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Taking care of our bodies is not about appearance or perfection. It is about honoring God, making wise choices, and caring for the body He has entrusted to our care.
Have you ever borrowed something valuable from someone?
When a person trusts us with something that belongs to them, we usually become more careful. We do not want to damage it, misuse it, or return it in worse condition than when we received it. We understand that it is not ours to do whatever we want with. It belongs to someone else, and they trusted us to take good care of it.
That is how I feel about the body God has given me.
I consider this my borrowed body.
I am living in it, walking in it, working through it, worshipping God through it, and using it to complete my daily responsibilities. However, I did not create this body. I did not give myself life, and I cannot wake myself up each morning.
God is the One who gave me this body.
Sometimes we hear people say, “This is my body, and I can do whatever I want with it.” People may believe that because they are living in their bodies, they have the right to treat them any way they choose.
As believers, we have to look at it differently.
Our bodies belong to God. We are borrowing them until the day He calls us home. While we are here, we should do our best to care for what He has placed in our hands.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV)
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The Bible clearly tells us that we are not our own. That means caring for our bodies is not only a personal decision. It is also part of honoring God.
This Is Not Only About Appearance
Taking care of our bodies is often connected to losing weight, looking younger, wearing a certain clothing size, or trying to look like someone else.
That is not what this message is about.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice or improve something about ourselves. However, caring for the body God gave us goes much deeper than what other people see.
It is about being healthy enough to complete our responsibilities.
It is about listening when our bodies are telling us something is wrong.
It is about making wise choices concerning food, rest, movement, medical care, and the things we allow into our bodies.
Everyone’s body is different. We do not all have the same shape, size, height, strength, or physical abilities. God did not make us all the same, so we should not spend our lives comparing ourselves with other people.
I do not want to care for my body because I hate it.
I want to care for it because I appreciate the body God gave me.
We Protect Other Valuable Things
Think about how much effort we put into caring for other things.
We wash our cars, keep up with maintenance, and try not to damage them. We clean our homes because we want them to remain comfortable and in good condition. We put cases and screen protectors on our phones because we do not want them to break.
We are careful with jewelry, photographs, clothing, and other things that are special to us. When someone touches something valuable, we may quickly say, “Please be careful with that.”
Why do we show so much concern for things that can be replaced but sometimes ignore our bodies?
A phone can be replaced.
A car can be replaced.
Furniture can be replaced.
We only receive one body during this life.
We cannot control every illness or physical condition. A person can make healthy choices and still experience sickness. Taking care of ourselves does not guarantee that nothing will ever happen.
It means we are being responsible with the things we can control.
Small Changes Are Still Progress
Sometimes we make caring for our bodies harder than it needs to be.
We decide that we must change everything at once. We create a long list of strict rules, and when we cannot keep every one of them, we become discouraged.
Taking better care of ourselves can begin with small choices.
We can drink more water.
We can choose a balanced meal.
We can walk or move in a way that is safe for us.
We can go to bed instead of staying awake when our bodies are tired.
We can schedule the appointment we have been putting off.
We can take our medication as directed.
We can slow down when we have been doing too much.
One small change may not seem important, but small choices can become healthier habits over time.
We do not have to do everything perfectly to make progress.
Listen to Your Body
Our bodies often give us warning signs.
We may notice unusual pain, constant tiredness, headaches that will not go away, changes in our breathing, or something that simply does not feel right.
It can be easy to ignore those signs, especially when we are busy taking care of everyone else.
We may say, “I will make the appointment later.”
Later becomes next week, and next week becomes next month.
Sometimes we avoid medical care because we are afraid of what we may hear. However, ignoring a concern does not cause it to disappear.
I believe in prayer, and I will always believe God can heal. I also believe God can use doctors, nurses, medication, testing, and treatment to help us.
Going to a doctor does not mean we stopped trusting God.
We can pray before the appointment. We can ask God to guide the medical professionals and give us wisdom about the next steps. Faith and responsible care can work together.
Rest Is Necessary
Some of us are always doing something.
We work, clean, serve, answer phone calls, help our families, and take care of whatever needs to be done. Even when we are tired, we convince ourselves to keep going.
We say, “I only have one more thing to do.”
The problem is that there will always be one more thing.
Rest is not laziness.
Our bodies need time to recover. Our minds, muscles, and eyes need breaks. God did not create us to work every hour without stopping.
Mark 6:31 (KJV)
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while…”
Jesus understood the importance of rest. If He told His disciples to step away and rest, we should not feel guilty when our bodies need the same thing.
Sometimes caring for our bodies means sitting down, turning off the noise, and leaving an unfinished task for another day.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Food is a blessing from God. It gives us energy, brings families together, and can be part of many enjoyable memories.
Taking care of our bodies does not mean we can never enjoy our favorite foods. It means practicing balance and paying attention to how certain choices affect us.
Some foods may not agree with our bodies. Certain portions may be more than we need. At times, we may eat because we are stressed, bored, upset, or tired instead of being hungry.
We should be able to examine our eating habits without shaming ourselves.
One meal does not make us unhealthy, just as one healthy meal does not change everything overnight. The goal is to make wise choices as often as we can and ask God for self-control in the areas where we struggle.
Movement Does Not Look the Same for Everyone
Taking care of the body can also include movement, but movement will look different for each person.
Some people can run or complete intense workouts. Others may walk, stretch, dance, or do exercises while sitting in a chair. Some people live with pain, disabilities, or health conditions that limit what they can do.
This should not become a competition.
We should not feel ashamed because our abilities are different from someone else’s.
The question is not, “Can I do what that person is doing?”
The question is, “Am I doing what is wise and possible for my body?”
We can start where we are, use what we have, and make changes that are appropriate for us.
Remove What Is Causing Harm
Caring for the body also means being honest about habits that may be causing damage.
Not everything we have access to is good for us. Certain substances and habits can harm our bodies, cloud our thinking, and begin controlling our lives.
Sometimes people turn to harmful things because they are hurting and want temporary relief. They may be dealing with stress, grief, pressure, trauma, or other struggles.
The answer is not to shame them.
They may need prayer, accountability, treatment, counseling, and people who will support them through recovery.
At the same time, we have to be honest enough to admit when something is destroying the body God gave us. Asking for help is not weakness. It can be the first step toward healing.
Speak Kindly About Your Body
The words we speak about ourselves matter.
We may look in the mirror and only notice what we do not like. We say negative things about our weight, shape, age, or appearance.
We can become so focused on what we want to change that we forget to thank God for what our bodies allow us to do.
Our hands allow us to work, cook, write, hug, and serve.
Our legs help carry us from one place to another.
Our mouths allow us to pray, worship, speak, and encourage others.
Our eyes allow us to see the people and things around us.
Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
We can make changes without hating ourselves.
We can admit that an area needs improvement while still thanking God for the body He created.
Caring for Yourself Helps You Keep Serving
Many of us enjoy being there for other people. We want to help our families, serve at church, work, encourage others, and fulfill the responsibilities God has given us.
However, we cannot continue pouring out while completely ignoring ourselves.
Taking care of the body is not always selfish. Sometimes it is preparation for the work we still need to do.
We rest so we can have strength.
We eat so our bodies have energy.
We keep appointments so concerns can be addressed.
We follow medical instructions so our health can be managed.
Our bodies are part of how we complete our assignments on this earth. Caring for them helps us continue showing up for the people and responsibilities that matter.
Give Yourself Grace and Keep Trying
I know I will not make the best choice every day.
There may be nights when I stay awake too late. There may be days when I need to drink more water, rest more, or make better food choices.
One unhealthy decision does not mean I should give up.
I can make a better choice next time.
God’s grace gives us room to grow. It does not give us an excuse to neglect ourselves, but it reminds us that progress does not require perfection.
I can ask God to help me become more disciplined without condemning myself whenever I fall short.
My Borrowed Body
I keep returning to the same thought: this is my borrowed body.
God formed it.
God gave it life.
God placed purpose inside of me.
This body has carried me through joyful moments, difficult seasons, celebrations, grief, work, worship, and everyday life.
I do not want to wait until something goes wrong before I appreciate it.
I want to do my best to care for it now.
Only God knows how long I will live on this earth. My responsibility is to be a good steward for as long as He allows me to be here.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of the body God gave us is not about being perfect, competing with others, or reaching a certain size.
It is about remembering that our bodies belong to God.
We are borrowing them until He calls us home.
While we are here, we can rest, drink water, make wiser food choices, move in safe ways, attend medical appointments, and ask for help with harmful habits. We can listen when something feels wrong and stop taking our health for granted.
I know I am going to do my best to care for this borrowed body God has given me.
I will not always get everything right, but I can remain willing to improve. I can ask God for wisdom, discipline, and strength.
This body is a gift, a responsibility, and a vessel God can use for His glory.
As long as God allows me to live in it, I want to care for it with gratitude.
Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV) — “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost… and ye are not your own.”
- Psalm 139:14 (KJV) — “I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
- Mark 6:31 (KJV) — “Come ye yourselves apart… and rest a while.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) — “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink… do all to the glory of God.”
- 3 John 1:2 (KJV) — “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health…”
Reflection Questions
- Do I view my body as something God placed in my care?
- Have I been ignoring anything that needs attention?
- What small, healthy change can I begin making?
- Am I allowing my body enough time to rest?
- Do I speak about my body with gratitude?
- How can caring for myself help me fulfill my purpose?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the body You have given me. Thank You for every breath, every step, and every day You allow me to live.
Help me remember that I am not my own. My body belongs to You, and I want to be a good steward of what You placed in my care.
Give me wisdom to make better choices. Help me eat with balance, rest when I need to, move in ways that strengthen me, and pay attention when something does not feel right.
Help me appreciate how You created me without comparing myself with others. When I make an unhealthy choice, give me the discipline to begin again without shame.
Guide every doctor, nurse, caregiver, and medical professional involved in my care. Help me remove anything from my life that may be harming the body You gave me.
Thank You for trusting me with this borrowed body. Help me care for it with wisdom, gratitude, and love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With Love,
Ty 🤍
Encouraged by Faith
About the Author
Hi, I’m Ty, founder of Encouraged by Faith. I created this space to encourage others through Scripture, prayer, and honest reflections about everyday life. My prayer is that each post reminds you to care for every part of yourself while allowing God to guide you one day at a time.