A BODY MARKED BY GOD

Hello family

To continue on the subject of how we can align ourselves to be marked by God, today I'd like to share just 3 points on how we can submit our bodies to God to serve as a temple in which God can be glorified, and that He can call His own.

If you're saying "sis, I have no idea what you're talking about, what do you mean marked by God?" I definitely encourage you to check out the previous blog titled "A Mind Marked by God".

1.LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1 NIV

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

This scripture speaks to a daily recognition that as children of God, our bodies do not belong to ourselves, but rather to God - which means subjecting our bodies to God's agenda in every season. That may look like going where He sends you, wake up when He asks you, fast when He prompts you, resting when He leads you, etc.

It's funny because the amount of time we make prayers asking God to use us as His vessels, yet when He actually requests something of us, we rebel or delay our obedience. Being a true vessel of God as a living sacrifice looks like giving up the fruit of out bodies for the fulfillment of His plans regardless of our personal desires.

2.TEMPLE CARE

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple."

"MY BODY IS PART OF MY MINISTRY UNTO GOD"

I think what scared me the most when Holy Spirit shared this with me was to learn that I could be the one to destroy my own body (temple), not even the devil who seek to steal, kill and destroy. We can be the ones to destroy ourselves through unhealthy habits related to our eating patterns, lack of rest or exercise, sexual immorality, poor hygiene, and so on. Y'all the one I struggle with the most is resting my body, it's been over 1 year since I've been trying to find the balance of what that means and I'm still working with the Lord on how to do it properly. This year the Holy Spirit whispered something to me to remind me that caring for my body is part of my ministry unto God too. This truly started changing my perspective and is helping me to become more intentional about caring for myself. At the end of the day, we want healthy and lasting vessels that can stand strong to accomplish God's will on earth. As my African friends would say, "can't come and kill myself", we got too much work to do!

If physical buildings (referred to as temples of worship) that are less important than us in God's eyes are well cared for and maintained for excellence, we have a responsibility to pay attention to our health and the well-being of our bodies. Any neglect of that is actually disrespect to God.

Don't worry if you've been repenting while reading this, trust me I'm there with you. May the Lord help us all!

3.PORTAL CONTROL

EYES - Matthew 6:22-23 NIV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

If our eyes are are subjected to intake darkness, then darkness fills out bodies, and it becomes the lens through which we experience life. This world exposes out eyes to so much darkness through the things we watch on entertainment sites and social media to the point that we ignorantly invite darkness into our homes (lives) on a daily basis and wonder where these attacks are coming from.

I remember coming back from an encounter retreat in 2018 where I experienced deliverance from the spirit of lust. The moment I got home, Holy Spirit directed me to unsubscribe from numerous YouTube channels I used to watch obsessively of (unmarried) couples who lived together, and individuals who produced so much content filled with lustful images, in additional to certain TV series filled with violence, adultery, sexual scenes, homosexuality, etc. Prior to that encounter, if anyone tried to tell me watching these things we having a negative impact on my life spiritually, I would have laughed at you. But at that moment, no one had to tell me, I did not need a scripture to convince that if I am entertaining things that violate God's clear principles, I am automatically befriending darkness.

Protecting the gate of our eyes is something that we should take seriously if we want to see God and the path He created for us clearly.

EARS - Romans 10:17 NLT

"So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."

Based on this scripture, what we listen to determines what we believe in, where we place our hope, and what or whom we trust. In other words, our ears are the portals that gives entrance to the voices that determine the direction of our lives.

Both, the portals of our eyes and ears are the two parts of our bodies which have the ability to determine our walk with God because they control what we desire, our actions and therefore our habits.

Come on, don't leave me alone in this guys! We see someone do something we like, we try to copy their action; We hear something, we examine it, dwell on it, and sometimes acquire it as our own belief if we find it convincing enough. If none of that makes sense to you, food will definitely make sense, and if not, you might not be human.

You see a particular food item, it looks so good, you take a bite and according to you it practically tastes like heaven, you find out that it's actually very unhealthy for your body, but bun that because now you can't stop eating it. You've built a habit that seems impossible to let go of, and it will remain impossible until you decide to choose life over the pleasure the taste brings to you.

The things we subject our eyes and ears to become our truth overtime. That is why they are the same parts of our bodies God says we should use to turn to Him (repent) because we can sin through our eyes and ears - when we are not listening to God's voice or when our eyes are not consuming that which is pleasing to God, this is considered as being turned away from Him (see the below scripture).

Matthew 13:15 NASB

"For the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

Understand with their heart, and return,

And I would heal them."

These two portals grant entry to our hearts - those who are marked by God pays attention to what they consume with their eyes and ears. They make these portals available to God through spirit-filled and uncorrupted content. They are intentional about what they allow to have access ti their souls and spirits, and therefore, remain aligned with serving one Master whose Name is YahWeh.

Join us here for a moment of prayer as we submit our bodies unto God. Stay tuned for next's week's blog on "A Soul Marked by God".

Blessings to you Apple of God's Eye,