The Role of Self-Care in Christian Living: Nurturing Body, Mind, and Spirit
- Arsalan Ahmad
- Oct 27, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 26
In today’s world, self-care is a hot topic, particularly for women who are frequently expected to balance various jobs and obligations. But what does Christian self-care entail? Is it biblical to look after oneself? How can we care for ourselves in a way that pleases God and benefits others?
In this blog post, I will explore the concept of self-care from a Christian perspective and offer some practical tips on nurturing our body, mind, and spirit.
What is self-care for Christians?
Self-care is not a new idea. The Bible says much about how we should treat ourselves and others. Jesus summarized the greatest commandments as: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Notice that Jesus did not say, “Love your neighbor more than yourself” or “Love your neighbor instead of yourself.” He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. This implies that we need to love ourselves before we can love others well. This also implies that we need to love ourselves like God loves us: with grace, compassion, and respect.
Self-care for Christians is about making the daily decision to nourish ourselves through the Word of God, eating nourishing foods, and investing in our overall well-being. This may result in intentionally declining the promise of a “quick fix” product or program and instead seeking out the ways God provides us.
Self-care for Christians is also about drawing near to God while caring for the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some ways to practice Christian self-care:
· Create schedules and routines that prioritize rest
· Create a daily self-care checklist
· Be intentional about quiet time with God
· Cultivate calm with journaling
· Find hobbies and activities that help you relax
· Seek God daily and lean on him instead of your understanding
Why do we need self-care as Christians?
Self-care is not selfish or vain. It is a way of honoring God with our lives and being good stewards of the resources he has given us. Here are some reasons why we need self-care as Christians:
Self-care helps us to abide in Christ. Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4). To abide means to rest. We need to rest in Jesus and draw our strength from him. Self-care helps us to do that by creating space for prayer, worship, and meditation on his word.
Self-care helps us to avoid burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork. It can affect our health, relationships, and ministry. Self-care helps us prevent burnout by setting healthy boundaries, saying no when necessary, and taking breaks.
Self-care helps us to serve others better. When we take care of ourselves, we are more able to care for others. We are more patient, kind, generous, and compassionate. We can share Christ’s love with those around us. Self-care helps us to fill our cups so that we can pour into the cups of others.
How can we practice self-care in Christian living?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care. Each person has different needs, preferences, and circumstances. However, here are some general guidelines on how to practice self-care in Christian living:
Start with God
The most important aspect of self-care is our relationship with God. He is the source of our life, joy, peace, and purpose. He knows what we need better than anyone else. He invites us to come to him when we are weary and burdened. He promises to give us rest (Matthew 11:28). He also commands us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Therefore, we should make time for him every day, through prayer, reading his word, listening to his voice, and obeying his will.
Take care of your body
Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We should treat it with respect and care. This means eating well-balanced meals, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, avoiding harmful substances, and seeking medical help.
Take care of your mind
Our mind is a battlefield where we face many temptations, doubts, fears, and lies from the enemy. We need to guard our mind with the truth of God’s word and renew it with his Spirit (Romans 12:2). This means memorizing and meditating on Scripture, listening to uplifting music, reading edifying books, watching wholesome shows, and avoiding anything that pollutes our mind.
Take care of your spirit
Our spirit is the part of us that connects with God and others. We need to nurture our spirit with his presence and his people. This means spending time in worship, praise, and gratitude, attending church and fellowship, serving and giving, and sharing our faith and testimony.
Take care of your emotions
Our emotions are a gift from God that helps us to express ourselves and relate to others. However, they can also be influenced by our circumstances, hormones, and thoughts. We need to manage our emotions with his wisdom and grace. This means acknowledging and naming our feelings, healthily processing them, seeking support from others when needed, and releasing them to God.
Self-care is not a luxury or a fad
It is a biblical and essential practice for Christian living. By caring for ourselves, we honor God, serve others, and fulfill our purpose. Let us make self-care a priority in our lives and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).
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Sources:
(1) https://livingbydesign.org/self-care-christian-women/.
(2) Christians and Self-Care: What Does the Bible Say About Self Care. https://www.therapyforchristians.com/blog/self-care-in-the-bible.
(3) The Truth About Self-Care: A Christian Perspective - Glorify. https://glorifymagazine.com/2021/03/27/the-truth-about-self-care/.
(4) 10 Self Care Tips Every Christian Should Practice. https://outuponthewaters.com/christian-self-care-tips/.
(5) Why we need a biblical understanding of ‘self-care’ - ERLC. https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/why-we-need-a-biblical-understanding-of-self-care/.
(6) https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/christian-self-care/.
(7) https://www.denisonforum.org/biblical-living/how-to-practice-biblical-self-care/.
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