I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm 139:14
Overcoming body image issues can take a lot of time and effort since the process of healing never looks like a straight line. The key to becoming confident and seeing yourself in a positive light is to practice loving your body. Learning to find value in your body beyond what you see can help deepen your appreciation for your body as well.
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
God is our Creator and we belong to him as his creation. Jesus died and sacrificed his body to save ours. Jesus left his spirit with us to dwell within us and guide us on earth. All of these truths give us reason to value and love our bodies for what they are and beyond what they look like. Our physical bodies are valuable because of God’s use for them.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. — Ephesians 2:10
God gave us physical bodies so we could do his work and will on the earth. Our bodies are the way we are able to go out and further the kingdom. We are given the divine and sacred task of tending to this earth together at the very beginning of creation. Jesus came to further that idea by tasking us to become fishers of men, extending our task beyond care for the earth to development of the kingdom. We have value no matter what we look like because our bodies give us this ability.
Reminding yourself of your value beyond your outward appearance can help change the way you think about yourself and your image. Journaling or practicing biblical affirmations can help you focus on your internal value which can boost your confidence and body image. Here are some ways you can do this:
- Choose a verse from this devotional or another that reminds you of why your body has value.
- Write down verses in a journal and follow with writing down what you value about your body.
- Put encouraging verses somewhere you will be able to see them every day and reflect on them.
- For every negative or critical thought you have, practice positive self-talk by telling yourself three things you like or value about your body that day.
Instead of dwelling on negative feelings, shift your thoughts toward something entirely different. Remind yourself of positive feelings and biblical truths about the physical body each day and make it a habit.
As a young person it can be challenging to deal with body image issues, even when we know we are created in the image of our God. Getting your bachelor’s in Christian studies with an emphasis in youth ministry can give you the opportunity to learn about how God values each of us and guide the younger generation through the kinds of struggles they will encounter as they become adults.
