Sometimes, of course, husbands might need to be reminded that a woman’s beauty is not supposed to come only from outward appearances, but from the “unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God.”

Jesus used the metaphor of His body as a temple (John 2:18-22) and we see the analogy again in reference to us in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and as such we should take care of them. However, there is a fine balance between being obsessed with our body image, spending far too much time, money and effort on our physical appearance, and caring enough to honor our husbands by taking care of ourselves.

I think I’ll go for a nice, brisk walk while I pray about discovering that perfect balance.

Discussion:

Read 1 Peter 3:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 7:4

How do you and your spouse view each other’s bodies? On a scale from “appreciative” to “judgmental” where would each of you fall?

Have you struggled with your own body image? With your opinion of your spouse’s body? Has this changed from the beginning of your marriage until now? Why?

What are some ways you can find balance in this issue—not placing too much importance on the way you look, yet honoring your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Read Psalm 139:13-14 aloud. Thank God for the marvel of the body he gave you. Thank him for the way your body works, even if it may not look as good as it could, or as you wish it did.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:4 aloud together as a couple. Thank God for your bodies, however flawed they might be, and rejoice that he intended us to enjoy one another’s bodies. Begin today to care for your body as though it belonged to your spouse—because it does!

Crosswalk.com welcomes mother-daughter contributors, Deborah Raney and Tobi Layton.

Deborah Raney has been writing for thirteen years and is at work on her fifteenth novel. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. The book was recently reissued in an updated version for the ten-year anniversary of its first release. Deb and her husband, Ken, have been married for thirty-two years and live in Kansas. They have four children and  became first-time grandparents last year. Visit Deborah's website at www.deborahraney.com.

Tobi Layton is a fifth grade teacher and freelance writer in southeast Missouri. Tobi has been married for five years to Ryan Layton, a high school biology teacher. Tobi and Ryan are involved with the high school and junior high youth groups at their church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Laytons have a toddler son.

Tobi Layton is the daughter of Ken and Deborah Raney. The Raneys and the Laytons share an August 11 wedding anniversary.

Read more articles by Deborah Raney and Tobi Layton:

Marriage Perspectives: Pursuing God as a Couple
God's Plan for Romance Looks Different from the Movies
Submitting Your Married Life to the Lord's Timetable
Compromise, Humor are Vital Ingredients for Loving Marriages
Opposites Attract - and Drive Each Other Nuts!
"I Can Do it Better": When Competition Creeps into Marriage
Children Change Everything - Especially Your Marriage