Body Image Bible Verses

With warmer weather and longer days, I recently found myself dreaming of summer vacations with family and trips with friends. I started climbing the metaphorical mountain of things we wanted to do and places we wanted to go. Then, from out of nowhere, the devil tripped me and I started to slip down the hill and into the pit of body image issues. Phrases like “Swimsuit Body” and “Hot Mom Summer” seemed to pop up everywhere. Here’s the thing. Some of us struggle with this more than others, but to some extent, we all experience emotions and feelings regarding body image and physical health. I like to think “Active Body” and “Fun Mom Summer” instead.

While this can be a tricky topic I want to try to address it biblically.

Our bodies are temples that house the Holy Spirit and we are to care for them as such; however, I believe we are to care for them in a way that brings glory to God and not because we care what people think about our appearance.

My best friend and I recently shared the following verses with each other that we could read when we felt ourselves slipping into an earthly mindset and not focusing on an eternity mindset.

I pray that these verses keep your mind on eternity and not on the things of this world.

1-Praise him for your body

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

2-Your attitude makes you beautiful

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 Peter 3:3-4

3-Beauty is relative but the fear of the Lord is not

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

4- Remember to look at other people’s inner beauty as well

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

5- God made you and everything he made is good!

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

6- Take care of the temple

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

7-Give the struggle to the lord- be honest with him about your challenges

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship

Romans 12:1

8-Pray over food choices and even outfit choices-

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

1 Corinthians 10:31

9- This earthly body is temporary

…who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:21

Sister, I pray that you remember whose you are and that you were made perfectly by a God who knows and loves everything about you. I also pray that you have a desire to take care of the body that same God made so you can bring glory to Him.