8-18-23

 Thank you for trials you have given me

Thank you for the friends you have given me

Thank you that being in you helps me in sufferings and help me in seeing friends through you

Thank you that I can confide in you when friends fail

Thank you for your mercy and how you respond to me even though you are busy and important - you are lowly and you care about me

Thank you for giving me a word through Monica when I prayed and asked for one on Wednesday. Thank you that you are eager to help me! Thank you for helping me to trust in the face of accusation and pain. Thank you that you are my God. 

WORD 8-18-23

I was praying for you this morning and had the impression of God’s absolute delight in helping you when you face temptation or even fear about going back to old sins and wrong ways of thinking. It was like I saw you facing those temptations and I felt His eagerness to teach and transform you through those things. Keep trusting Him!

 Thank you very much - I asked the Lord for a word on Wednesday and He never fails. Thanks to is spot on. I have been dealing with lies about my worth/beauty. Could you please pray for me for that? I want to focus on what matters to God

 Thank you for sharing this! Yes I’ll be praying. As Corrie Ten Boom would say, you already have the victory in Christ over those things! He will help you!

Our body image should be based on only one factor: does the way I present my body indicate that my life is dedicated to the glory of God? When God’s glory is our goal, we can have confidence and pleasure in our physical appearance, regardless of society’s standards, knowing that we are pleasing the only One whose opinion matters (Psalm 37:18).

• Psalm 139:14 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
• Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
• 1 Peter 3:3-4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:44-49 – “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ... And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

The Bible describes our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit, as God’s workmanship, as dust. Not once are we admonished to diet and exercise until we are runway-worthy or to berate every inch we can pinch. We’re told to go into the world and preach the gospel, to be a light, and to be the hands and feet of Christ12.

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 1,036 helpful votes 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV / 900 helpful votes  

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

• Proverbs 31:30 ESV / 757 helpful votes 

  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

• Genesis 1:26-27 ESV / 607 helpful votes  

  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

• 1 Timothy 4:8 ESV / 604 helpful votes 

  For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

• Romans 12:2 ESV / 429 helpful votes 

  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 402 helpful votes 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 ESV / 385 helpful votes  

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 317 helpful votes  

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Isaiah 43:7 ESV / 317 helpful votes 

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 287 helpful votes 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 3:21 ESV / 221 helpful votes  

Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV / 269 helpful votes 

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Psalm 45:11 ESV / 196 helpful votes 

And the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.

Romans 6:6 ESV / 127 helpful votes 

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away! “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.”

Song of Solomon 2:10-16

I hope this helps!

What does the Bible say about having a poor or healthy body image?

ANSWER

The Bible has a lot to say about our physical bodies. Genesis 1 describes the unique ways in which God designed the first man and woman. God spoke the entire universe into existence (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9). But when God created man, He took the dust of the earth and formed Adam’s body. God then breathed into Adam’s nostrils “the breath of life and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). God later formed the first woman, Eve, out of a rib from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:21–22). The physical bodies of the man and woman were created to contain the spirit that God then breathed into them. They were designed specifically by the Creator Himself to reflect His own image. So Scripture is clear that God cares a great deal about our physical bodies and how we treat them (Romans 12:1).

A problem arises with “body image” when we disagree with or take credit for God’s design. Striving to keep our bodies healthy and functioning is a worthy goal. However, when we place too much focus upon the appearance of our bodies, it leaves little room for diversity. Our body image is a direct result of the attention we pay to our particular culture’s ideas of what is acceptable. Every culture has its own ideas of beauty. Most twenty-first-century Americans would disagree with the African Zulu warrior’s concept of physical attractiveness. And what Hollywood now calls beautiful would have been rejected by European aristocracy five hundred years ago. To despise our bodies is to despise the gift God has given us. However, to overemphasize our beauty or physique is to become prideful, and pride leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6).

Psalm 139:13–14 sets the standard for a healthy outlook on body image: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” If we are fearfully and wonderfully made, then that leaves no room for disagreement with our Creator’s design. Isaiah 45:9 says, “Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’” Even those with bodies that do not function normally can be thankful for the body they do have, knowing they can also bring glory and pleasure to God with their bodies, just as anyone can. We were each created for His glory and His pleasure (Colossians 1:16). Our physical bodies are part of His plan for us, and a healthy body image sees the physical being as a gift from a loving God.

When we give our lives to Jesus, our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19–20). As followers of Christ, we are to treat our bodies with reverence and respect, as belonging to Him (Romans 6:12–13). We are told some specific ways we can do that: by avoiding gluttony (Proverbs 23:20), abstaining from strong drink (Isaiah 5:22; Proverbs 20:1); remaining sexually pure (1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3); and controlling our words (Proverbs 12:22; Colossians 4:6).

Our body image should be based on only one factor: does the way I present my body indicate that my life is dedicated to the glory of God? When God’s glory is our goal, we can have confidence and pleasure in our physical appearance, regardless of society’s standards, knowing that we are pleasing the only One whose opinion matters (Psalm 37:18).

When does hygiene cross the line and become vanity?

ANSWER

Body image and health are huge topics of discussion in our culture, and it can be difficult to know how to care for our bodies without allowing them to become our idols. The most important thing to remember is that the body of a Christian is God’s temple; His Holy Spirit dwells within us. Paul writes, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Earlier, he wrote, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Clearly, we are called to care for our physical bodies. We were physically created by God and called to honor Him physically. That being said, our hygiene is important to God. The Old Testament is filled with references to hand-washing and foot-washing, washing clothing, washing before eating, etc. Ritual washings were to remind the people that they were not to come into God’s presence without washing the dust and dirt of the world from their bodies. The tabernacle in the wilderness included a basin for the priests to wash themselves before serving the Lord (Exodus 30:18). Even Jesus washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, although this was more a comment on servanthood than on cleanliness.

Washing is used in the New Testament to signify a spiritual cleansing of sin available only through Christ. Ephesians 5:26 tells us that Christ cleansed the church—all those who believe in Him for salvation—by “washing with water through the word.” Here we see the picture of the internal spiritual cleansing the Word of God provides for us. The rebirth all Christians experience is pictured as a washing and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). So it’s clear that inward washing and cleansing are important themes in the Bible.

But what about washing and hygiene as a physical, rather than spiritual, act? There is a line between hygiene and vanity that can be easily blurred, especially in a culture so motivated by visual beauty. How do we steward our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit without becoming vain? The most important thing is to monitor the condition of the heart. If we see our value in terms of physical beauty, we are missing the point. Our value lies in what God has done for us, cleansing us inwardly from sin, not in how much we clean and wash our outer selves. Our hearts reflect the person we have become—new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). It’s important to remember that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” God is not condemning beauty or caring for the body but simply saying that the body (or worldly beauty) is not the most important thing. We are to care for our bodies to keep them in good shape so we can be of value to God and His people, and this certainly includes hygiene. But 1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

As with many things in life, practicing hygiene while avoiding vanity is something that requires prayer and perhaps daily conscious effort. If our hearts are focused on God, we can’t go wrong. We should seek Him; trust Him for our needs; delight in the inward beauty He has given us; and steward our bodies as His servants, not as if they were our own. When we seek God first and abide in Him, we will learn to listen to Him and obey Him. In doing this, we will care for the bodies He has given us without allowing our bodies to rule over us.

What does the Bible say about vanity?

ANSWER

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV). The Hebrew word for “vanity” used in this verse literally means “vapor” or “breath.” It can also be translated “meaningless,” “emptiness,” or “futility.” This preacher is Solomon, and he is telling us that, after exploring all the world has to offer, he has found it amounts to nothing. It is pointless to chase worldly goals because they disappear with our last breath. That foundation helps us understand the other ways the word vanity is used in the Bible.

Romans 8:20 says that all creation was subjected to vanity because of God’s curse. When Adam sinned, God cursed all that He had made (Genesis 3:17–19). In other words, perfection was lost. All of creation is now falling short of its original purpose; rather than working in harmony with God and creation, inhabitants of the earth have turned on each other and against God. We still reel from the effects of that curse. Everything meant to be right side up is upside down. The chaos and insanity of the world as we know it are due to the fact that God has subjected creation to vanity until the time when it will be set free (Romans 8:21).

When vanity enters our personal lives, it brings with it pride, jealousy, envy, strife, haughtiness, and many other negative things. Vanity devalues what’s important and puffs up what is trivial. Vanity peppers the mind with nervous questions: “How do I look?” “What will people think of me?” “Why wasn’t I honored instead of him?” Proverbs 16:18 warns that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” but vanity rarely listens to warnings.

A person consumed with vanity is self-absorbed and preoccupied with his or her own opinions, issues, and desires. At the root of all vanity is self, which demands to be protected at all costs. Self cannot co-rule our lives along with the Holy Spirit. God will not share His throne. That’s why Jesus calls us to die to self in order to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Vanity is an enemy of the Spirit and must be constantly brought to the cross and crucified (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:1–6).

King Saul let vanity rule his life until it destroyed him. Strikingly handsome, gifted, and chosen by God, Saul had the potential to be a world-changer (1 Samuel 9:1–2). Humbled at first that he should be God’s elect king (1 Samuel 9:21, 10:21–22), Saul soon let vanity go to his head (1 Samuel 13:8–14). His vanity decided that he was important enough to disregard the command of the Lord and make things happen in his own way. Because of this, God removed His blessing and His Spirit from Saul so that the remainder of his reign was plagued with jealousies, murder, and discord (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:10–11).

Vanity can cause us to become impressed with our own greatness, achievements, or attractiveness. Left unchecked, vanity decides that we, like Saul, are important enough to disregard God’s commands and make things happen in our own way. We read, “Thou shalt not . . .” in Scripture but think, “That’s for other people.” If we are confronted about our sin, we get offended at the one confronting us.

The defense of vanity sounds something like this:
“I know I shouldn’t be doing X, but I’m really a good person.”
“I know what the Bible says, but I think . . .”
“We all have our own personal truth. My truth is that . . .”

Vanity played a role in the first sin in the Garden of Eden, and it continues to be the root of most sin today. Satan introduced vanity with the words, “Has God really said . . .?” (Genesis 3:1). Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was beautiful, tasty, and appealing, and vanity began to stir within her. The desire for pleasure and personal promotion displaced God in her heart. Still today, sin occurs when we allow our own opinions to trump God’s Word. When vanity rules us, God does not. When God rules us, vanity has to go.