Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to not neglect our physical body

Why God Wants Us to Take Good Care of Our Body
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“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 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)

Honoring God is not just about praying and reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible)—it’s also about taking care of the physical body He gave us.

Too often, we prioritize convenience and comfort over care. We sit for hours binge-watching shows, scrolling through our phones, and ignoring the body's need for movement and strength. But if we truly believe that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then caring for it is an act of worship. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV) tells us, “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.”

When we neglect our physical bodies, we can sometimes find our energy and focus lacking as well. Not getting enough rest can make it harder to get up early and meet with God. Honoring our bodies doesn't have to begin with dramatic changes. Discipline may begin very simply: taking a walk, drinking more water, stretching, getting adequate rest, turning off the phone, preparing nourishing food, or consistently making time for movement. And when we add God into it, we are honoring our spirits as well. We can incorporate God into every walk, run, and workout—not only building our physical strength but our spiritual strength as well.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) tells us to “put on the full armor of God.” Let’s be real—armor is heavy. However, a soldier doesn’t show up to the battlefield unprepared. They go through rigorous training—what we call “bootcamp” today—to condition their bodies and minds for the weight they must carry. Training happens beforehand, repeatedly, until the body adapts. Similarly, we as believers carry burdens daily: the weight of our calling, the struggles of our families, and the challenges of standing for Jesus Christ in a broken world.

Like bootcamp, our faith walk with Jesus includes building physical strength through movement and discipline, spiritual endurance through prayer and Scripture, and combat readiness through spiritual warfare. We face trials. We lean on our community. We practice sacrifice. And through each of these experiences, God is developing our endurance. One workout cannot build strength, just as one morning of prayer cannot sustain an entire spiritual life.

Consistency doesn't mean we never miss a day or never struggle. It means we keep returning. It means choosing to spend time in God’s Word when we would rather scroll, praying when we don't feel particularly spiritual, and continuing spiritual habits even when immediate results aren't visible. We shouldn't wait until the crisis comes to develop discipline. We can pray consistently before the diagnosis, conflict, loss, temptation, or disappointment. We can study Scripture before we desperately need to remember what God said. We can strengthen our bodies before life requires stamina from us.

There will be mornings when we don't feel like exercising. There will be evenings when prayer feels difficult. There will be seasons when spiritual growth seems slow. Just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV), “I discipline my body and keep it under control.” Discipline says, “My feelings don't get the final vote.” We aren't doing this just to win, but to give God the glory.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) reminds us (I am quoting part of these two verses, not all of it), “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” We may have difficult days, slow seasons, and moments when we need to begin again. But we can continue moving forward, trusting God to strengthen us along the way.

Following Jesus invites us into a life of growth and faithful obedience. Let’s honor God with our soul and our body. Move your feet in prayer. Stretch your faith and your limbs. Train for the fight. Not because we must prove ourselves, but because we want to steward well what God has entrusted to us.

And when we stumble, we don't have to stay there. His grace gives us the freedom to begin again. We don't have to get everything right. We can simply return to what matters, trusting God to meet us in the small, faithful choices we make each day.

The goal isn't perfection. It's faithful preparation. One prayer. One step. One healthy choice. One act of obedience at a time. And with God beside us, we can keep showing up.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for making my body a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the ways I’ve neglected this gift. Teach me to care for my body with the same intentionality I give to my spiritual life. Help me train like a soldier—strong in faith and firm in body—so I can carry the armor You’ve given me with grace and endurance.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “The Battle is The Lord’s” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Battle Belongs to God Praise Medley” by Nathaniel Bassey. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Follow Christ” by Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans & Bob Carlisle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Be the One” by Al Denson. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Erica J. Hill is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother living in Georgia. 

With a career spanning both elementary education and higher education, she has served as an elementary and middle grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and now works as an administrative assistant in higher education. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media Center Specialist, Erica’s love for learning and teaching runs deep.

Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, she has faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and now as one of the youth directors at her church. A lifelong writer at heart, Erica once set her passion aside to pursue other career goals—but recently felt God’s undeniable tug to pick up her pen again, this time to write for His Kingdom.

She is currently working on her first book, Worthy. Whole. Woman. It is a devotional that she hopes will be an encouraging resource created to uplift and empower women—especially women of color—to walk confidently in their God-given identity.

Through her words, Erica blends faith in God, personal reflection, and practical wisdom to inspire women to heal, grow, and embrace the fullness of who God created them to be.

Originally from Atlanta, Erica now calls Macon County home, where she lives with her husband and children. In her free time, you’ll usually find Erica curled up with a good book, working on DIY projects, or planning her next travel adventure.

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Connect with Erica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsgrace2931/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsgrace2931/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to build a strong foundation

A Strong Foundation Takes Work
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”—1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)

Have you ever read the Parable of the Sower in the Bible and thought in that quiet, uncomfortable corner of your heart—I’m probably not very good soil?

I certainly have. And on my own, perhaps that’s true. I’m probably not good soil. Thank God I have a Lord and Savior (Jesus Christ) who irons out my messy edges and makes me right with Him. It’s on my mind this week because I’ve started going back to the gym. Fitness is important to me, but I’ve gotten off track with weightlifting these last several years. I’m not in my twenties anymore, but I want to have good muscles and not feel weak and out of shape physically. I want to be strong.

Still, in spite of this want, it’s hard to get up at six o’clock in the morning to head to the gym before work, especially when I’m exhausted and sore from the previous day’s workout. It’s hard to push myself to keep doing the hard things, to keep pressing on. This morning, I forced myself out of bed with great reluctance. What finally propelled me was the knowledge: Muscles take work, and I have to put in the work if I want to see results. Muscles don’t just happen on their own.

Truthfully, if you think about it, little really happens on its own. This ties in with my faith journey, too. Even though I did nothing to earn my salvation other than repent and believe with all my heart (as we know salvation is a gift from God, not something that can be earned), it still took work to get to where I am spiritually.

While the Holy Spirit gives me discernment and understanding, wisdom I couldn’t possibly develop on my own, a lot of where I am spiritually is because I chose to make Jesus Christ the Lord of my life. I chose to read the Bible daily and tuck His words deep into my soul. I chose to get up and go to church, to soak in the sermons, sing the songs, and worship with other believers. I chose to turn to God in prayer and not lean on my own understanding.

Just like my biceps and quadriceps need consistent daily and concentrated toning to reach their full potential, my soul needs consistent daily, concentrated care to be in full alignment with the Lord. I can’t just expect to be completely right with God without putting in any effort on my part. I have to do the work to craft a strong foundation. God does the saving, but I have a role to play as well.

This circles back to the Parable of the Sower. In Matthew 13:3-23, Jesus tells us how a farmer scattered his seed. Some of the seed fell on the path, some fell on rocky soil, and some fell into soil filled with thorns. No crop came out of any of these. But other seed fell into good soil and was able to grow and thrive and multiply.

That seed is God’s Word. We don’t want the soil of our lives to be shallow, rocky, or thorny but rather good soil, the kind that produces from the seed a bountiful crop for the kingdom.

On my own, the soil of my life can be shallow or thorny. Without proper attention and intentionality, the soil of my life might not be good soil. But with the work I do spiritually, I’m striving to remove the thorns and the rocks from my soil, so that God’s Word is able to grow and thrive and multiply not only in my life, but in the world around me. I do this because I love God. But I know the truth: I love because God first loved me (1 John 4:19).

In Philippians 3:12-14, the Apostle Paul wrote that he keeps pressing on in faith, keeping his mind set on Heaven. That is our task as well. Do what you can, every day, to cultivate good soil in your life. And remember: A strong foundation takes work, but we can do it.

Song of Reflection #1: “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Maverick City. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Press On” by Selah. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Her Christian contemporary novel, The Memory Garden, released this Spring 2025. Book two in the series releases this Fall 2025. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.