Stewarding the Body God Gave You — Worship with Your Whole Self

Key Scriptures (ESV): 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Psalm 139:13–16; Romans 12:1.

The body’s dignity. “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19–20). “You formed my inward parts… I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:13–14).

Enduring Word insights. Guzik explains Paul’s correction of Corinthian slogans (“All things are lawful…”): the body matters to God; believers’ bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Spirit—therefore flee sexual immorality and honor God physically. Enduring Word Psalm 139 underscores God’s intimate, comprehensive knowledge and creative artistry in the womb, grounding reverence for embodied life. Enduring Word

A theology of habits. Because the body is a temple, ordinary practices become worship: sleep, nourishment, movement, sexual purity, and technology boundaries. Present your body to God (Rom 12:1). Stewardship resists both body‑contempt and body‑idolatry; it receives the body as a gift for service and joy.

Five “temple practices.”

1. Rest: aim for consistent sleep as an act of trust (Ps 4:8).
2. Simplicity in food: eat gratefully; share meals that build community (Acts 2:46).
3. Movement: walk if able; treat your body as an instrument for good works (Eph 2:10).
4. Sexual holiness: align desires and behaviors with 1 Cor 6:18–20; seek help and accountability without shame.
5. Tech boundaries: guard eyes and attention; what you gaze at shapes the inner life (Matt 6:22–23).

Paul’s pointed questions. “Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! … He who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him” (1 Cor 6:15–17). Guzik notes sexual sin uniquely involves the body, yet the gospel brings real power to flee and to glorify God with our bodies. Enduring Word

Everyday liturgies of the body. Make morning hygiene a prayer: “Lord, cleanse me.” When exercising, pray for endurance in trials. When eating, thank God for provision and community. When resting, confess that God neither slumbers nor sleeps. When turning from temptation, declare 1 Cor 6:20: “Bought with a price; I will glorify God in my body.”

Fasting and feasting. Periodic, wise fasting trains dependence; regular, humble feasting trains gratitude and fellowship. Both honor the body’s place in discipleship.

Suffering and the body. Chronic illness, disability, and aging do not diminish dignity. In Christ, weakness can be a sanctuary of God’s power (2 Cor 12:9–10). Stewardship flexes to seasons and capacities.

Prayer. “Creator God, thank You for knitting me together. Because I am bought with a price, teach me to honor You in my body today—with purity, rest, and service. Amen.”

Question for reflection: Which one small bodily habit—sleep, movement, nourishment, sexual holiness, or screen limits—would most honor God this week?