that would help me feel more cared for and whole?

A Final Word

You don’t have to chase after a perfect body to live a beautiful life.
You already have one.

The goal isn’t thinness. It isn’t a number on a scale. It’s presence.
Energy. Strength to do what God has called you to.
Peace in your skin. Grace in your reflection.

Your body is not your enemy—it’s your God-given vessel.

So tend to it like something holy.
Because it is.