Ministering to a Woman’s Heart, Soul, Mind, and StrengthSample

DAY 5: Caring for Your Body and The Body

Up until this point, we’ve explored how we can minister to a woman in the realms of her heart (emotions and desires), soul (spiritual life), and mind (study of God’s Word). The final devotional in this series explores a woman’s strength—in particular, her physical body and the relationships she has with others. 

First, it is good, not selfish, to care for our own bodies. We are stewards of our bodies, and bear His image, so taking care of his temple is an act of obedience and service to the Lord. An important reminder here comes from the ministry of Jesus. He demonstrated often that both spiritual and physical needs needed to be met. The gospel is of supreme importance, but how often do we see Jesus feeding people, healing their physical ailments, or meeting physical needs before he tells the people about himself? So often! He understood, as the embodied, incarnate God himself, that the body matters.

Second, we must view our bodies rightly, particularly in view of how Scripture speaks. We must continue to view our bodies, and the bodies of others, as God-given instruments of worship and service, whose proper orientation should be toward God and not ourselves. This means we should seek to treat our bodies in ways that care well for ourselves and others. 

Third, our bodies are active participants in ascribing honor and glory to God. They are either used to worship him or to serve ourselves. We are to sacrificially use our bodies for his glory rather than our own. What does that look like? It looks like the obvious sorts of things we might naturally assume already—say, not using our body to harm another person. But it also means things that seem less obvious, for example, the subtle ways we present our bodies on social media, or the sarcastic and shaming face we make when our friend or spouse says something we disagree with. It’s helpful to remember Jesus’s principle here: the body tells on the heart. 

Finally, it is our responsibility as believers to care for others within the Church. It is fitting that Paul uses the analogy of the human body in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 when he discusses this point. God equipped us as parts of the larger Body to care for the individual, physical needs of one another.

The body is a significant part of who we are; we cannot escape it. Although it was created in service to both God and others, our bodies also have needs that must be met. Those needs may be simple, like providing a meal or taking care of someone when they are sick. Or those needs may be more complex, like ongoing care in the midst of a terminal illness or failing mind. But within the Church, God has equipped us for ministering to women holistically, including their physical bodies.

Let us see this attention to our physical beings as part of our whole worship of our Creator, the giver of our bodies and souls. Let us use our bodies as participants in loving the Lord and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40).

Reflect: 

• How might we sacrificially use our bodies for God’s glory rather than our own (Rom 12:1)?

We hope this plan encouraged you as you minister to the women in your life. Learn more at thewholewomanbook.com.