Christian Stress Management: Is Self Care Acceptable in Christianity?

Is Self-Care Acceptable in Christianity?

Yes, self-care is acceptable in Christianity because Jesus taught that the second great commandment is You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Mark 12:31)

This shows us that you have to love yourself so that you can love your neighbor the way you love yourself.

Self-care is one way that we as Christians can love ourselves.

Self-care which is simply taking care of yourself, involves spending time doing things that improve your well being. It can be divided into spiritual, emotional and physical self-care.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself Matthew 22:39

Christian Physical Self-Care

Physical self-care involves spending time doing activities that improve your physical well-being. These include exercising regularly, eating healthy foods and physical rest.

We can see an example of this when Jesus told his apostles, "Come by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" because there were many coming and they did not even have time to eat. So they left and went to a deserted place in a boat by themselves. (Mark 6:30-32)

Christian Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual self-care entails spending time doing activities that improve your spiritual well-being.
These include reading the Bible, praying and singing Christian songs.

We can see an example of this from Jesus because Early in the morning, While it was still dark, Jesus left the house and went to a deserted place to pray. (Mark 1:35)

Jesus also spent the whole night in prayer before he chose His 12 apostles from all his disciples. (Luke 6:12-16)

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Christian Emotional Self-Care

Emotional self-care involves spending time doing the activities that nourish you emotionally.

These include engaging in hobbies that you enjoy and releasing people that have hurt you and reorganizing it so that you avoid those who persistently hurt you.

We can see an example of this when Joseph's brothers were afraid that he would avenge himself for selling them into slavery after their father Jacob dies for he asked them, "Am I in the place of God?" (Genesis 50:19)

Meditating on Bible verses for self care like the following doubles up as both emotional and spiritual self-care since The sword of the spirit is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Adapted Psalm 139:14)

I am made in the image of God. (Adapted Genesis 1:27)

I have a treasure in this earthen vessel so that the excellence of power may be of God and not of me. (Adapted 2 Corinthians 4:7)

I have a treasure in this earthen vessel so that the excellence of power may be of God and not of me. (Adapted 2 Corinthians 4:7)

I am God's Masterpiece created in Christ to do good works which God prepared for me. (Adapted Ephesians 2:10)

I love my neighbor as much as I love myself. (Adapted Mark 12:31)