Have you ever been bothered by the idea of “self-care?”
I believe the main issue with “self-care” is we may not be hearing this message of self-care from a Christian perspective.
We may not be hearing it from a biblical perspective.
I believe self-care starts with Him!
Is that a strange thing to say? Honestly, I want to tell you why you may be doing or viewing “self-care” and “self-love” all wrong.
So I’m assuming that you have heard self-care Sunday or Saturday etc.
Yes, there is nothing terrible about any of that within the sentiment.
I think the sentiment is right! Um hello, this whole blog, podcast, and YouTube Channel are all about Stewarding what you have been given by God and managing it to the best of your unique ability, in your own style.
However, as it pertains to taking care of yourself; I want to point out that you already do.
You wake up and handle your responsibilities. You brush your teeth, eat, drink, etc.
Does that mean you ate the healthiest meal running out the door?
Possibly not.
Does that mean you actually ate or drank anything besides coffee?
Again, maybe not.
But the point is you took care of yourself today in some form or fashion.
Self-care from a Christian Perspective
When it comes to pampering yourself or making sure you take specific time and effort to paint your nails and wash your hair. That definitely has its place!
I’m going to assume that you have possibly experienced that.
Is it wrong to pamper yourself?
I don’t think so.
Is it wrong to put the effort into taking care of yourself?
Certainly not!
But the emphasis that seems to circulate around this idea may be misplaced if we are not careful.
Being intentional about “self-care” and “self-love” is fine when it is in the right place.
There are plenty of ways to pamper yourself but what if we are overusing these terms and buzz words because we are lacking something deeper.
Style and Stewardship
Pampering or Self-Care?
It’s important to distinguish between pampering or self-care?
We have to distinguish between self-care and soul-care.
It’s not uncommon for us to focus on outer needs when what our souls desire is on a much deeper level.
You can check out the post on rest right here. I go in-depth about my thoughts on self-care on the Style and Stewardship Podcast in this episode (28) and episode (29) if you are interested.
Self-care, pampering and indulgence can not replace rest! Rest is one of the best ways to truly take care of yourself.
Style and Stewardship
Many times when I hear people speaking of and championing self-care and self-love it appears that the focus is on giving yourself something that is necessary and vital.
As though it should take precedence in your life and be prioritized in it over everything else.
How did Jesus do self-care?
Jesus often went off to pray and spend time with our heavenly father and that is what replenished him.
He understood he needed time away from it all and to spend time with his father.
Jesus modeled what our souls need as well.
Spending intentional time with God will give us replenishment that nothing else can.
Style and Stewardship
Pampering just can’t do that, though there is a place for that.
The concern and question we may want to ponder is this; Is pampering a necessity and is it the priority.
God’s word is what fills us and strengthens us. Whether we ever have a “vacation” or a spa day or not. God gives us something that is truly [spiritually] life-giving.
It’s what God gives us that truly allows us to get what we may [actually] be after.
The need we feel can not be confused with prioritizing “self” over what we truly need in order to feel replenished and revived in order to live in this world.
Stewardship is so much more!
Resting in God can be done WHILE you are taking care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself within itself does not give you rest on the deepest level.
Is it nice? Absolutely!
But self-care in itself does not replenish and sustain you on the level you and I need it most!
Style and Stewardship
We need mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual rest on a level that the spirit of God enables and provides.
How Do You Include God in Self-care?
How do you include God in self-care? Here are a few ways.
- Playing worship music while you’re soaking in the tub
- Praying while you paint your nails
- Having quiet time that allows the room for the Holy spirit to have a say (we are sometimes too busy to hear that still small voice)
- It can look like praying and asking God to allow his presence to fill the parts of you that are in need that you may not even be able to quite articulate.
- There may be a burden that you feel and you desire peace. Allow that to be a clue that you need to involve God way more than you need a pedicure.
We can do all these activities (notice, that’s just doing “more” sometimes) instead of just telling God that you feel 😩 weary.
He gave… no, He mandated that we rest.
Many times it seems we have taken our need to rest and turned it into “needing” to prioritize doing more!
Style and Stewardship
Adding more to your plate, well, that is not rest!
That is not self-care nor is it self-love to leave God out and exchange rest for anything else.
Self-Care Through Rest
We can not substitute the rest we need in our own strength. It’s God who gives his people rest. He is able to do this whether we get a self-care day or not.
Please hear me out I’m not saying taking care of yourself is wrong. You are already doing that on some level.
We can not substitute the rest we need from God through our own efforts. We need to put effort into seeking God’s rest.
There is no replacement for what only God can give us. Just like [His] peace can’t be manufactured, neither can the rest that only he can provide be substituted by anything else.
I’m certainly not an expert but I want to encourage you to look to God for true rest and recognize that we can not give ourselves what only God can give us.
So the Priority is God first as it says in *Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Aka Given to you by God.
Sometimes we have to ask God and pray about what we actually need!
God gives his people rest
Endurance
Peace
Provision
Hope
Wisdom
Clarity
strength
Ask God to show you what you are truly in need of. Ask him to provide those things to you and accept the grace He provides.
There is nothing better for your”self” than what He has for you.
Resting in Christ and seeking him is truly taking care of your”self.”
*Scripture References via bible gateway
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