Embrace faith for a balanced and fulfilling life by using these 10 motivational Bible verses to guide your healthy choices on your wellness journey.
There are so many temptations in this life. For me, food has always been the biggest temptation.
I often would choose unhealthy comfort foods over healthy choices. I struggled to not eat chocolate and chips for my 6 meals a day.
I knew if I wanted to be healthy I had to change these habits and fight these temptations.
How did I do it? How can you do it?
We can do this through God’s word. His word provides guidance for every decision we make throughout our lives and helps us to fight temptation.
In my moment of desperation, I turned to God, unsure if He would truly be able to help me. Spoiler alert: He did, and His support made all the difference.
At three hundred forty-nine pounds, I found myself at a crossroads in my health journey. I was borderline diabetic, with fasting blood sugar levels soaring into the 200s—a clear indication that I was already experiencing diabetes, even before a formal diagnosis.
My blood pressure was high, and despite my medication, it wasn’t under control. Simple movements caused me pain, and at the age of 54, I often relied on a walker just to navigate my own home.
I knew it was time to turn to God and change through His strength or soon die.
I turned to God.
God led me to His Word, and the wisdom in His Word changed my life, not just spiritually but physically as well.
In this article, we will discuss how God’s Word can change your life, and guide you in making healthy choices.
I will take you through my journey from 349 pounds to where I am today and what verses inspired and led me and are still leading me.
You will never need another book, God’s Word is forever and has all our answers.
Understanding the Connection Between Faith and Health
God desires for us to live healthy lives in our mind, body, and spirit. He wants us to make healthy choices that will bring and keep us close to Him. We see this throughout the Bible.
Biblical Perspective on Health
In Exodus we see that God wants us to worship Him and He will bless us. By making healthy choices, sickness will be taken away.
“Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you”
Exodus 23:25
We also see that He gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. At times we may not feel the spirit of self-discipline.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.
2 Timothy 1:7
I pray daily that God will help show me the Spirit of self-discipline that He has already given me and guide me in how to use this Spirit.
He has given me the power, self-love, and self-discipline to make healthy choices and lose 140 pounds. With 25 more to go, I rely on Him daily.
Yes, you read that correctly. With God’s help, I have lost 140 pounds.
God also wants us to be healthy of mind and not to be anxious about changes that may be needed.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
A lot of anxiety came along with the changes I needed to make.
You can read about my specific journey here.
Relying on God’s scripture and through prayer, He took my anxiety away. I do ask daily for this help, as I am human and slip back into anxious thoughts too often.
While it is difficult to hear, we need to realize that gluttony is a sin. Choosing healthy foods in moderate amounts is not just to bring us to good health, but to serve God and follow His desires for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 is a verse we can pray to help us to keep blameless as we wait for Jesus to return.
“Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back.”
Isaiah 38: 16-17
God’s words also tell us about foods and healthy choices we should make.
Spiritual Motivation
Faith has served as a motivator for me to adopt my new, healthier lifestyle. I want to honor God with the body He gave me.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31.
I would like to say that I now only eat what I know will honor God, but that would not be truthful. I do my best and I pray constantly for God’s strength and guidance.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
This verse encourages me that I can do this, God has already given me the tools, now I need guidance on how to use these tools.
He has given all of us these tools. You have them, right now.
Prayer will unlock these tools, and through prayer and reading God’s Word, we can be guided on how to use our God given power, love, and self-discipline.
10 Motivational Bible Verses for Your Healthy Choices

Verse 1: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“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 Corinthians 6: 19-20
God gave us our bodies.
He gave me my body, it was what I did with free choice that had me weighing 349 pounds and having high blood pressure, diabetes and pain. He did not give me the body of pain.
I had to turn my focus to God instead of food and ask for guidance and direction, to lose the 140 pounds I have lost.
While turning my focus to God, I also took practical steps, such as joining Faithful Finish Lines, a Christian based weight loss program.
- They taught me to rely on God first, to feel my emotions with God’s help (and a therapists help, if needed),
- To plan my meals ahead, at least the night before,
- To track everything,
- To include a treat at least 3 times a week,
- And to practice the 3 Ps (pause, pray and plan). As a temptation comes, I need to pause for 10 minutes, pray for God’s help, and if I want my treat then plan it into the next day’s plan.
Faithful Finish Lines is beginning a new membership program that starts in January of 2025. I encourage you to look into this, they are an immense help.
Verse 2: Proverbs 3:7-8
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3: 7-8
Rely on God’s wisdom as you choose foods and move your body.
I tell my 12-year old often that if she doesn’t listen with an open mind and heart, she will never learn.
We all go through a period in our lives where we are sure we know the answers.
If you are like me, you have researched diets and programs so much that you are sure you know what to do.
I ask you to ask God and listen with an open heart and mind. He will impart what is right for you now in your health journey.
When I was three hundred forty-nine pounds, I knew exactly what I should do. I knew all the diets and all the advice. I just wasn’t doing what I needed to.
Slowly God kept introducing bariatric surgery, although at the time I didn’t know it was Him introducing this. I knew this was not right for me. I had done research, and I was not getting surgery.
I looked at surgery as for those who just fail. I wasn’t a failure.
God spoke to me daily about this surgery and kept having people around me bring it up. I had to get to a place where I listened with an open heart and mind.
If you followed the link earlier in this article, you know my story now and how I did, finally, hear God.
I had surgery. Surgery is not for everyone; it is where God led me for my personal journey. Your journey may be different.
I now have morning blood sugar numbers in the 80s.
I have no high blood pressure and no medication.
I have no pain while doing physical activity.
Now, I am 58 and have beaten my body up over the years by not taking care of it, so I do have some limitations, but no pain with normal daily activity.
All of this, because I listen to God.
Verse 3: Romans 12:1-2
“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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12: 1-2.
When we serve more than one God, we can’t know God’s perfect will for us.
I know that you are probably saying that you don’t serve more than one God, that you know there is only one God. How do I know you may be saying this? Because that is what I always said.
When we give in to the pull of food that is declaring food our god, for a short time. Food is what we turn to when we should turn to God.
This is not me calling you out, if God wants to call you out, you’ll hear Him. He definitely called me out and I couldn’t ignore Him.
The only way for me to survive; survive at 349 pounds, survive going through surgery, survive losing my weight, and survive now as I try to lose more weight and my surgery has given all it can; is to give my body and health over to God.
I needed to stop turning to this world’s advice to solve my health issues. This doesn’t mean I don’t listen to my doctor, I just include God and thank Him for giving my doctor wisdom.
I ask the Holy Spirit to yank me to God every time that I don’t want to feel an emotion and would rather turn to food. Yes, I ask to be yanked, I don’t always respond to a gentle nudge, and God knows that.
I thank God daily for my body.
Though I still have 25 pounds to lose, I appreciate my body as it is.
At times, it may resemble a melting candle, but it tells the story of my journey.
Due to the wear and tear I’ve put my knees through over the years, they no longer allow me to get on my knees.
Yet, I believe my body is perfect because it was created by God. By giving this body to Him, He can help me return it to a functioning body as He planned.
I can now live the purpose and life that He has planned for me.
Verse 4: Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
I tried for years, decades, to lose weight and gain health on my own. It either worked for a brief time or didn’t work at all.
I knew and still know that I cannot do this without God’s strength.
There are still days that I want a treat so badly. I pray, I walk, and I stare at the treat (this is not a good strategy).
Doing the 3 Ps (pause, pray, plan) helps me the most through these difficult times.
Yesterday I wanted a chocolate croissant. These are one of my indulgences that my new stomach after surgery can actually handle. There is just a hint of chocolate and very little sugar, but they are still high in calories and low in nutrition.
As I paused on my way to the refrigerator, I asked myself, “Do I really need this croissant?” Deep down, I knew the answer was no, yet the craving felt undeniable.
Once inside my home, I turned to prayer, seeking strength and reciting Philippians 4:13, asking God to grant me His fortitude. While I felt a sense of relief, the desire for that croissant still lingered.
Determined to find balance, I sat at my desk and added a note to my meal plan for the next day: I would enjoy a chocolate croissant.
This made me immediately relax. I could have it, but I wasn’t going to give in to it and give it power.
God was and is my power.
And yay! Today I can have a chocolate croissant.
Verse 5: 3 John 1:2
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
3 John 1:2
Knowing that someone is praying for you and wishing you well, makes a big difference in your journey.
I would encourage you to join the free Christian Weight Loss Facebook Group. This group is full of compassionate Christian women who support each other.
As you progress in your journey toward health, remember it is not only about diet and movement. It is about your whole self. Develop your spiritual walk, your mental acuity, and your whole self.
Verse 6: Psalm 139:14
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You belong to God and you’re created in His image.
Even if you find yourself at the starting point I once was—at 349 pounds—remember to love yourself just as God loves you. He created you with intention, has a purpose for your life, and plans to prosper you, not to harm you.
“Body positivity” is a fairly new buzz word. Body positivity to Christians is not about loving your body and continuing to practice gluttony and any manner of unhealthy choices.
It is about loving your body and yourself because God made you. Opening yourself to the changes He wants for you, and do all for His glory.
Verse 7: Matthew 6:33
”But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33.
This verse reminds us that God does want to help us, but we must first seek Him.
God has to be the first priority and then He will give us the desires of our heart. He will guide us in making healthy choices and having the body He designed for us.
This was difficult for me at first. I thought that in order to lose weight I had to hyper focus on food and exercise. There just wasn’t time for God and other things.
importantly,I was so wrong. I could never keep any weight off and improve my health this way, and more importantly I was never close enough to God.
When God came first, I started to see how He sees me. There were times I would burst into tears, because I just couldn’t accept the good God saw. Eventually, I saw.
I am God’s! That really is all that matters. He helps me to desire to get and stay healthy. I make healthy choices to worship HIm and thank Him for the functioning body He has blessed me with.
Verse 8: Isaiah 40:29
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Isaiah 40:29.
How often has this world told you it was good to be weary and weak? Never.
We often hide our weariness and weakness, hoping no one will find out.
It is okay to be weary and to be weak, because in your weakness, God’s strength will shine through.
Feel your weariness and weakness, acknowledge them and turn to God. Ask for His strength, admitting that you are weak.
overcome,No matter how much we try to hide it, the world sees we are weak and when you overcome the world will wonder what happened.
Let them know that God is strong, and because of Him – You are strong.
Verse 9: Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5: 22-23
These are gifts God has already bestowed upon us. We need His guidance to use them to honor Him.
I often prayed this scripture as I needed joy when I ate the broccoli instead of the potato chips; I needed faithfulness when I gave up the temptation that God said was not for me; and I needed self-control to follow God’s lead.
Scriptures can be used as prayer to ask God to guide you through this journey. Ask God for help and pray His words.
Verse 10: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Rely on the fact that God has plans for you. His plans for you will not harm you and will give you a prosperous, hopefully future.
When you are down and at a point where you don’t know if all this hard work is worth it, look to Him who has great plans for you. Rely on His word that you have a hopeful future.
There were days where it was so difficult to say no to a piece of chocolate that I didn’t know if it was worth it. Especially in the beginning.
I had over 150 pounds to lose, and saying no to the chocolate, which took everything I had, led to a 1 or 2 pound loss. How was this worth it to struggle this much for so long to get to where I wanted to be, weight wise?
It is worth it because God didn’t want me to give in to a temptation. He wanted me to give in to Him. Every time I gave Him to him and not the temptation was a win; a victory. Every victory was worth it and is worth it.
FAQs About Bible Verses for Healthy Choices
What are some other Bible verses that encourage healthy living?
Here are two wonderful resources for Bible verses that encourage healthy living; Bible verses for weight loss and self-care and Bible verses for body image. I encourage you to go to The Holy Mess and search for Bible verses, there are so many helpful resources.
How can I incorporate scripture into my daily health routine?
I read a devotional that includes scripture and also has additional scriptures that tie into the day’s lesson. The one I am using presently is from Joyce Meyers, but I use many different ones. Read a few descriptions on Amazon (or where you buy books) and find the one that touches you.
Are there any specific prayers for health and wellness?
My first suggestion is to take the scriptures that speak to you and pray those scriptures.
Here are a couple of prayers you could start with. You can say them all or just one. Prayers do not have to be long and eloquent, they need to be sincere and from the heart.
Lord, grant me the discipline to make healthy choices. Help me to keep my body in check and honor You with my actions. Amen.
Heavenly Father, when temptations arise, give me the strength to choose wisely. Help me to rely on Your promises and find strength in You. Amen.
Lord, motivate me each day to make healthy choices. Remind me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Amen.
More Posts to Help You Make Healthy Choices
How To Respond To Your Food Cravings With The 3Ps