Bring lasting transformation to your church through health-focused devotional Bible studies rooted in faith
Why Your Church Needs a Health Ministry—Now More Than Ever
The health of the church isn’t just spiritual—it’s physical too. Yet many congregations today are suffering silently under the weight of chronic illness, emotional burnout, and food addiction.
📊 Studies show that over 75% of Americans are overweight or obese, and church communities are not exempt. In fact, some research reveals that people who attend church regularly may be more likely to struggle with their weight due to food-centric gatherings, sedentary fellowship events, and lack of intentional teaching on biblical stewardship of the body.
But what if your church could turn that around?
What if your women’s ministry, small group, or health team could lead a study that was:
✔️ Centered on Christ
✔️ Backed by Scripture
✔️ Focused on healing—body, soul, and spirit
✔️ Easy to facilitate with ready-made tools?
That’s exactly what the Healthy by Design line of devotionals by Cathy Morenzie offers. They are weight loss devotionals for church or bible-study groups, with each book focusing on a different theme.
A Faith-First Alternative to Diet Culture
Unlike “Christianized” fitness fads that simply layer Bible verses over diet plans, Cathy Morenzie’s devotionals start with God. These studies are not about following food rules or achieving a number on a scale—they are about spiritual renewal, healing emotional wounds, and learning to submit your health journey to God’s will.
Each book in the Healthy by Design series is:
- Biblically rooted: Scripture is central to every lesson, guiding each habit, mindset shift, and prayer.
- Spiritually reflective: Participants don’t just “do a program”—they engage in deep personal reflection with God.
- Action-oriented: Each devotional includes daily applications to live out faith through healthy choices.
- Community-supported: Designed for small group use, the books include a Leader’s Guide that makes it simple for anyone to facilitate.
The result?
Participants don’t just lose weight—they grow in faith, break strongholds, and live their Christian walk daily, not just on Sundays.
Why Churches Love These Studies
- ✅ They build community: Members grow closer by sharing testimonies, praying together, and supporting one another.
- ✅ They activate faith: Participants apply biblical truths to everyday challenges—like cravings, procrastination, or emotional eating.
- ✅ They model stewardship: These studies teach what it means to honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- ✅ They’re turnkey: With the built-in Leader’s Guide, any ministry leader can launch a group in just a few days.
Whether you’re starting a 5-person study group or launching a church-wide health initiative, this approach makes it easy to begin—and impossible to ignore.
Devotionals to Use
1. Healthy by Design: Weight Loss, God’s Way
Start here for the overall basis of a truly Christian approach to weight releasing.
This 21-day devotional is Cathy’s seminal work, that launched a movement of over 500,000 across the USA and the world. Each day, it helps participants to truly understand WHY they’ve struggled with their weight, and how God can (and will) set them free.
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Focus: Spirit-led weight release through daily surrender, and healthy habit building
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Format: Daily devotional lessons and scripture, daily health challenge. and additional study points
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Leader’s Guide includes: Organizational tips, weekly session breakdowns, and conversation prompts
- Challenge (optional): Participants are encouraged to either get active for 15 minutes a day, stop eating after 7pm, or track their food intake
Perfect for launching your first group—it’s short, focused, and deeply impactful.
For greater impact, this can be paired with the online 21-Day Weight Loss, God’s Way Challenge, which adds video content, worship, and funny skits that really help to drive home the sometimes painful truths in a way that’ll make you smile (and wonder if Cathy has been spying on you). See: wlgwchallenge.com
2. Healthy Eating, God’s Way
A 28-day devotional to renew your mind and restore balance in your eating habits
This devotional helps participants break free from diet culture and emotional eating by focusing on God’s truth about food, identity, and stewardship. With a combination of biblical insight and practical tools, this study equips women to eat with intention, not guilt.
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Focus: Food freedom, mindset renewal, and making peace with eating
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Includes: Daily devotional lessons and scriptures, Action steps, Reflection questions
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Leader’s Guide includes: Organizational tips, weekly session breakdowns, and conversation prompts
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Challenge (optional): Invite your group to spend the week focusing on eating whole, unprocessed foods as a form of honoring God
This study helps members move from information to application in their eating habits.
3. Spirit-Filled & Sugar-Free
Enrich your spirit, renew your mind, and detox your body from sugar.
This 30-day devotional helps members break free from sugar addiction through practical steps, guidance, and grace—not willpower.
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Focus: Physical and spiritual freedom from food strongholds
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Includes: Daily devotional lessons and scripture, Reflection questions, and detox planning guidance
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Leader’s Guide includes: Organizational tips, weekly session breakdowns, and conversation prompts
- Challenge: 21-day sugar detox with prep days and post-detox reset days (30 days in all)
Sugar is a huge source of bondage for many, and this devotion sets a foundation for freedom in Christ.
4. Get Active, God’s Way
Move your body, renew your faith
This 28-day movement devotional helps participants reconnect with their bodies and see physical activity as a way to honor God by being fit for service.
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Focus: Consistent movement, joy in the body, overcoming excuses
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Includes: Daily devotional lessons and scripture, Reflection questions, and additional study scriptures
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Leader’s Guide includes: Organizational tips, weekly session breakdowns, and conversation prompts
- Challenge: Daily physical activity of gradual increasing intensity
Great for spring/summer programs or pairing with a walking club or wellness ministry.
5. Love God, Lose Weight
The heart-healing capstone to the series
This devotional goes deeper into identity, shame, and lasting surrender, helping members love themselves as God does and break the emotional chains connected to food.
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Focus: Identity in Christ, emotional healing, sustainable habits
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Includes: Daily devotional lessons and scripture, Reflection questions, and daily love challenge
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Leader’s Guide includes: Organizational tips, weekly session breakdowns, and conversation prompts
- Challenge (optional): Partake in the daily ‘love challenges’ and learn to love yourself as God loves you
Use this to reinforce the spiritual core of your group’s transformation and prepare members to walk in long-term freedom.
Hosting a Large Group or Church-Wide Study?
If your group has 25 participants or more, you can save with bulk orders at: healthybydesignbooks.com
Discounts are applied automatically, and additional resources for leaders are included.
For churches looking to launch this as a full ministry or special event, Cathy Morenzie offers:
🎥 Custom welcome video for your first session
🗣️ Live or virtual speaking at your church, retreat, or women’s conference
📋 Full online and in-person 12-week “Healthy Church” program, with online video lessons and live group discussion
To learn more, email: support@weightlossgodsway.com
Final Encouragement
Health is not a side-topic—it’s a discipleship opportunity. These weight loss devotionals for church or bible-study groups will help your members:
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Strengthen their walk with God
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Improve energy and focus for ministry
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Reclaim joy and freedom from diet bondage
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Build authentic relationships in Christ-centered community
Don’t wait for January. You can start transforming your church this month—one devotional, one small group, one heart at a time.
