Romans 12:1 (NLT)
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

You have to be absolutely clear why you owe your body life to God. I am afraid that when Paul asks the question, “Is this too much to ask?” most of us are saying, “Yes it is.” Do you really understand that God is in charge of your desires and your pleasures? Then release them to him.

One way you can accomplish this, with the partnership of the Holy Spirit, is to join God in an experiment. What is a body sin that is ruining you? Is it anger, gossip, pornography, unhealthy eating? Whatever it is, don’t do it for one day.

It will look something like this. Get up in the morning. Realize how good God is and thank him for this. Tell God, “I dedicate this day to you.”  Think specifically what is the one body sin you want to get rid of. Give this to Jesus for the day. Make a commitment to him.

For example, “Jesus, today I will not gossip.” This means your texting, Facebook posts, Tweets, or conversations may be a little boring. It doesn’t matter. You are following old advice. “Unless you have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.” Quaint, but effective.

When you are tempted to gossip, you will think of Jesus instead. You can’t imagine him going,

“Hey John, did you hear Peter last night? ‘Lord, I will never leave you.’ What a loser. That Peter is so full of himself!”

Think of there being a reporter following you everywhere you go this day. Taping your every word. Now realize this is exactly what is happening. The reporter is Jesus and he is right next to you. Now.

Really.

One day.

Try it out.

Then go to bed.

Wake up and start over.

Is there a bad habit you want to break? Go for it!

Here is a couple of “Don’ts” and a couple of “Do’s.”

Don’t:

Idolize your body

Here is where I draw such a fine line. On the one hand, having a healthy body is very helpful in giving me energy, focus, and longevity in serving God and others. On the other hand, if I get too obsessive about my body, which includes my health, I may be too anxious about death and aging and how my body may fail me. This anxiety stifles my reliance on Jesus for security.

Do you see the distinction? I am free to give my body over to Jesus, care for it through the wisdom I receive from him, and at the same time know that I will receive a new glorified body some day and will live with him forever.

1 Cor. 15:43 (NLT)

Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.

I’m getting pumped already!

Misuse your body

First, let’s all relax. Sometimes Christians get too choosy about this topic. Everyone seems to go to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to chastise someone else about something physical. It is not even used in the right context most of the time, which is that of a client of a prostitute.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” has been used for everything from drinking coffee (though health benefits of moderate coffee drinking have been established here, for instance), smoking (OK, not helpful) and drinking alcoholic beverages (red wine is all the rage for heart health; moderation is the key…).

It’s interesting that people don’t usually use this same Bible passage for exercise and proper diet. The classic case is a preacher talking about the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” criticizing drinking or smoking when, as has been said, “their own temple has a big front porch addition.” The gut hanging over the belt is an occupational hazard for many clergy.

It is important for us to have a healthy diet and exercise. It is important for us to get enough rest. It is a national past time for us to be overworked, overweight and undernourished. Transforming our bodies includes all of this.

The other ways we can misuse our bodies I have already addressed. Trying to be sexually alluring, “power” dressing, body language, verbal manipulation, and such. We are to give ourselves over the Jesus, as we are now his body.

Why are we always so interested in the personal habits of others?

God desires what is best for our bodies. We can have the body of Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we all grow beards. That’s a relief for you women out there. To be changed into the likeness of Jesus means our bodies become devoted to serving God and doing what he wants done. We are created to do just this. Our health and happiness are centered on giving our bodies over to God.
Intention is so critical at this point because our bodies are so demanding. So much of what gets in our way becomes an addiction. Addictions of all kinds are our bodies talking, saying they won’t have it any other way.

“What’s so bad about it? Lots of people do it.”

“I need this _________. I can’t live without it.”

“I can’t stop.”

Jesus knows we are going to have a challenge transforming our bodies more than anything. He said,

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)
Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit (our choices) is willing enough, the body is weak!”

God offers another way. We can’t will ourselves to “just say no.” We have to place ourselves before the author and giver of life and work with him changing into our best, true selves.

What are you tempted by that is not healthy?

How Jesus Affects My Relationship With You

The vision to transform my body rests on a spiritually-focused life. Here are characteristics of this life.

Your Body, Your Choice

I don’t force my ways on you. Following Jesus’ way, as I am in relationship with you, I will pursue his ways. I will not try to use any forceful methods of persuasion to get you to see his ways. I will not try to gain advantage over you. Like Jesus, I honor your capability to make your own choices without trying to manipulate you or aggressively applying pressure to make you change those choices.

Christ’s Choice vs. Your Choice

I will be in relationship with you, but I will also pursue the ways of Jesus. As I am experiencing Christ’s guidance and power in keeping my commitments to him, he is making it possible for me to refuse to follow any other road. It becomes easier to do the right thing.

In my relationship with you, if you choose a path not consistent with that of Jesus, I will respectfully decline to participate. I will do so in a gentle, non-judgmental manner, but the path I choose will be clear.

I realize this may seem strange. In the past, my decisions would be about following my own desires. It is not the past, however. In the present and future, I am committed to following Jesus’ desires. I will not try to force this on you, and neither will I back away from what he is doing in my life.

Peace

Loving God and others is my primary purpose in life. With Jesus on the throne of my life I can live this way. I am not trying to establish my kingdom but work in his. What does this look like?

Superstar athletes learn how focus so intently, they screen out everything that brings the possibility of negative thinking. Tiger Woods is an example of this. I spoke with a friend who has the opportunity to play with many pro golfers and he said the thing that sets Tiger apart from everyone else is his incredible intensity of the current situation. He lives directly in the moment and always looks for something positive to tune in on before his next shot.

When he hits it in the trees? No problem. There is that one opening there between those two big branches that make a target for the green. It is a perfect visual. If you are a golfer, you get the picture. Non-golfers, it just means the guy absolutely expects good things to happen (private life not withstanding…)

This is how my faith life can look like. No matter what is happening around me, my body and my body language are at peace. I can respond to any situation with the Bible’s tools of positive emotion. My body responds with love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and self-control. This is the energy I feed off of in my relationships with others. Also, this creates an environment around me that reduces anxiety in others.

Win/ Win

When Jesus is on the throne, I am honoring and respectful of others even if they are not following a godly life. I offer myself to God and so I can be completely open to you. I can practice true tolerance.

Tolerance is not approving of everything you do. The definition of tolerance is this: I am respectful and courteous to you and I disagree with you. You cannot be tolerant of people you agree with. My body is living in line with Jesus and so I am relating to you through him. I am his to use as he pleases. I am available.

This kind of life is made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice for me. As he gave his life for me, my life is totally his forever. I am the last person on earth who could ever say, “It’s my body, and I will do with it what I please.”

Now, how do I actually gain this spiritually focused life? Next, intention and means to transform my body.

Why do you think Jesus talked so much about not being afraid and not worrying?

Your Body, My Choice

I am on the throne of my own kingdom, but that is not enough. I need to be on the throne of your life, as well. So I go into a body mode in my relationship with you.

Tongue

“Verbal manipulation” is where I use word games with you to try to gain advantage over you. It is a sign that our human creativity and imagination are not always a gift for the good.

“Politically-correct” language is an example of this trait gone rampant. It is the language of the modern religion of self- worship. This is always shifting the playing field to suit my purposes; always keeping you off balance. Other tried and true methods are whining, flattery, and repetitive requests.

“Verbal attack” comes into play here, as well. I don’t have the time or the interest to use principled reason, so a good bitter, sarcastic, seething tongue-lashing substitutes for clear thinking.

Body Language

Here is another tool at my disposal to influence your “kingdom.” I become the master of the frown, scowl, rolled eyes, crossed arms, and chin-in-the chest. I am the man of a thousand looks.

Related are the sounds of body language. The “tsk, tsk’s,” deep sighs, and “harumph” breaths are learned early, along with language itself. Just witness a young child practice these as if he/she were working on a black belt in sound attack.

My Choice vs. Your Choice

Remember, in all of these attempts to be the master of my own universe, you are working the same program that I am. Here is where we enter into inevitable conflict. I can’t be on my throne if I have to deal with you trying to remain on yours, as well. Something has to give.

War

Here is where we cross swords. All of the unholy tools I have previously mentioned may come into use. I will gain the advantage at all cost. After a while, it may not be getting my own way I am after, it may be just as important to me that you don’t get yours. This is as old as the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). If Cain is not receiving his father’s blessing, well then, as a dead man, neither will Abel.

Win the Battle; Lose the War

Nothing good comes from this conflict of self-worship in one person battling self-worship in another person. If the other person gives in or simply quits, your satisfaction will be short-lived. The devastating effects may be permanent. We generally don’t engage in these battles with strangers. We match up against those we love; those with whom we can least afford to have fractured relations. Our stupidity in our interpersonal lives is often labeled, “self-destructive,” and indeed this is an accurate observation.

A confession: After writing on these characteristics of a body- focused life rather than a spiritually-focused life, I saw myself in some of this more than I would care to admit.

How about you?

Let’s look at some of the characteristics of what self-worship looks like, when our body desires are in charge.

My Way

This is the natural human response to life. As Frank Sinatra reminded us, “I did it my way.”

“I want what I want when I want it.” Perhaps we are all two year olds who never grow up. We allow our desires to be in charge. We just get more sophisticated in hiding the fact that we are on the throne of our own lives, instead of God.

If you want to see this attribute in action, watch how people drive in busy traffic. Cutting off, switching lanes, driving too close, don’t think of coming into my lane— That’s just the first five minutes of an LA commute!

“It’s my road and I will do whatever I want.”

You can tell a tremendous amount about the character of a person when you watch how they drive.

My Body, My Obvious Choice

In order to get what I want, my body decides. The obvious results are a life of attempted physical gratification of some sort. Booze and pills dominate the lives of many. Serial sexual activity for the young and not so young, pornography for all, modern life is not much different than the fertility religions of ancient times.

My Body, My Less Obvious Choice

Less obvious choices of self-absorption, have to do with other forms of “pleasure” or “pain avoidance.” Take “anger,” for instance.

Anger turned outward shows up as “rage,” and anger turned inward, often as “depression.” We overlook the internal psychic “pleasure” of both rage and depression.

With “rage,” I shift the responsibility of my problems in life onto everyone and everything else, except, of course, on me.

And “depression,” while devastating, in some cases brings a strangely comforting subconscious condition, again, as a means of not taking personal responsibility.

We don’t usually think on these things because our “bodies” tell us this cannot be so.

“I can’t help it; this is just how I feel.”

Do you experience rage or depression? What happens?

How To Get Into Shape

We have now looked at the means to transform the heart. Next, we consider transformation of the body.

Our bodies are the delivery system of who we are. In a renovated life, our bodies have to be ready to do what is right, and hesitant to do what is wrong. Our bodies are not evil in themselves, but they sure get us in a lot of trouble! In the process of transformation, it may be the body that gets in the way most often.

Our bodies are given to us by God as a good thing. He honors our bodies so much he chose to come in a “body,” as Jesus. This is called “The Incarnation,” literally “taking on flesh.” Christianity does not teach the body is evil. There are other faith worldviews throughout  history that do, and so they teach we have to punish our bodies or pretend our bodies don’t exist, in order to achieve spiritual growth. Not so with Christianity.

At the same time, we don’t worship our bodies or give in to bodily desires, as is called for in some other religions. In fact, worship of the body may be one of the key “religions” or worldviews of modern society. At least, it looks that way in media and advertising. Future archeologists will think of our age as the time of the bare midriff, perfect butt, and “six-pack” abs.

The result of all this obsession with the body, and getting what we want through it, makes growing older a curse. All the dieting, exercise and plastic surgery in the world is not going to erase the fact that…

…we are all going to die.

Transforming our way of thinking about our bodies brings us to the path where our body is a servant rather than the master of who we are. It is the difference between a  bodily-focused life and a spiritually-focused life.

What are examples of when you were taught your body is “bad”?

All Christians are called to love our neighbor.

“Love God, and love your neighbor.”

A key way for us to take loving action is through acts of compassion in the world. Through the spiritual discipline of “service.” But this isn’t the same as volunteering for a local charity. Even though volunteering for a local charity can be part of a discipline of service. If this is confusing, well, welcome to my world.

When is service a discipline, when is it a Christian response, and when is it just doing good for the sake of another person, whether you are Christian or not? Let’s break these down.

People serving people- God is the source of all good, so when people who don’t follow Jesus serve, they do so within God’s realm. Human conscience alone will lift up many opportunities to serve.

Followers of Jesus following the example of Jesus- When we follow Jesus and learn from him, we become the kind of people who serve others naturally as a response to the love we are given by him.

Service as a discipline- Intentional acts of service, focused areas of service, hidden acts of service, are all specific ways to be expanded by the Holy Spirit and be more open to God’s power being an influence in the world.

When someone joins the armed forces, we say they are “in the service.” When they are discharged or retired, it is called, “getting out.” Well, when we join Jesus in the greatest mission of the galaxies, to be used by him to expand his Kingdom, we are “in the service” for eternity. We never “get out.”

How has serving expanded you?

Humans have been worshipping for at least 30,000 years or so. That’s the age of the oldest worship artifacts discovered by archeologists. Humans worshipped the sun, other stars, animals, even trees. While all of these are awesome creations, we know best to worship the Creator, not the creation. And the Creator is not some unknown god of nature, rather we worship the living God, revealed directly through Jesus.

When I give myself over to adoring God, it is a wonderful opportunity to get the focus off of me. This is the essence of worship. More Jesus…Less me.

Where to start:

• Attend worship- Make sure you worship weekly in a Christian community. This is a time set apart for us to show “whose team we are on,” and to encourage our “teammates.” Jesus lived the pattern of weekly worship. Why would I need it less?

• Music- This is the “heart language” for most of us. Listen to worship music everyday. …you choose the genre and artists. Hillsong United, David Crowder Band, or my own LIFEhouse worship posse are my usual worship music go to’s. Fill your car, room, or iPod with music that lifts up Jesus and his glory.

• Write down daily praises of your own in a journal. “God, I adore you because…” “Jesus, here are reasons I worship you today…” “Holy Spirit, I am blessed by you because…”

Find time for worship today…

Like other spiritual disciplines, fasting is shared by many religions. This spiritual discipline has an ample biblical witness from Moses to Jesus himself. 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil is a very well known event in Jesus’ life. So, what is the purpose of fasting?

Unlike fasting for political purposes, it is not to draw attention to yourself. Quite the contrary. When Jesus spoke of fasting he said,

Matthew 6:16
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do…”

Fasting is to focus your mind, body, and spirit on Jesus. It isn’t meant to be difficult or painful. In fact, according to Jesus, you may be “eating” anyway (John 4:32). Fasting is most often abstaining from different items of food or drink, or a period of time without any food or drink, or just without food. Throughout the ages, Christians have tried a variety of fasts. Sunup to sundown, once a week for 24 hours, even strict fasts, like twice a week fasting from eating.

When you fast, you might have cravings, and this is a good thing. You fast to show yourself you don’t always get what you want. This focuses your attention on Jesus, the reason for the fast. This can be a spiritually sharp time to tune in to God. It’s also a time God may reveal a challenge in you which you need to address together. Take advantage of the opportunity.

Try it! I recommend a fast from dinner one night until dinner the next. During this time, still drink as it relieves dehydration headaches. Relish the cravings…Oh, no did I say relish? As in hot dogs?

Stop!

“My God is not my belly…”