A Self-Image Attached to GodExemplo

Words of Truth

Building on the Rock is as simple as letting Jesus, our cornerstone, into our body image journey. Let’s start by debunking common cultural messages about our bodies and by choosing instead to stand firmly on the Word of God. To build a sound body image, we must uproot all the principles we’ve held about our bodies that are not given to us from God. Consider the contrast between these cultural lies and God’s truth:

• Lie: My weight is my worth. Truth: Jesus paid it all. My worth is in Him.
• Lie: There’s something wrong with my body. Truth: My body is God’s own temple, and it is sacred.
• Lie: I need to hustle to keep up with the world’s beauty standards so I can fulfill my call. Truth: God has already laid the plans for my life; no need to hustle to make them come to pass.
• Lie: Outward beauty is worth more than inner beauty. Truth: God values my unfading beauty.

The list of lies could go on for pages. However, another problem we often encounter is that some of these lies are so deeply ingrained that we don’t even recognize them as false anymore.

These tips will help you become aware of any areas of your body image not built on the solid foundation of God’s Word:

• Is this belief or behavior life-giving? Or does it suck the life out of you? If something is draining you, then chances are it’s founded on sinking sand.
• Have you spoken this belief out loud to someone else? When we bring things into the light, we expose anything that is not from the Lord.
• How is your self-talk? Culture has normalized talking poorly about our bodies. It’s not okay, and it stops with us today.

This process of establishing a solid foundation will take time and practice. Start by standing on one verse at a time and letting Jesus plant your feet firmly on the truth He offers you.

Think of a time when you felt like you were sinking. In what ways were you standing on the solid rock of biblical truth? In what ways were you standing on the sinking sand of cultural lies?