Embracing a Glory Mindset

Photo Credit: Sandy Happy

(By Heather Marshall)

Do you have a part of your body that you are unhappy with? 

Perhaps you don't like how your legs look or wish you had straighter teeth. You are not alone. About one in five Canadian women and 80 percent of American women report being dissatisfied with their appearance (GfK, 2017; https://www.carroll.edu/student-life/health-wellness/counseling-education/body-image#:~:text=The%20Prevalence%20of%20Eating%20Disorders,women%20(Smolak%2C%201996).

This dissatisfaction may not be limited to appearance alone; we might also grieve a loss of function due to illness, age, injury, or disease. It’s understandable, since our bodies don't always feel like they are serving us as well as they should.

How can we reconcile these negative feelings toward our bodies? We know that we are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and that God sees us, His creation, as “good” (Genesis 1:31), yet sometimes we struggle to feel that our bodies are good.

We may experience feelings of guilt or shame for the negative thoughts we have about our bodies, but this is where we need to ask God for a change in our mindset. 

Bible teacher Lisa Whittle shares her story of feeling self-conscious about the appearance of her hands. One day, she brought this concern to the Lord in prayer, and God impressed upon her the thought: “Lisa, these hands that I have given you have been used to write words that have encouraged others and glorified Me.” This perspective helped her transform her negative thoughts about her hands into praise for how God has used them.

Lisa describes this change in thinking as a “glory mindset.” 

This perspective is supported by Scripture. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “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.”

We are instructed to glorify God with our bodies, and even the parts we may feel dissatisfied with can be used to honor Him. 

Sister, can you reframe your thoughts about your legs from “I hate how my legs look” to “I’m so thankful for these legs that have carried me into places where I could serve God”? Or, the next time you feel self-conscious about your teeth, think, “I bless others and glorify God when I give a warm smile to my neighbor.”

Even in the face of illness or disability, we can praise God for how He can use our stories to honor Him and encourage others. This shift in perspective turns disappointment with our bodies into thankfulness. 

Joni Eareckson Tada, a well-known Christian author who became a quadriplegic in her early twenties due to a diving accident, exemplifies someone with a glory mindset. She states, “He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace. The greatest good suffering can do for me is to increase my capacity for God.”

In practical terms, shifting our mindset from negative thoughts about our bodies to a God-honoring mindset means recognizing that everything we do with our bodies should be for His glory. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

If we feel shame about our bodies, our behavior toward them may become punitive. For example, we might resort to extreme dieting and intense exercise programs to achieve what we think is the ideal body shape. However, with a glory mindset, we nourish our bodies and exercise in ways that honor God and are loving to ourselves.

Embracing a glory mindset transforms how we perceive and treat our bodies. By acknowledging that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, we shift our focus from dissatisfaction to gratitude.

Rather than allowing negative thoughts to dictate our actions, we can honor God by celebrating the unique ways our bodies serve Him and others. Each imperfection or limitation can become a testament to His grace and strength in our lives.

Let us remember that every aspect of our being has the potential to bring glory to Him, inspiring us to care for ourselves in ways that promote health and well-being while reflecting His love to the world around us.