What does God think about your Health goals?

I think we have all wondered about this at one point or another. Is it selfish or vain to want to better our bodies? Whether it be losing weight, or exercising to tone up?

On one hand Matthew 6:25 says, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Which can make a person think, "Ok, cool. I'll just eat whatever I want and not worry about it. Because my body doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things."

But then you read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body."

And then you're just confused about the whole thing.

Here are my thoughts:

I think a lot of this boils down to a matter of the heart. God knows if our desire to be healthy is so that we can better serve His purpose for the Kingdom, or if we just want to get skinny and make others jealous or lust after us.

God has given us these bodies, and I believe it is respectful to Him to want to take care of them and stay in shape so that we are better able to accomplish the mission He has given each of us in life. I know for a fact that He doesn't want to see us abuse our bodies but wants to see us take care of them.

Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me."

As long as we are not prioritizing our bodies over our relationship with God, and what He's called us to do, I believe that making goals for your health is right and Godly.

It can be easy for some people (I was one of these) to obsess over being healthy, though, and that isn't right.

I went through a time where I put exercise and what I was eating over everything in my life. (It was my "god" so to speak.) I would just about fall apart if I didn't do everything perfectly each day. I managed to run every morning like clockwork but was very sporadic to nonexistent with my devotion time with God. I was putting my health goals above my family and was frustrated when being a good Wife or Mom would get in the way of my running or eating schedule. I basically was so obsessive that I was missing out on my entire life!

I have since tried to prioritize my time with God over everything else each day. I start out each morning reading the Bible and praying. I've quit tracking miles and macros (Macros I track only when I feel like something is off.) and have switched to a more balanced way of being healthy. I listen to upbeat worship music while I run now, and that has just been incredible. There is just something about pushing your body to new limits while you are worshiping your Creator. I've started to view being healthy as the steppingstone for making me a better Christian, wife, mom & friend. Being healthy isn't "My life" but it enhances it and makes me better prepared to Fully "Show up" in my purpose each day.

God created each of us for a Purpose. Our Purpose in life isn't to be healthy. Our goal should be to be strong and healthy, so we are able to fulfill our purpose more efficiently and effectively.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

What are your thoughts?