Your Body, His Temple.
A Call To Honor God Through Wellness
“19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
Every time I read this scripture, I’m amazed at how deep and complex this passage truly is. In Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth, he is reminding them of a deep spiritual truth, that not only is your physical body a temple, its a place of full time worship.
You May Be Wondering, “How is my body a temple”?
Many people go through life as if it were meant solely for personal pleasure, rather than for building God’s Kingdom. They live as though their existence reflects the workings of their own strength and accomplishments, rather than the grace of Jehovah. Others live as though their physical bodies have no place or position in their spiritual walk. They neglect wellness and wholeness as though the body has no connection to the Creator.
My friends, Jesus created us to be triune beings just like himself. We are spirit, soul and body and The Lord God has not separated us for this very purpose.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This scripture identifies that our Father desires us to be sanctified entirely, which includes spirit, soul and body. Jesus died for every aspect of us to be preserved and sanctified, and made holy.
But lets get back to the Temple.
The first temple or tabernacle (tent of meeting) was erected under the guidance of Moses. Moses went up to Mount Sini after the Lord God saved the Israelites from slavery and the oppression of the Egyptian gods (see the Book of Exodus). The most interesting thing is that God gave Moses very specific instruction for the building of the temple. I have often thought that God wasn’t much of a talker as the Bible is full of the words of our predecessors and those who paved the way. But it stumped me as to why the direct words of God were scarce. Then, I read Exodus.
In the second longest record of God speaking, Exodus 25-31, God is dictating his desired order for the of the temple and the worship to occur within it. I became fascinated with why God spoke the longest and gave the most detailed instruction about building the tabernacle. That lead me to research more areas in the bible where God spoke at length, which was his response to the plight and distress of uncle Job.
Job chapters 38-41 is the longest record of God speaking in the entire Bible. In these 4 chapters of uninterrupted speech, The Most High is touting his majesty and mastery of all things and highlighting the grand detail he used in creation.
So whats the point?
The common themes between Job 38 - 41 and Exodus 25-31 is that God is VERY detailed in his creation. He takes pride and glory in the works of His hand. All creation is made to glorify God, declare His greatness, and reflect His character. According to Scripture, the natural world exists as a testimony to God’s power, wisdom, and holiness, continually proclaiming His eternal nature and divine attributes. Thus, So should your physical body!
Your body was created to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Your body, was created with wonder and precision as Psalms 139:14 KJV says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works;”
Thus far,
We’ve established that your body is a wonderous work of art, whose creation was purposed to be a testimony to the very power and presence of God himself.
Though God created your temple, YOU MUST MAINTAIN IT!
Jehovah Jireh provided the specific pattern and instruction for his temple as the temple is a reflection of heaven itself. Paul tells us in Hebrews 8:5 that the sanctuary/tabernacle which Moses was instructed to build, was a copy and shadow of what was in heaven, and that it was very important to stick to the script.
“5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
The same concept is true about humankind. We were created in the image and likeness of God himself Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
“9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
Get the point yet?
Your body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and it was made for the purpose of glorifying Him. Jesus gave us this beautiful gift that we build and labor together with Him to maintain it. So, what are you doing with his gift? How are you honoring Yeshua with the gift he has given you?
You Don’t Belong To You.
You are not your own. You were bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV
Truth is, your life is not your own. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “… you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Likewise, 1 Peter 1:18-19 reminds us, “you were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Because of this great cost, we belong to God, and our bodies are His holy dwelling place. His ownership requires us to live in reverence and obedience, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. Our identity and purpose come not from ourselves but from the One who redeemed us.
As a child, I didn't quite understand what it meant to be redeemed. I had grown up hearing this my entire life—that Jesus died for our sins, and in doing so, He redeemed us. But the depth of the concept of redemption was lost on my understanding and what that really means for us, what that means for me.
Redemption is not simply a poetic or churchy word; it is a legal and spiritual term. To be redeemed means to be purchased back or received as a result of a trade. But purchased back from what? Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. That means that anytime we sin (fall short of the expectation of God), we personally purchase a ticket to death.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ”
Scripture tells us that all of humanity was enslaved to sin. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” and bound under the weight of guilt and destined for separation from God. The price required for our release was not silver or gold, but the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Jesus paid that price through His death on the cross. By taking on the punishment (death, sickness, disease) we deserved, He satisfied the justice of God and removed the barrier of sin that separated us from Him.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed”
Thank you Jesus!
Jesus not only freed us from the penalty of sin but also transferred us into the Kingdom of God, granting us the ability to live righteously, healthily and wholly through the power of the Holy Spirit!
This redemption is both a one-time purchase and an ongoing reality. It should shape how we live, how we see ourselves, and how we honor God with our bodies and lives.
Present My Body Holy?
“12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
When Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, he was speaking in a context that we know little about today. He was speaking of becoming a sacrifice to The LORD. How do we present our bodies? And what does holy even look like in the everyday grind of working, parenting, and just trying to keep up with life?
In biblical times, sacrifices were laid on the altar without spot or blemish, set apart, and completely perfect and given to God. Paul flips that imagery on its head by saying we are the sacrifice. Not in death, but in life. Our choices, our habits, our words, and yes, even how we care for our physical health becomes an act of worship. A 2023 CDC survey found that 73% of chronic diseases in the U.S. are linked to lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, stress, and physical activity. That means presenting our bodies to God isn’t just a spiritual metaphor, it has practical, real-life impact on our health and ability to serve.
This doesn’t mean that if we get sick or have illnesses that we fail in worshiping God. It means that if we update our focus of worship to include living a healthy life outside of Church (just as the Bible says), we’ll have better healthy outcomes as the Lord will honor us in our sacrifice.
To be Holy is living a life set apart from following earthly passions and letting desires rule us, to following God and letting our desire to please him rule our lives.
Let me ask you this:
Is overeating pleasing to The Lord?
Does it serve God to eat food of poor quality (choosing junk food vs nutritious food)?
Is Jesus pleased with a body that chooses to be sedentary vs active?
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Remember, food is a tool to fuel the body so it can be a vessel for the message of God. If the food you eat gunks up and hurts the temple God lives in, are you really presenting your Body as Holy? Are you sacrificing your body to the Lord when your choices reflect more of your comfort than Jehovah’s kingdom?
Hard questions - I know. But the good news is THERE IS STILL TIME TO MAKE THE CHANGE!
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Remember, Jesus paid it all! Jesus conquered death, sin and the grave so that YOU may have life and freedom. You are free to choose your path, and you owe him a great debt of gratitude. Show him that gratitude by presenting your body as Holy, as an acceptable sacrifice and a wonderful place to house the Holy Spirit.
Wrap Up
Your body is not an afterthought in God’s plan—it is His home, His seat if Glory, His temple, and His instrument for Kingdom work. From the details of the tabernacle in Exodus to Paul’s urgent appeal in Romans, Scripture consistently reminds us that God cares deeply about the vessel He created in His image. Presenting your body as holy is not about achieving perfection but about daily surrender and choosing to honor Him with your habits, your health, and your heart.
This is not a call to shame but to stewardship and worship. Just as priests tended the temple with diligence, we are called to tend our own temples with reverence and care. The data shows us what Scripture has been saying all along: how we live physically impacts how we serve spiritually. With 73% of chronic disease tied to lifestyle factors, the choices we make every day are not small—they are offerings of worship.
So today, choose life. Choose wellness. Choose to align your body with your spirit and soul in honoring the One who bought you at the highest price. Jesus redeemed every part of you—spirit, soul, and body—so that you might live in wholeness and abundance. Present your body holy, and let your temple shine as a testimony of His power, His presence, and His glory.
A Prayer for Presenting Our Bodies Holy
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for creating me fearfully and wonderfully, for making my body a dwelling place for Your Spirit. Forgive me for the times I have neglected this temple or used it in ways that did not glorify You. Lord, help me to see my health and my choices as acts of worship. Teach me to present my body as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable, and pleasing to You. Strengthen me to choose nourishment over neglect, discipline over laziness, and holiness over compromise. May my life reflect Your glory, and may my body serve as a vessel for Your Kingdom.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Action Steps: Presenting Your Body
Transforming your body into the temple of the Holy Spirit is not about chasing perfection or following fleeting wellness trends, it is about aligning your daily choices with the Word of God. The Bible reminds us that our bodies are not our own; they are sacred vessels entrusted to us by the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). This means the way we eat, move, rest, and even think is an act of worship. By approaching health with intentionality, we invite the Holy Spirit to guide not only our spiritual lives but also our physical habits. These action steps are designed to help you cultivate rhythms that honor God while strengthening your body, nourishing your soul, and renewing your mind.
Daily Surrender – Begin each day by praying Romans 12:1 over your body, committing your actions, health, and energy to God as worship.
Nourish Wisely – Choose whole, life-giving foods over processed junk. Ask yourself before eating: “Will this fuel my temple or harm it?”
Move with Purpose – Dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to movement (walking, stretching, exercise) as a way of stewarding the strength God gave you.
Honor Rest – Prioritize 7–8 hours of sleep. Rest is not laziness; it is obedience, a reflection of God’s rhythm in creation (Genesis 2:2).
Guard the Temple Gates – Be mindful of what you allow into your body, mind, and spirit (media, substances, conversations). Ask: “Does this honor the Holy Spirit who dwells in me?”
Build Community – Surround yourself with people who will encourage your journey of wellness and holiness, reminding you of your calling to honor God with your body.
Celebrate Small Victories – Each healthy choice is an offering to God. Recognize it, give thanks, and keep building daily patterns of holiness.
Your body is more than flesh and bone—it is a living sanctuary where the Spirit of God dwells. Every step you take toward nourishing, moving, resting, and guarding your temple is an act of worship and obedience. This journey is not about perfection, but about daily devotion, offering yourself as a living sacrifice to the Lord. As you walk forward, remember that each healthy choice is not only building your strength, but also declaring, “My body belongs to God.”
