128 | God’s Way to Wholeness: A Biblical Approach to Weight Management

Find the full episode here >>> LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

What if biblical weight management could feel like worship instead of warfare? We open a gentle, scripture-anchored conversation that turns shame into stewardship and hustle into holy rhythm. Drawing from Genesis to the Gospels, we explore why your body is not an obstacle to holiness but an instrument God values—and how that truth, rooted in Christianity, reshapes every practical choice you make, offering biblical encouragement along the way.

We share a candid look at the emotional load many women carry around food, fatigue, and discipline, then reframe the journey with a critical insight: biblical self-control is Spirit-grown, not self-forced. You’ll hear how the unhurried way of Jesus—withdrawing to rest, eating in community, honoring limits—translates into sustainable habits that fit real life, enhanced by devotions that include journal prompts for deeper reflection. We talk about prayer calming the nervous system, Scripture resetting perspective, and stillness regulating stress, so choices arise from safety rather than strain.

Food takes its rightful place as a gift, not a fix. We offer simple practices—gratitude before meals, a slower pace, paying attention to how foods make you feel—that build discernment around cravings and reveal deeper needs. We also discuss how small, repeatable actions outperform drastic overhauls, and how sensory anchors like aromatherapy can mark sacred pauses that help you exhale and listen, blending essential oils into your devotions for added peace.

Ready to take the next step? Grab the free 30-day devotional guide, "Health and Holiness: Aligning Weight Management With God’s Word" at PaulaBehrens.com/waitlist, packed with journal prompts for Greek word study, and explore coaching designed to nurture peace, clarity, and consistency. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs gentleness today, and leave a review to help more women find a grace-first path to health.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Framing Health Through Scripture
• 1:16 A Paper Cascade
• 2:02 Show Vision And Spiritual Tools
• 3:07 Aroma Of Christ Coaching Invitation
• 4:24 Naming The Weight Struggle
• 5:16 Bodies As Instruments Of Holiness
• 6:32 Rest, Rhythm, And Jesus’ Example
• 8:36 Self-Control, egkrateia (ἐγκράτεια), Reframed As Spirit-Grown
• 10:10 Food, Cravings, And Discernment
• 11:23 Small Rhythms Over Big Overhauls
• 13:09 Invitation To The 30-Day Guide
• 14:58 Closing Encouragement And CTAs

Transcript

Paula Behrens: 0:00

Somewhere between the laundry, the emails, the shopping, and the quiet whisper of guilt that follows us into the kitchen, many Christian women are asking the same question in different ways. Why does taking care of my body feel so complicated when my faith feels so sincere? Why do I love God deeply but still struggle to love myself wisely? And why does something as ordinary as weight management feel spiritually charged with shame, pressure, or exhaustion? Stay with me today because we're going to talk honestly and gently about weight management through the lens of scripture, not culture. We're going to untangle health from hustle, holiness from punishment, and discipline from self-criticism. And if you listen all the way to the end, I'm going to tell you how you can snag a free copy of my Aligning Health in Holiness Guide, a 30-day devotional journey designed to help you walk this out with scripture, prayer, and practical rhythm starting in January. The conversation is not about shrinking yourself. It's about stewarding what God has entrusted to you. It's not about control. It's about alignment. And it's not about doing more. It's about doing what you were already doing with God at the center.

Paula Behrens: 1:16

Back in my early pastoral days, I remember juggling a mile-high stack of folders into the filing room when I felt a slight shift in my grip. And before I knew it, the entire stack was cascading onto the floor like a paper waterfall. The administrative assistant sitting nearby, eyes wide, expecting a more colorful reaction than my surprisingly calm, oh no, burst into laughter saying, Oh wow, you must really have the Spirit of Jesus in you. I would have slipped a few choice words in there. That silly moment turned into a sweet reminder of how, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can choose peace even in small calamities, a lesson that has carried me through many a busy day.

Paula Behrens: 2:03

In my personal faith walk, I've wrestled with the challenge of carving out consistent time for God. Some days the line blurred between hearing His voice and my own thoughts echoing back at me. But through life's ups and downs, I've discovered an amazing truth. Spiritual disciplines paired with the God-given gift of natural aromas, or what we call essential oils today, can create a profound space for clarity and connection. They help us slow down and tune in to God's quiet whispers.

Paula Behrens: 2:35

Let's talk about what this podcast has to offer. Each week, we delve into meaningful scripture, highlighting memory versus enriched with Greek word studies. If your spirit needs refreshing, you can start with daily devotionals that accompany your morning prayer, and you'll find that many of our episodes are infused with essential oil tips to enhance your focus so you can hear God's voice more clearly as you seek to clarify your unique calling.

Paula Behrens: 3:06

Hey friend, I know what it's like to feel far from God, even when you're doing all the right things. You're showing up, you're praying, you're reading your Bible, but inside something feels disconnected. You wonder if you're doing enough, if God is even listening. You feel a little ashamed that your quiet time isn't what it used to be or what you hoped it would be. I want you to know you're not alone and you're not failing. God isn't asking for your perfection. He's just asking for your presence. That's what our coaching call is all about, not pressure, not performance, just learning to lean into God's presence. And as a special touch, you'll receive a free essential oil sampler ahead of time so you can experience how these simple tools can enhance our time together, creating an environment where peace and clarity can flourish.

Paula Behrens: 3:52

Let me walk with you into a slower Spirit-led rhythm that will help you reconnect with the One who's been waiting to refresh your soul all along. Say yes to peace, say yes to presence. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour now at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens, B-E-H R E-N S .com /coaching (no spaces). All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage. And let's dive in.

Paula Behrens: 4:25

Weight management is one of the most emotionally loaded conversations women carry quietly in their hearts. For many of us, it is layered with years of trying harder, starting over, feeling good for a while, and then wondering what went wrong when life got busy again. As Christian women, that struggle can feel even heavier because we add a spiritual question on top of a physical one. Why can't I be more disciplined? Why does this feel harder than it should? Why do I pray so faithfully but still feel stuck?

Paula Behrens: 4:59

Scripture never treats the body as an afterthought. From Genesis to Revelation, the body is part of God's redemptive story. God formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and Jesus took on flesh. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. Our physical bodies are not obstacles to holiness, they are instruments of it. Weight management, then, is not a vanity project. It's not about chasing a number or fitting into someone else's standards. It's about stewardship. Stewardship asks a different question than culture does. Instead of asking, how do I fix myself? Stewardship asks, How do I faithfully care for what God has given me? When we frame health through holiness, the conversation shifts. We stop punishing our bodies for not cooperating and start partnering with them in wisdom. We stop demanding quick results and start cultivating sustainable rhythms. We stop separating our spiritual life from our physical habits and begin to see them as deeply connected.

Paula Behrens: 6:04

Scripture reminds us again and again that what happens in the heart eventually shows up in the body. Proverbs tells us that a joyful heart is good medicine, while a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Jesus reminds us that what we treasure shapes how we live. Paul teaches that anxiety affects our peace. These are not poetic metaphors, they are spiritual truths with physical consequences. Many women are trying to manage weight without addressing the underlying spiritual fatigue driving their habits. We eat quickly because we live hurried lives. We snack mindlessly because we are emotionally depleted. We crave comfort foods because our souls are longing for rest. None of this makes us weak, it just makes us human. God does not ask us to override our humanity, He invites us to tend to it with compassion and truth.

Paula Behrens: 7:01

When Scripture calls us to renewal of the mind, it is not just talking about our thoughts, it's talking about our patterns. When scripture invites us into rest, it is not optional. It is essential. This is why quiet time matters so deeply for physical health. Not because prayer burns calories, but because prayer slows the nervous system. Scripture reading reorients perspective. Stillness regulates stress. Even simple sensory anchors like essential oils during prayer can help signal the body that it's safe to exhale. When the soul feels safe, the body often responds with balance.

Paula Behrens: 7:45

Jesus never rushed, even when crowds pressed in on him. He withdrew often, he ate with people, he slept through storms, he honored his physical limits without guilt. That alone should challenge the way many of us approach health. We often assume discipline means pushing harder, but scripture suggests discipline often means pulling back. Jesus understood that the body needs rhythms, not rules. When he invited the weary to come to him, he promised a yoke that fits, not a burden that crushes. Weight management becomes sustainable when it fits into the life God has actually given you, not the fantasy schedule you wish you had. Faithful care looks like small, repeatable choices made with God, not drastic overhauls made without him.

Paula Behrens: 8:36

One of the most misunderstood words connected to weight management in Scripture is the word self-control, found in Galatians 5 as part of the fruit of the Spirit. The Greek word used there egkrateia (ἐγκράτεια), egkrateia. At first glance, it sounds like restraint or willpower, but the original meaning goes much deeper and far greater than our modern assumptions. Egkrateia (ἐγκράτεια) does not mean white-knuckled discipline. It does not describe someone forcing themselves into compliance. It refers to inner strength that flows from alignment, not domination. It is the kind of control that comes from being held, not from holding tighter. In scripture, egkrateia (ἐγκράτεια) is not self-produced, it is Spirit grown. That matters because many women try to manage weight through self-control that is disconnected from the Spirit. That approach eventually leads to burnout.

Paula Behrens: 9:34

Biblical self-control is cooperative, it is responsive, it grows as we walk with God, not as we strive apart from Him. When self-control is a fruit, not a demand, it develops naturally over time. When Paul lists egkrateia (ἐγκράτεια) alongside love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness, he is making a powerful statement. Self-control is not harsh, it belongs in the same family as gentleness. That alone reframes the entire conversation around food, movement, and body care. God's plan for discipline is peaceful, not punishing. Scripture never demonizes food. Food is celebrated throughout the Bible. Meals were sacred spaces where teaching, fellowship, and healing happened. Jesus fed crowds. He cooked breakfast for his disciples. He used bread and wine as symbols of grace. Problems arise not because food is bad, but because we ask food to do what only God can do.

Paula Behrens: 10:36

When food becomes comfort, escape, reward, or control, it takes on spiritual weight it was never meant to carry. God does not shame us for that. He invites us to redirect our hunger. Weight management becomes simpler when we stop fighting food and start listening to what our cravings are revealing. Sometimes hunger is physical, sometimes it's emotional, sometimes it's spiritual. Scripture teaches discernment, not denial. Practicing gratitude before meals, eating slowly, and noticing how foods make us feel are spiritual disciplines as much as physical ones. These practices create space for the Holy Spirit to guide choices without condemnation.

Paula Behrens: 11:22

Most women listening to this are not lacking information. Weight struggles are rarely about ignorance. They are about exhaustion. When life feels full, health habits feel optional. Scripture invites us to build rhythms that sustain us rather than systems that overwhelm us. God works through daily faithfulness, not overwhelming changes. The Bible is filled with obedience over time, and that applies to health too. Small, consistent choices rooted in prayer matter more than intense efforts fueled by guilt. This is where integrating faith into daily routines becomes powerful. A moment of prayer while preparing a meal, a deep breath with scripture before eating, a drop of essential oil during quiet time to mark a pause. These are not extra tasks, they are holy interruptions. Shame never produces lasting change. Scripture is clear about that. It is kindness that leads to repentance. It is grace that transforms hearts. When we approach weight management with shame, we create resistance. When we approach it with stewardship, we create cooperation.

Paula Behrens: 12:38

Stewardship assumes value. You care for what you value. God values your body. That alone is reason enough to treat it with respect. Weight management then becomes an act of gratitude rather than self-correction. This little shift changes how setbacks are handled. Instead of quitting, we recalibrate. Instead of criticizing, we listen. Instead of hiding, we invite God back into the conversation.

Paula Behrens: 13:09

If you are longing for a grace-filled, scripture-anchored way to care for your body without pressure or perfectionism, I want to invite you into the next step. Be the first to snag your copy of my guide, "Health and Holiness, Aligning Weight Management with God's Word," a 30-day devotional experience designed to help you walk out weight stewardship through scripture, prayer, reflection, and simple daily rhythms. Inside this guide, I also talk openly and prayerfully about why using an all-natural support system can be an acceptable and God-honoring choice for Christians who desire to release extra weight. It's not about shortcuts or replacing wisdom, discipline, or dependence on God. It's about stewarding the body with the tools available, just as we would use glasses to see clearly or supplements to support overall health. When approached with prayer, discernment, and gratitude, additional all-natural wellness first support can complement faithful habits rather than compete with them.

Paula Behrens: 14:11

This guide will be available in January, but you can get on the waiting list today. Go right now to PaulaBehrens.com /wait list, and I'll send a free copy to you on launch date. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com /wait W A I T list (no spaces). You are going to love this gentle day-by-day approach to health and holiness. You don't need to have it all together. You simply need to be willing to walk with God one day at a time. Stay rooted, stay gentle, stay aligned. And remember, God is not asking you to strive for health. He is inviting you to walk with him into wholeness.

Paula Behrens: 14:58

Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. Also, prayerfully consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. Schedule your call now at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E-N-S .com /coaching (no spaces). Be sure to check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.