MORNING WATCH | DAY 21
FOLLOW JESUS 365: YEAR OF FAITH IN ACTION
THEME: Your Body, in Any Form, Is a Temple of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating our bodies and for making them a dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit. Help us to see ourselves as You do – fearfully and wonderfully made, precious in Your sight. Teach us to honor and care for our bodies, regardless of their shape, size, or condition, as a way of glorifying You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
“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 (NIV)
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Psalm 139:13-14 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
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Romans 12:1 – “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.”
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Colossians 1:16 – “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
ELLEN G. WHITE QUOTATION
“Our bodies are to be treated as the habitation of the Holy Spirit, temples of the living God. They are not to be neglected, nor abused, nor defiled. We are to preserve them in the best possible condition of health, that we may render to God the highest service of which we are capable… Every part of our being – body, mind, and soul – is to be kept in the most healthy condition, to be a fit instrument for the Holy Spirit to work through.”
– Adapted from Counsels on Health, p. 21 and The Ministry of Healing, p. 127
KEY REFLECTION
Our culture often ties worth to physical appearance, but God sees every body as precious – whether tall or short, big or small, able-bodied or with limitations. The Holy Spirit dwells within us not because of how we look, but because we belong to Christ, who paid the ultimate price for us. Honoring God with our bodies means caring for them with love, rejecting harmful comparisons, and recognizing that every form is a sacred temple created by our Heavenly Father.
FAITH IN ACTION CHALLENGE FOR TODAY
- Speak kindly to your body – Replace one negative thought about your appearance with a prayer of thanks for how God made you
- Care for your temple – Do one thing to nurture your body (drink water, take a walk, get rest, or eat nourishing food)
- Encourage someone else – Tell a friend or family member something you appreciate about their unique body or how they care for themselves
CLOSING MEDITATION
“Lord Jesus, thank You for making me Your home. Help me to honor You with every part of my being. May I see myself and others as You do – fearfully and wonderfully made, worthy of love and care. Let my body be a place where Your Spirit can work freely in me and through me.”
What’s one way you can honor God with your body today? Share your commitment below!