Biblical Self-Care
Self-care is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself. It means doing things to take care of our minds, bodies, and souls by engaging in activities that promote well-being and reduce stress. Doing so enhances our ability to live fully, vibrantly, and effectively. The practice of self-care also reminds both you and others that your needs are valid and a priority.
Is self-care even biblical? Well yes!
The bible talks about four steps of self-care!
Step one: Prayer.
Mark 1:35 says,
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Here, we see Jesus modeling quiet time by himself and praying. To properly care for oneself, spending time with God and praying is essential. Whether you do so in the morning or not is up to you and depends on whether you are a morning or night person. I am better in the morning before my children and husband wake up, but some people do better at night.
Step two: Spend time alone
Mark 6:31–32 says,
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”
This scripture shows that it is good to have time alone to rest. We need sleep, alone time, and hobbies. This doesn’t mean we have a free pass to be lazy, but it’s okay to rest, eat, and be an introvert. Sometimes, you need it.
Step three: Keep up with our needs
Matthew 15:32 says:
“Jesus called his disciples and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse.”
This is when Jesus feeds the 4,000 (20,000, counting women and children). He doesn’t preach to them, but he feeds them. Yes, it is a miracle, but he also gives them what they need. Jesus sets a precedent for eating and ensuring we care correctly. He wants us to be healthy. He gives us what we need.
Step four: Take care of our bodies
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
In its original context, this passage talks about sexual immorality, but I believe it applies on an even greater level to our worth in God. We are precious and hold great value, and we should take care of the temples we reside in — our bodies. The bible tells us we should eat well, work out, and watch what we do by avoiding things that may be physically or spiritually harmful. Our bodies don’t just belong to us.
We often miss the last word, “yourself,” or overvalue it. We are to love ourselves to love others. Self-care is biblical, but only when done well while understanding how much Christ cared for us first. It is not just about loving oneself, but loving oneself so that we show off the glory of God to a world that needs to know him.
How can you practice self-care?
How can you practice self-care?
How can you practice self-care?
• Clean
• Cook or bake
• Cross something off your to-do list
• Exercise
• Get a massage
• Go for a walk
• Listen to music or a podcast
• Make art
• Meditation
• Mindfulness exercises
• Play a game
• Practice deep breathing
• Read
• Take a bath
• Take a (timed) nap
• Watch TV or a movie
My favorite way to practice self-care is deep breathing paired with meditation. Both Psalm 1 and Psalm 119 call people to meditate on scripture. Psalm 1 explains that when believers meditate on God’s Word, they will be blessed with flourishing, just like a tree flourish if it is planted by continuously running water and nourished by a constant source of life. Regularly meditating on the bible will nourish the soul. Psalm 119 explains that when people meditate on scripture, they can resist sin and live wisely, another indicator of human flourishing.