The Story Behind the Temple

Some have asked me why I chose the name “Steel Temple Fitness” for my training business. This verse in 1 Corinthians is the foundation (among other verses) for the name and the intentions behind my training style. I truly feel called to my profession and I wanted to give the glory to my creator through the name of my business, and hopefully through my coaching in itself.

Let’s go back to the start. It’s been almost 1 year since the reaction to the Covid-19 virus led to global business closures, including the gym I worked at. At first, I was terrified, angry, frustrated, and heartbroken. I worried about my future and the uncertainties of the world. But then, as He always does, God provided and reminded me that He is in control – even times of turmoil. I looked around at what was happening in the world, and then I turned off the news and I literally went outside and looked up. I turned to my bible app (yes, the app because I’m technically a millenial) and Philippians 4:6-7 brought me the peace I needed. “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” I wish I could make everyone REALLY FEEL that peace. It is lifechanging and I truly feel that the fear that seems so rampant in the world would disappear if we just trusted God. But, i digress…

So, back to the temple in the name. After deciding to take some imperfect action in venturing out on my own in business, I felt I had to to something to keep my faith prominent in my work. Hence, the name. The “STEEL” part is two-fold: it’s part of my last name (Steelman) but it also represents unbreakable strength. Even my 7-year-old knows that steel is almost impossible to break or bend. It seemed an obvious choice to use this portion of my name for the business as that is exactly how I wanted to describe the next word in the name. Then – the TEMPLE. I was drawn to that verse from 1 Corinthians. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. They are gifts from our creator. They are vessels of God’s love and we should treat them as such! Plus, as the name implies, these temples are made of Steel when we let the Holy Spirit rule over them. Unbreakable.

The next part of the verse could be where some get a little uneasy – Our bodies do not belong to us, God bought us at a high price (that price being the blood of his son Jesus). At first glance for a non-believer, this might elicit some anger or pride. Our tendency to desire control can make us feel that we are in charge of our bodies, nobody else! While this is true here on earth, this verse reminds us that God had a plan for us and for our bodies before we were born – they were His bodies first. The idea of being “bought” can also strike a nerve with some, but look at the PRICE that was paid. This implies how incredibly valuable we are to God, and how we should also hold this same value for ourselves!

We have all been in a place where we have not valued our bodies and have treated them poorly. This becomes a vicious cycle of mental and physical warfare, never showing ourselves the love we need because we think we don’t deserve it. What if we loved ourselves as much as God loves us? What if we took care of our bodies because they are temples that represent the Holy Spirit? What if we trained our MIND to be made of steel so our bodies would follow suit?

This was what I had in mind when I named my business, and how I hope my coaching helps others. I thought if I could use the gifts God gave me to help others feel his strength and value themselves as He does, maybe I could change some lives. Maybe I could make Him proud and show my gratitude for his ever-present blessings in my life. Maybe I could bring others closer to Him by helping them see what they can accomplish if they just shift their mindset in the right direction.

Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to use my strengths to glorify You. Please keep my goals in line with your divine plan. Bless all who read this, and remind them of Your love, Your wisdom, and the value you have placed on their bodies and their minds. May we love You well with our thoughts and actions, and may we represent your Spirit will within our temples. In Jesus name, Amen.