Cultivating Healthy Body Image with the Word

I became a lover of God’s Word when I was eighteen years old. It was the season of my life when I began to realize that if I were ever going to heal from a distorted view of myself, I needed to look to my Maker—to the One who designed me in His perfect image. As I studied the Bible and communed with the Lord through prayer, it’s as if He removed the blindfold I had been wearing that hindered me from seeing my true beauty and worth. Unlike the lies that flooded my mind for so many years, I found comfort and peace as I read words of Truth.

What I’ve learned over the years is that change is gradual and healing is ongoing, but God has given us everything we need to fight our battles well.

God’s Word, the Bible, has been a critical piece of my healing and it’s what I continue to cling to so that I stay grounded in Truth. Out of all the books I’ve ever read, it’s the One that’s changed my life the most.

If you’ve been following this blog you probably know that I have a strong heart for encouraging women in the areas of body image/identity/self esteem. This passion comes directly from my own journey of discovering freedom from an eating disorder by embracing my identity as a daughter of the King of kings. I’m a much different person than I was fifteen years ago, and God is continuing to heal me and lead me to greater freedom.

Eating disorder or not, I have yet to meet a woman who hasn’t struggled even just a little with her body and view of herself. I believe this is one area where the enemy especially targets women, but I’ve learned that there is One who is greater—Jesus!

Lately it’s been on my heart to share some of the Bible verses that have helped me fight the body image battle, and I say some because there are many more. I’m a firm believer in proclaiming Truth, especially as a way to silence the lies, and the Bible is full of beautiful Truth and promises we can speak over ourselves daily.

When it comes to cultivating healthy body image these are a handful of my favorite verses paired with a “truth phrase,” and I also created a printable that you can download for free. So be sure to scroll to the end of this post! 

All verses are in the ESV translation.

Truth #1: I am made in the image of God.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  {Genesis 1:27}

Truth #2: I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” {Psalm 139:14}

Truth #3: I am royalty.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” {1 Peter 2:9}

Truth #4: I was created for a specific purpose.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” {Ephesians 2:10}

Truth #5: I am known and valuable.

“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” {Matthew 10:30}

Truth #6: My mind can be renewed.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” {Romans 12:2}

Truth #7: My spiritual health has eternal value.

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” {1 Timothy 4:8}

Truth #8: God cares more about my heart than my outward appearance.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” {1 Samuel 16:7}

Truth #9: Jesus died for me and my body is not my own.

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” {1 Corinthians 6:20}

Truth #10: When I pursue the King, I cultivate inner beauty and bring glory to Him.

“But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” {1 Peter 3:4}

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PRINTABLE VERSION:

 10 Bible Verses for Cultivating Healthy Body Image [ Download & Print HERE]

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Additional Ideas for how to use these verses:

• Focus on one verse for an entire week: write it out in your journal, post in on your mirror, read it in several different translations, memorize it, etc. Pray and ask God to reveal to you what He wants you to know and jot down anything He tells you throughout the week { I recommend keeping a prayer journal}.
• Post the list of verses by a mirror or place you are often so you can easily reference them.
• Write out a prayer for each verse.
• Read each verse in context {the verses before and after}.
• Write the verses on sticky notes and post them in random places around the home.
• Share them with your girlfriends. I made this printable to be shared!

I hope you find these verses helpful like I have. There are so many more, but this is what I could squeeze into one page. Being a lover of The Word is one of the ways I’ve learned do battle well because the Truth has the power to crush the lies. From my own experience, there’s no “quick fix” or 10-step program for how to defeat negative body image, but rather, we become healthier as we grow in an ongoing relationship with Jesus. One way we do this is by regularly opening up His Love Letter to us—the Bible.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Romans 8:37-39 {ESV}