Health Is Holy: Why Caring for Your Body Is Worship

Written By Jane Stoudt
woman relaxing in the sun

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to put your health last on the list?
There’s always another chore to finish, a meal to cook, a child to care for, a deadline to meet. And before we know it, our body whispers warnings—fatigue that won’t lift, anxiety that hums in the background, aches that settle in like unwanted houseguests.

I’ve been there. For years, I treated my body like a machine to push through instead of a temple to be cared for. But eventually the striving caught up with me. My health broke, and I found myself asking God: Does my body really matter to You, Lord? Or is this just about my soul?

Maybe you’ve wondered the same.

God answers us clearly in His Word.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds 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.”

  • 3 John 1:2 prays over us: “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

  • Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices—our very health and habits—as an act of spiritual worship.

God doesn’t separate our spiritual lives from our physical ones. He knit them together. To care for one is to care for the other.

Here’s the lie many of us have believed:

Health is just about vanity, numbers, or self-improvement.

But the truth is this:

Health is about stewardship. Health is worship.

When we rest, we trust God.
When we nourish our bodies, we glorify Him with gratitude.
When we move with joy, we echo His creative design.
When we slow down to heal, we make space for His Spirit to restore us.

The big idea? → Caring for our health is not selfish. It’s sacred.

So what’s the next right step?

🌿 This week, take one simple action that honors God with your health:

  • Maybe it’s sitting quietly in prayer instead of pushing through exhaustion.

  • Maybe it’s choosing a meal that leaves you energized instead of drained.

  • Maybe it’s stepping outside for a walk and breathing deep the air He made.

Then, as you do, whisper this prayer:

Lord, thank You for this body You’ve given me. Teach me to see it as holy ground—Your dwelling place. Help me honor You not just with my words but with my health. Amen.

Health is holy—because every choice to care for your body can become worship to the God who made it.

Jane Stoudt