We frequently place much of our self worth in the physical appearance of our bodies. On one hand, we may feel better about ourselves and have more confidence when we think we look good. On the other hand, we may feel depressed, insecure and inferior when we are discouraged with our physical appearance.

The Bible admonishes us to love others as we love our own bodies (Eph. 5:28a), and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19b). But, how many of us really stop to think about what it means to love one's self? You see we tend to breeze right over these passages; we skate right by them like they are not even there. But the scriptures parallel loving ourselves with loving others.

To really love others in the Biblical sense we must also love ourselves in the Biblical sense. Biblical self-love makes us effective vessels of God's Holy Spirit. After all, God has made us caretakers of His earthly abode, priests of His fleshly tabernacle. Therefore loving one's self is to cherish that which God cherishes and to be a good steward of that which He has entrusted to you.

Here is a simple exercise you can do to promote healthy love and appreciation of self and bring glory to God.

First, take 20 minutes, perhaps during your morning or evening quiet time, sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Pray and ask the Lord to help you praise and adore Him for the wonderful creation you are.

Second, begin to meditate on your fearfully and wonderfully made body by starting at the top of your head and working down to the soles of your feet. Take a minute or two to meditate on each of the different parts of your body, how they function and what purpose they serve. Give God praise and honor for His wisdom in creating you the way He did.

Think about your head: your eyes, ears, nose and mouth and the experiences they give you.

Think about your arms, hands and fingers and all the wonderful things they enable you to do.

Think about your heart and lungs and other organs and how they work together to give you life.

Think about your legs that carry you, your feet that move you and your toes that stabilize you.

Third, confess to God any thoughts or feelings you had during the meditation exercise that are contrary to His will. Confess to God any destructive and unhealthy ways you have treated your body. Confess that these thoughts and behaviors are dishonoring to Him and therefore destructive to you.

Fourth, pray and ask the Lord to give you a healthy appreciation for your body, His wonderful creation. Ask Him to help you to love and care for your body because it is His precious creation. Ask God to help you glorify Him more through your body.

Finally, offer your body to the Lord as His living sacrifice to serve and honor Him all the days of your life.

God created our bodies as houses for our souls and tabernacles for His Spirit. He also created them as instruments through which He would accomplish His will here on earth. But the first stated purpose of mankind in the Bible is to reflect God's image in the earth. He created our bodies and all the complex functions that they perform to reflect His glorious image to all of creation. What a high honor this is for mankind.

Securing our identity in Christ takes time and practice and yet is paramount to our ability to love others. To accomplish this we must actively and intentionally cast down old ways of thinking and behaving. To facilitate this process, remind yourself regularly of who you are in Christ and that your body is a living tabernacle in which the Lord of Glory dwells.

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Copyright © 2004 Alan and Jean LeStourgeon