Axis Podcast Bible PlanSample

Body

The human body. What a magnificent organism. Beautiful, intricate, mechanical, with its mysterious ability to heal, adapt, change, and transform, wrapped in luscious muscle and warm soft skin. Truly the crescendo of creation, copied from the image of God himself.

Think about your own body. We were formed by our Savior’s very hands. He spoke the world into being. He spoke the animals. He spoke the man into existence. But the woman, He chose to craft with His Own hands. He sees us as beautiful and one of His greatest creations because He used His own touch.

As women (and men for that matter) in our current culture, it seems our bodies are in constant assault. If not from physical sickness, chronic disease or pain, then from society’s projections of what bodies should look like to be accepted. This assault is no coincidence. Almost everything we do is filtered through how we feel in our bodies, so it’s no surprise the enemy would attack us there. Our bodies are the vehicle of our purpose and we only get one. If our enemy can steal our energy, wellness, and vitality, or even our idea of beauty and acceptance then he’s more able to steal our influence for Christ. 

I (Anna) didn’t always see my body this way. Growing up, I struggled with body image issues most young girls face, but I weighed well over 200 pounds as a teen and young adult. I hated my body, and the shame I felt at my inability to control my eating spiraled me into a dark place in my mind. I wanted out. I wanted freedom from the shell of my body but I felt stuck.

Somewhere along the way I decided to start running. Early in the morning I would drag my younger sister to the gym with me and I would run on the treadmill. I didn’t love it at first. It was hard and I made excuses, but eventually I developed a habit of exercise. It made me feel better, more positive. I now realize I was releasing endorphins into my brain which gave me a sense of well-being and helped me fight my depression. I started having a more positive outlook on my life and realized movement brought me more energy from the inside out. I started to see myself differently as my movement spurred on my mindset and my mindset spurred on my movement—the two were connected.

After awhile I started incorporating better nutrition. I didn’t know much, but I started researching and learning what the best foods are for a healthy body. I went on every diet, did every eating plan out there, but in turn learned so much about food and nutrition.

For some of us, our relationship with food is so twisted we can end up feeling out of control around food, or deprived of some of our favorite foods in the name of shrinking our bodies. I’ve definitely struggled with both ends of the spectrum. It always seemed so elusive, this finding peace with my body image. I put my life on hold until I reached this idea of perfection. But you know what? Even when I reached my goal, I wasn’t happy. It didn’t bring me the fulfillment I thought it would. I learned that true and lasting freedom can’t come from the outside, but from the inside. You see, we forget our bodies were made to change as we age, give birth, and live life. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight, or wanting to shape your body. The problem is when it becomes an obsession or stronghold that holds us back from fully living out our purpose. This was certainly part of my story.

Through it all I’ve experienced so much freedom in the area of my body image. When it comes to staying on our axis I’ve learned to ask myself this question when it comes to eating: What foods will help me feel my best so I can most effectively carry out my purpose? 

When I approach my diet with this mindset, I’m better prepared to make the best choices for my body. Most people don’t realize how good they could feel, how much energy they could have, how clear-minded they could become, if, for an extended period, they remove the foods that do not help them feel their best. In this way you can reset your tastebuds, learn about the amazing, beautiful foods God created for our nutrition, and heal your relationship with food. 

Think about food the way it was first created by God. Whole, real, colorful, and nutrient-dense foods were given to us at the beginning of creation. If we could get back to eating the way Adam and Eve ate in the garden maybe we could get a glimpse of how our bodies were made to feel, before the fall of man. 

We will never fully experience our bodies the way they were first intended, but we can remain aligned with the choices that we know will help our bodies feel the best. 

Anna