“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
In the midst of a global pandemic, we are constantly receiving conflicting messages about how to treat our bodies: “Beat the COVID-15!” “Don’t worry about weight gain. It’s normal!” “Exercise to relieve stress.” “It’s okay to take a break from your workouts.” “Indulge in treats to stay sane.” “Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to stay healthy.” But the one constant theme seems to be this: Do what you think will satisfy you and your body.
Yes, we need to take care of ourselves. Yes, there is unprecedented stress that may affect diet and health. But the world gives insufficient advice on how to deal with this stress. Only Scripture gives us the truth: our body’s response to stress and anxiety must be worship.
The desire to satisfy our bodies is nothing new; in Numbers 11, the wandering Israelites had a “strong craving” (v. 4) for meat that led to complaining. This behavior was so odious to God that after providing them with quail, he struck some of the grumblers with a plague. The place became known as Kibroth-hattaavah: “graves of craving.”
God’s reaction might seem harsh, but beneath their grumbling, we see Him addressing a deeper sin issue. The Israelites weren’t complaining because they were hungry; God had been providing them with manna the whole time. They were lamenting because they wanted to freely indulge in their cravings back in Egypt, rather than dwell in God’s presence in the desert. To meet their inordinate desires, they would rather have slavery in Pharoah’s kingdom over freedom under God’s rule.
Many of us in this pandemic may feel a sense of loss regarding the comforts we used to enjoy: our favorite restaurants, quick grocery runs, and easy gym access. These losses, combined with greater grievances like job loss, economic insecurity, and health fears, have led the world to pump out even more messages about how to handle stress. This advice may have positive undertones, but as Christians, our end goal is not simply to be more positive — it’s to worship. Whether it brings us pleasure at the moment or not, as Romans 12:1 reminds us, we are called to offer our bodies as a “living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God.”
God satisfied the Israelites’ cravings, but not without a warning. He gave them both quail and plague: the object of their desires and a reminder that their desire for Him should be greater. Just like He provided for His people physically and spiritually in the wilderness, God reminds us today in the midst of COVID-19 that He is sufficient for us.
To fully appreciate this, we must distinguish Scriptural truth from messages of the world about the needs and purposes of our bodies. For those of you who are struggling with anxiety around food and exercise in this pandemic, I challenge you to a new kind of mental exchange: four Biblical “healthy swaps” for common worldly mantras about our bodies.
1. “Treat Yourself” To “Treat Your Body As A Temple”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that the most important purpose of our bodies is hosting the Holy Spirit. Scripture reminds us that our souls and bodies are intertwined. The Spirit dwells not only in our hearts but our physical bodies. It’s hard to listen to the Spirit when our stomachs are growling with hunger from crash diets (fear of Quarantine Fifteen) or bubbling with pain from one too many cookies (using food as Pandemic De-stress). Neither extreme will help us focus our hearts on Him. Give your bodies the satisfaction or the discipline it needs to be energized and clear-minded for the Lord. Find the right balance so you can shift your focus from your body’s needs to serving the God who fulfills all your needs.
2. “Feel Good, Look Good” To “Honor God, Not Our Vanity”
The popular shift in focus in fitness trends from vanity to body positivity is still ultimately a focus on ourselves. “Exercise to feel strong, not look good” simply replaces our desire for approval about our appearance with a more “acceptable” form of self-improvement. So exercise in a way that enables your body to serve the Lord, and check your motives for the workouts you choose. Ask yourself: “Is my ultimate goal to get a six-pack, or to steward my body well for the Lord?”
3. “Listen To Your Body” To “Obey The Command To Sabbath”
God reminds us through physical cues like yawning that we need to rest. But our minds (especially those of workaholics) can easily ignore this message and push on. On the opposite end, we use the same message of “holy rest” to excuse our idleness. Remembering that Sabbath rest is a gift as well as a command from God eliminates both extremes. Dedicate intentional time to spend with God while remaining faithful in your work. Do it out of obedience to Him, not your bodies.
4. “Don’t Take Food For Granted” To “Thank God For Every Bite”
We’ve been far more awakened to food insecurity than ever through this pandemic — through empty grocery shelves and closed restaurants, God shows even our more privileged communities that every meal is a gift from Him. Take the Lord’s prayer seriously and ask God for your daily bread. Thank Him for each day He sustains you with abundance.
Some of these mental exchanges might feel like overkill—do we really have to be so mindful about how we eat, exercise, or rest? But even in these little things, I hope you’ll remember how much our Lord deserves our intentionality and dedication. As Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” Let us worship God with our minds, souls, hearts, and bodies.