Be the Prize!
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing."
-Proverbs 18:22
Our inner beauty is more important and more lasting than any other kind of beauty. But that doesn’t mean that we are to pay no attention to our outer beauty.
Our body is a gift from God. It’s the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that we are to honor God with our bodies: 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 (1 Cor. 6:19-20, NIV).
Honor God with Your Bodies
What does this mean?
Hitting the gym with fellow CBN reporter Angela Zatopek
I think it means that Christians should be the healthiest, most in-shape people on the planet. We should set the example when it comes to having healthy bodies. Okay, even as I write this, I’m feeling a little convicted. I love chocolate and eat it almost every day—dark chocolate mostly. But, fortunately, I also enjoy eating healthy foods and working out, so that balances out my chocolate intake. But many Christians simply don’t understand the vital importance of taking care of their bodies.
First of all, our health is our greatest physical asset. We can’t put a price tag on our health—it’s priceless. If we’re going to do great exploits for God, then we need all our strength. And if we’re going to attract a mate who is in good shape, then should we not be in good shape as well? It’s only fair, right?
I had a girlfriend who was a bit overweight, but she was attracted to muscular, in-shape guys. I felt terrible for her because none of the guys she talked to me about ever asked her out on a date. My friend didn’t understand, but it’s pretty simple: Just as she was, those men were attracted to members of the opposite sex who took care of their bodies.
If you want a Superman, than you’d better do your best to look and act like Lois Lane: smart, sexy and confident. Men, including Christian men, are visual creatures. They’re attracted to beauty and femininity as well as to a woman’s inner qualities and strengths.
Yes, we’re all striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman, whom the Bible says is strong, virtuous, dignified, wise, godly and talented. But what almost always attracts a man first is the way we look and the way we carry ourselves. Are you confident when you walk into a room, or do you hold your head down as if you’re embarrassed that someone might see you? Do you make eye contact with the opposite sex or look away before there’s any chance of having a conversation?
What Are Men Looking For?
One Sunday after church, I was having coffee with my friend Hanisha at a local Starbucks. As we sipped our ice coffees under the umbrella at an outdoor table, we struck up a conversation with a couple of Christian guys who were sitting at the table next to us. In the name of “research,” I asked them to be honest and to tell me what attracted them to a woman—what first caught their eye about someone of the opposite sex.
Eric, a dark-haired, attractive 36-year-old single Christian man from Florida who had an M.B.A., told me, “It’s the smile and the eyes for me. A smile tells you so much about a woman; it really gives you a glimpse of her outlook on life. Also, I like a bubbly personality. If I’m going to spend the rest of my life with someone, I don’t want her to be a bump on a log. I’m also attracted to brunettes and to outdoorsy, athletic types—women I could see myself hiking or camping with.”
His friend Aaron, a 32-year-old attorney from Virginia, was more to the point: “Good face, good legs, intelligent and thoughtful. I like a woman who is aware and caring of other people. It’s a big turnoff, even if she’s beautiful, if she thinks she’s the only person alive.” Eric and Aaron confirmed that just as women are, men are looking for the whole package. Attractive, godly, humorous—someone with whom they can see themselves spending a lifetime. And ladies, let me assure you. You already have all the right equipment; you may simply need a little fine-tuning. And frankly, who doesn’t?
Let me ask you: Are you working out? Are you keeping your body healthy and toned?
Feeling strong on top of Old Rag Mountain in Virginia
As I said before, your health is your number one physical asset and is a gift from God; guard it jealously. Make time in your schedule to work out and to eat well. This is not vanity; it’s common sense, and it’s obedience to God’s command to honor our bodies. I love to exercise not only for the physical benefits but for the mental and emotional benefits as well.
As I’ve mentioned before, my favorite exercise is hiking! I love being out in nature as much as I love the fantastic cardio benefits of a 2 hour uphill climb! But since I can’t always get to the mountains, I head to the gym. I love how I feel after 20 minutes on the stair climber (my favorite machine at the gym). I try to use the stair climber three times a week and to walk for about 45 minutes on the other days. I also do push-ups, sit-ups and squats daily. The more fit I am, the more confident I feel when I’m standing at the anchor desk reading the news, conducting an interview or going on a date.
As actor Henry Cavill, the star of the movie Man of Steel, told me during an interview, he endured grueling workouts to prepare to play the role of Superman. He told Muscle & Fitness magazine there was a time in one of his workouts in which he had to push the limits of what he thought was physically possible for him. It was then that he had a breakthrough moment, and he actually felt as if he had earned the role and the right to play Superman. Well, you and I might not be vying for the role of Superman, but we are the leading ladies in the most important stories on earth: our own lives! And guess what? There are no dress rehearsals. We get one chance, baby! One chance to be our best, look our best and feel our best. Why not go for it? Do it for you! You are a prize to be won!
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our bodies. Help us to take care of our bodies, to nurture them and to be kind to them.
Help us to remember that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that You knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. Lord, we desire to be strong, healthy and beautiful for You. Give us wisdom. Help Your daughters, as You helped Queen Esther, to be ready for our “moment”—and may it be “for such a time as this” [Esther 4:14].
In Jesus’ name, amen.