A Fat Man’s Prayer

Being fat, overweight, or obese might not be a problem for everyone, but it is to some. It is a problem, not because of how you look, but because being fat or obese will negatively affect your health. It is vital to understand that whenever this article points out why it’s not good to be overweight, it is never about a person’s outside appearance. Instead, it is more about staying healthy and taking good care of your body. Also, in this article, when we say “fat”, we are not talking about someone chubby or rounder than an average person. We are referencing being “fat”, as in being overweight and obese, which is no longer healthy for the body.

Our body is one of the things that God has entrusted to us. Remember that God owns everything in the universe—even our bodies. If we are to become good stewards of the talents and skills that God gave us, then we must also be good stewards of our bodies. Here is a prayer you can offer as you take good care of your body:

Father in heaven, give me the grace to be serious when taking care of my body. Just as I should be a good steward of the talents and skills that You have given me, help me be a good steward of my body. Open my eyes to the urgency of starting to take care of my health right now. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What does God say about your weight?

The Bible does not explicitly address anything about a person’s weight or about being overweight. However, Bible verses do imply that we should take good care of one’s health or body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul writes about our body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit resides in us. If we commit any sexual sins with our bodies, we are not glorifying God. It is like bringing filth into the temple of God because our body is the temple of God. As Christians, we are meant to glorify God in our bodies. However, glorifying God does not only mean keeping ourselves pure from sexual sin. We should also take good care of our bodies. If we neglect them by not caring to exercise and not paying attention to the foods we eat, it does not maintain the temple of God. We don’t do the necessary maintenance and neglect the things that need to be fixed.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

This also means that everything we do with our bodies should glorify God. What we eat or drink should glorify God. There is nothing wrong with eating junk foods or foods that make someone gain weight, like pizza, ice cream, chocolate, etc. We can eat them from time to time. But if we abuse that access and eat those foods every day without any care for our health and weight, then it does not glorify God at all, as we are not taking good care of our bodies.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

As Christians, praying for good health is something that we always want to do. There is nothing wrong with that. However, that doesn’t mean it is an excuse for us to live in an unhealthy way. You can’t just say that it is okay to eat junk foods every day and then turn around and pray for good health. Regardless of whether we pray for good health or not, we should take care of our bodies. Sometimes, we end up praying to God for good health because we neglected our health in the first place. Being fat may not initially show its negative consequences, but it will in the long run.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is possible that the unhealthy diet we have is because of the world’s influence. Sometimes, people think of unhealthy trends, and because it’s a trend, other people will follow them. However, just because it is a trend does not mean that we should follow it. We should not conform to this world, but the Word of God.

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to glorify You with my body, not just when it comes to keeping myself pure and holy from sexual sins, but also by taking good care of it. Help me to glorify You with the diet that I have and give me the grace to exercise to keep my body fit and in good health. Give me the grace to never conform to the unhealthy trends of the world, but to always conform to Your Word, which implies that I should take care of my body. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How do you encourage an overweight person?

After a long period of unhealthy habits, switching to a healthy lifestyle and losing weight may be challenging. It’s not easy. Sometimes, You may even feel frustrated because nothing seems to be happening. However, you must endure and persevere. After a week of trying to lose weight, you will likely still look the same. Give it a month, and maybe you’re only barely losing weight. It might be slow, but you are making progress! As long as you don’t give up, you will achieve your goal. If you quit now, nothing will ever change. Besides, you have to do it because you must lose weight to be fit and healthy.

A good Bible verse to encourage someone who is switching to a healthy lifestyle by losing weight comes from Philippians 4:13.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Now, this verse does not mean supernatural strength. It does not mean that if you cannot lift 135 lbs, you will suddenly be able to because of Christ who strengthens you. No, that is not what the verse means if you look at its context. Rather, it means that you can do all things, which means whatever the will of God is, through Christ who strengthens you. If you are fat or overweight, the will of God for you is to be a good steward and take better care of your body. Even if it’s hard, you can do it through Christ, who strengthens you. It does not refer to supernatural strength, but supernatural submission to the will of God, and being able to do it.

Heavenly Father, I thank You because in Christ I have the strength to do that which honors You, which is to take good care of my body and stay fit. Give me the grace to persevere and never give up, no matter how challenging it is to lose weight and pursue fitness. I thank You because you are the One who comforts me and strengthens me whenever I feel frustrated. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How do you comfort someone who is insecure about their weight?

Being fat or overweight can also cause people to be insecure because of their appearance. Remember that you should lose weight because it is not healthy to stay fat, overweight, or obese. You will be prone to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems, and more. As Christians, we should take good care of the bodies God has given us. It has nothing to do with appearance. However, let’s say that you are about to start a healthy lifestyle shift and work out, because you look fat. There is nothing to be insecure about. Remember that God does not look at appearance, but at one’s heart. You may be a beautiful person, but your heart could still be ugly.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

If you are not in Christ, you will be insecure because you are of the world. You base your identity on your appearance, just as the world does. However, if you have repented from your life of sin and believe in the Gospel of Christ, it is different. You are no longer insecure about your appearance because your identity and affirmation are not based on what people think of You, but on what God thinks of You. In Christ, you are loved and have been adopted as His child. In Christ, you are chosen by God. 

Ephesians 1:4-5

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

Colossians 1:12-13

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

Father in heaven, I thank You because only in You can I find the love and affirmation that can satisfy me. I thank You because there is fullness of joy in Your presence, and in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Only divine love that can be found in Christ will be enough for me. Thank You for securing me in Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

When we strive to live healthy lives and be careful about what we eat, it is not God who benefits, but us. Another reason why, as Christians, we should live a healthy life is that we want to keep ministering to others. We don’t want to become unhealthy, as that may prevent us from doing the ministry we have been doing. We don’t want to face any health issues that make the performance of our ministry hard.