Monday, March 17, 2008

Take Care of Your Temple

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)

from His Princess, Love Letters From Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd



My Princess ... Take Care of Your Temple

My love, you are My special treasure. You are My royal temple,
and I---your King---dwell within you. I created you to be a royal, holy
place where My Holy Spirit lives. I want you to be a glorious, shining
example of My handiwork for the entire world to see. Although your eternal
King resides in you, your body is still in need of rest. Take time for
yourself; your mental and spiritual health depend on it. Your're not being
selfish by doing this, so don't let others make you feel guilty about your
decision. My princess, you and I will work in complete harmony with a
divine purpose and a royal commission---to touch the hearts of those around
you. In your quiet times, My precious one, come into My presence, and let
Me refresh your temple with My spiritual strength. It is My good pleasure
to give you all you need.


Love,
Your King and your Caretaker

I read this today and just had to share it. Sometimes, well lots of times, I think of my body more in terms of what kind of outer shape I'm in. When I think of it in terms of that God resides there...it's His temple... it just gives me so much more purpose.


Let's make it a goal this week to take great care of our bodies, God's temple.


Stay Sweet and Beautiful:)

Love,


Melissa


***Just 4 more days until the give away. Keep posting and I'll be giving away the book, I'm Beautiful, Why Can't I See It? by Kimberly Davidson.

19 comments:

Joyful said...

I've GOT TO BUY THIS BOOK!!! Thanks for sharing Melissa.

It was so wonderful to hear your voice this morning - what a treat! You sound as sweet as I imagined!

I've been checking your 'accountability' and haven't seen anything posted in 3 days - how's that going?

Hope you had a great day!
Love & prayers,
Joy

Chef Diane said...

Thanks for sharing this one. As I lay here tonight looking at the scars on my body and purple cast on my leg it has been hard. I have viewed my body in neg. ways, but God doesn’t. I see all the scars and hurts. The bulges and bumps, where they shouldn’t be. But I believe that God’s view of my body doesn’t change. I am given the awesome responsibility of taking care of this temple. It’s the things that are beyond my control, that I have a hard time with. Today I got back in the gym for the first time in 6 years. IT WAS AWESOME! This is the first time that I haven’t had another surgery to face. It is still hard to look at the scars. But remembering that Christ had them too helps me out.
Thanks for writing,
Diane

Michelle said...

Thank you so much for sharing this Melissa, it really blessed me!!

Plant Lady said...

Oops!. I posted wrong. I meant to post here.

As I was saying, I have recently joined an exercise class some of the ladies at church are having.

It is so encouraging to know there are others who face the same struggles I do. In addition to taking care of my outer temple, I have also recently started a bible study at church with some other ladies who also recognize the need to take care of their inner temple. It is so encouraging!

Thank you Melissa for you encouragement.

Lisa said...

Thanks for the great post. Just this morning I was journaling about how I need to stop comparing myself (esp. my looks) to other women and appreciate who God made me to be. Thanks for the words of encouragement!

Angelfire212 said...

I think this is one of the hardest thing for Christian women in particular to grasp. I know I struggle with it daily. Being beautiful on the outside is all that seems to matter to society, and if you take that time, society throws a guilt trip on you for not doing something else...a trap I also fall into daily! Thanks for the words of encouragement to know that we're doing God's work by taking care of ourselves!

Blessed by Faith said...

Thanks for the encouragement. It is like a light just came on.
I feel like my temple has been through an earthquake. Shaken to the core, all that is left is a blob of fat, jiggling to get itself back together.
I have been struggling with seeing any beauty on the outside or on the inside of me. Depressed, overwhelmed, Angry, ugly, overweight, and just plain dumb for not leaning on God and the faith I have in Him to get me out of this pity party. Instead I have been wallowing in this dark hole.
I am going to make some changes. God has plans for us, but we have to do our part in order for those changes to come forth. Thank you for reminding me who I am and for getting me out of my chair!
Be blessed.
Darla

Tanya said...

Something all women struggle with, at some point, I think. So much better to remember we are daughters of a King, therefore princesses. Granted, our health matters, but our spiritual health matters so much more.

Lynn said...

Thanks, God has used your blog and devotions to speak and reaffirm me today. God is good! Thank you for being a faithful servant.
Lynn

Danelle said...

I just found your blog today - through the Proverbs 31 devotion. I have recently struggled with procrastination and making unwise choices with my time, so am excited to have found (i.e, God lead me to!) your blog for some encouragement and accountability. Blessings to you!

Rae said...

I am also doing LA weightloss. However, I've got a lot more then 20 pounds (15 down 55 to go). I was refreshed by this mornings devotion. It's exactly what I needed to hear. I put of things all the time--except the fun things. Some of the things on my list. I'll budget...tomorrow.
I'll spend time with the Lord...tomorrow. I'll clean/organize...tomorrow. I'll exercise...tomorrow. Tomorrow hasn't come for months or years.

I'm making my "to-day" list and checking it off.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I am going to try to find this book and buy it! (if I don't win it! Lol!) This subject is near and dear to my heart as it is the main point of my teaching to other women. We are God's workmanship and are so very precious to Him. As women, we all struggle with our own images and self-worth, But God has created us each as His idea of true beauty. Thanks for helping us to recognize that. Women today desperately need this message!
Blessings,
Starr

Jodie Wolfe said...

Thanks for sharing this today. What a sweet reminder of how we look to our Heavenly Father.

Unknown said...

I just stumbled upon your blog today after reading the Today is Tomorrow devotional and wanted to say thanks for sharing--it's just what I needed to hear! It is comforting to know that we are all on this journey together! Thanks for your encouragement!

God's Blessings,

Jennifer

Deb said...

Thank you for sharing with us. It's hard not to compare ourselves with other people and those people who we think have it all are probably looking at us and saying the same thing. It would be nice to be content with what God blesses us with. This is my first visit to your blog.

Thanks,

Deb

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing. I just exercised this morning and it is so much easier to do it with a friend!
The book sounds good.
Darla

Michele @ Frugal Granola said...

This was so encouraging to read.
Thank you!
Blessings,
Michele :)
www.frugalgranola.blogspot.com

Amy said...

I have also been trying to think of my body as God's temple since the New Year. I have been exercising 3-4 times a week and eating 2000 calories a day and I have only lost 2 pounds. I am very motivated to lose this weight and this site might be just the thing that I was in need of to encourage and give encouragement to others like me. I think you had a wonderful idea to start this blog. Thanks so much. I'll stop by regularly.

Happy Heather said...

THis is my first time reading your blog and I love it. I feel God led me to read your struggles and the encouragement that you have given me today. Thanks for allowing God to work through you, even when you are feeling bad, sick and worried. It is refreshing to have honesty among other Christian sisters. I feel that God made us beautifully inside and out, no matter what size we are. He has given us so many different spirtual gifts and wants us to use them for his glory.
And as you said, "Cast and Present" it reminded me of the catch phrase, "let go, let God" which reminds me to be in continual communication with Him throughout the day.
Thanks again for your openess,
In His Grace,
Heather