Self Care
One of the blessings of being a woman is possessing the ability to nurture and love those around us very well. As a wife and a mother, I know firsthand, how wonderful it is to care for those that I love. I also know how easy it is to put my own needs on the back burner because I tend to always see my family’s needs as my priority. However recently, due to an illness, I have come to realize, that if I don’t take care of myself first, I will not be able to serve those that I care so deeply for.
On my last Airplane flight, I remember the flight attendant giving instructions in the event that there was a flight emergency. She encouraged us to put our oxygen mask on first before we tried to assist anyone else. Ladies Self-care is the oxygen mask that will keep us alive and well while we care for those that are so dear to us.
Some of you may ask; is Self-Care scriptural? My answer to that question would be, that there are definitely scriptures that support us taking care of ourselves, and being a good steward of what God has blessed us with.
Today I want to give you permission to take care of yourself. One of the best ways to do this is to put yourself on your own calendar. Schedule some “Me” time for yourself. Your family and your community need you, and you will be at your best when you are spiritually, mentally, and physically well-rested and refueled. Self-Care is the gift that you give to yourself so that you are then able to give the gift of you to others. Jesus would often slip away from the crowds to pray and to be alone. If Jesus needed to slip away to refuel, then certainly we need to do the same. I have listed a few tips below that might help you. I hope that you will be blessed by them.
S– Soul Care is an essential part of Self-care.
Nourish your soul with God’s word, prayer, journaling, and moments of just being still before the Lord.
Psalm 23:1-3 NLT
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength…
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalms 119:143
143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
Matthew 11: 28-29
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
E– Eat healthily and eat well.
Daniel 1:15
15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
Proverbs 25:11
Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
1st Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
L– Laugh often, enjoys your life.
Spend time with people who bring you joy and make you laugh.
Proverbs 17:22 TLB
22 A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick.
Proverbs 12:25 NASB
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
F- Focus on being well, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Proverbs 14:30 NLT
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body…
Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
Philippians 4: 6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
C– Create some “Me” time in your schedule.
Matthew 14:13… NIV
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place…
A– Accept an invitation to do something fun, that you have always wanted to do.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 -13 NLT
12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
R– Rest your mind and your body.
Mark 6:31
31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Genesis 2:2
2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested[a] from all his work.
E– Exercise
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Romans 12:1
12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b]
1 Corinthians 9:26-27
26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Proverbs 31:17
17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
