Enough: Lent DevotionalsSample

ENOUGH: GOOD BODY

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

Your body is not evil. If anyone ever told you that, they were dead wrong.

When God made us, He declared us good. Not just the spiritual part of us, whatever that is. All of us. Body, mind, soul. It’s all good.

This is why the incarnation is so significant. Jesus coming to earth, fully human and fully divine. When He rose from the dead, it was a bodily resurrection. He didn’t fly away and leave His body behind. Why? Because our bodies are good.

Walking in the woods. Watching a sunset. Running. Gardening. Laughing. Dancing. Painting. Knitting. Writing. Kneeling in prayer. Lifting our hands in praise. Baking bread. Making love. Eating good food. Offering a shoulder to cry on. Reaching out a hand to someone in need. All these things require our bodies; all these things are good.

The aim of life isn’t to escape our bodies for a spiritual experience – spiritual experiences require our bodies. Your body is the shadow of your spirit; your spirit is the shadow of your body. They make each other dance.

Dear God, thank You for my body. Thank You that You Yourself became a body. Thank You for making me the way I am; for loving me the way I am. Help me to love my own body, just as it is. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Gideon Heugh, Tearfund