January 1, 2021
The 2021 Temple Remodel
Lisa Morrone
Today’s Truth
“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 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT)
Friend to Friend
The HGTV network has captivated many of us women by virtually touring us through a house that is in desperate need of repair and remodeling. And then—within the span of a one-hour program—we are left slack-jawed, marveling at beautifully re-configured and professionally decorated, “new” home!
Have you ever lived through a remodeling job on your own home? Let’s just say, one hour doesn’t get you too far along in terms of progress. Restoration is a multilayered process that, depending on the extent of the renovation, can take months, or even a year or more.
The same is true when it comes to the restoration of the Holy Spirit’s temple: the rebuilding and remodeling of our physical bodies. Here, too, there are no quick fixes. Health is a journey, not a destination. Progress towards increased wellness can only be made by crafting a thoughtful plan and by implementing it day-by-day, choice by choice. Then, as the months go by, a newly fortified Holy Spirit home will begin take shape, if we’re willing to put in the effort.
When you and I were first conceived, Jesus gifted each of our souls with a unique body. Once born, our primary caregiver was responsible for the care and maintenance of our physical bodies (feeding us, putting us to bed, making sure we got some outdoor activity). This likely continued until the day when we were deemed to be on our own. From then until now, we’ve had the responsibility (and privilege) of being our own caretaker.
So, we need to ask ourselves: How have I been doing with my responsibility?
“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 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT)
These verses remind us of three important facts:
- Our physical bodies are the earthly home for the Holy Spirit.
- Our physical bodies don’t actually belong to us.
- We must honor the Lord with our physical bodies.
Given these three declarations, you and I have two choices. We can live as if they are true and be moved to act responsibly, or we can ignore these truths and reap the unfortunate physical and mental consequences.
The reason Jesus cares about the wellbeing of our bodies is multifaceted:
- He has gifted us with them—and everyone expects a gift they’ve given to be well cared for.
- He has plans for how He intends to use our physical strength and our mental acuity (Ephesians 2:10).
- He doesn’t want to see us suffer the effects of disease or an earlier expiration than we would have if we had taken better care of ourselves.
The fact is girlfriend, your body was created on purpose, for a purpose.
Many times, we can talk ourselves out of the responsibility to care for ourselves but focus on other spiritual pursuits—Bible study, prayer, church attendance, etc. But the Bible shows us that taking care of our temples, the very dwelling place of Holy Spirit, is important as well.
Let’s Pray
Lord, I humbly repent of the sin of neglect, abuse, or disuse that may have caused my physical body to become broken down. Today I want to takes steps towards improved health—first, for your Kingdom’s sake here on earth, and then for my own personal benefit.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
What is the one area of your health which needs the most immediate attention?
Pray and ask Jesus to give you direction, motivation, and self-control to pursue life change in that area.
Set forth a specific plan of action and then seek out an accountability partner.
More from the Girlfriends
Beginning with a study in Nehemiah and fashioned after his 7-step approach to rebuilding, it’s filled with easy-to-do, practical advice to restore your temple!
Also, check out Lisa’s Restoring Your Temple® resource collection and sign up to receive her Monday Morning Health Tips at www.LisaMorrone.com.
© 2020 by Lisa Morrone. All rights reserved.
Originally published Friday, 01 January 2021.
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