Need help staying centered on self-care? There are helpful bible verses about taking care of yourself. Use these Scripture verses to help you focus on self-care and feel better.
Sometimes it can be difficult to stay focused on caring for yourself. Life can really get crazy, especially for people who serve or care for others. But don’t give up – we require rest.
Therefore, I’m going to highlight a few of those self-care Bible verses to help you focus on self-care.
Self-care is not selfish.
Above all, it’s necessary.
We must know and understand this truth. Why?
Because of the way God created us.
God’s human blueprint requires us to take care of our minds, bodies, and souls to feel and perform at our best. For example, we cannot go without sleep, food, or water.
We thrive in a community.
And we long for a relationship with the Lord.
Self-care is essential.
As a result, I made you a printable with some of the Scripture verses in this post to help you focus on your self-care! You can get a FREE copy at the end of this post.
Need some help finding time to take better care of yourself?
Get your FREE copy of the Self-care Starter Guide HERE!
Self-care Bible verses can help us focus on self-care and take care of ourselves.
For your convenience, click on the links in the table of contents below to go straight to the section you need, or you can read the entire article.
We Require Self-care
As believers, we must take care of ourselves – and be intentional about it.
God created us to require self-care.
So we must be diligent about getting rest and taking time to refuel. We also need to remember we thrive most when we rest in His power.
Self-care is always going to be essential for people like us, who serve and care for others because doing this task causes fatigue.
And, unfortunately, as your life gets busier serving and caring for others, it will get harder to take care of yourself.
Similarly, as the family members you serve and care for (and you) get older
- Children need to be in multiple places at once
- Spouses need attention, date nights, or perhaps caregiving
- Aging parents have complex and increasingly time-consuming caregiving needs.
Self-care can start to look like something to put off until later. But please don’t do that.
Reading and praying through Scripture verses can help you find the needed encouragement to take care of your needs and do it for the right reasons.
Self-care Takes Effort – Use Bible Verses to Help You Focus on Self-care
Self-care requires using some of your mental and emotional energy – specifically when it comes to having the motivation to find and keep your me-time, especially if you already feel like you don’t have time to take care of yourself.
In most cases, you have to have some motivation to take care of yourself, right?
To clarify, I’m not just talking about having the motivation to avoid desserts & junk food.
I’m talking about the motivation to stay focused on the basic self-care activities that maintain your physical, mental or emotional, and spiritual health and wellness.
Essential things like:
- Getting enough sleep
- Saying no to the wrong things to make time for the right things
- Implementing healthy boundaries
- Managing stress
- Spending time in prayer
- Trusting God with your choices
- Growing your faith
- Improving your relationships
Serving and taking care of others can cause us to get overwhelmed and easily distracted, interfering with the motivation needed for some of our most basic self-care activities.
And likewise, if you’re like me, sometimes you’re even distracted and under-motivated about spending time with the Lord and in the Word.
Self-care in the Bible
I’m a busy wife and work-at-home mom who serves and takes care of my family and many other people and things! Like you, problems with self-care aren’t new; I’ve struggled to take good care of myself through many seasons.
However, in the past, I hadn’t considered looking at the Scriptures about self-care or looking up a Bible verse for wellness.
But thankfully, during an extremely exhausting season, I sought prayer and called out to God. The Lord led me to what the Bible says about self-care.
As a result, I do much better with my self-care.
Because now, I know to spend time with God to find the motivation (and wisdom) to do my self-care.
In essence, I’m supernaturally motivated, and I use my faith to drive my self-care.
This was a life-changing experience for me! And I want the same outcome for you! So much so that I wrote a Bible study (and a book!) about getting motivated and showing love to God with your self-care.
Looking for a way to stay motivated about taking better care of yourself? Check out my Bible study by clicking on my book image below or my affiliate link.
Spending Time with the Lord IS Self-care
Spending time with the Lord helps make Him the priority of all things – including your self-care.
It may surprise you to learn that WE ALL STRUGGLE with self-care barriers.
But spending time with the Lord can impact your self-care in several ways. Specifically, time with God can help you with:
- Aligning priorities
- Finding motivation
- Finding time
- Feeling worthy
- Resolving guilty feelings
To sum it up, keep God’s word before you to trust what God says about self-care.
Specifically, you need to know there are bible verses about self-care and read through them during your prayer time, and then keep working on understanding them throughout your day.
Because while we’re going to go through a few Scriptures on self-care, you need to understand – I mean to understand it deep inside your soul – that it doesn’t require feeling guilty when you take care of yourself.
You can focus on your self-care needs without feeling guilty, especially after you know what the bible says about your self-care.
I want that for you!
Verses to Help You Focus on Self-care
Here are some tips and bible verses about helping yourself with your self-care.
These care Scriptures can help you focus on self-care any day of course, but especially when you’re struggling to get motivated about taking care of yourself.
First, find a Quiet Place.
I like to start with these verses about helping yourself.
It’s a good reminder to find alone time. I don’t know about you, but I can’t effectively pray around a crowd, a loud television, or active kids or pets.
But, we don’t need to go far to find some space alone.
Sometimes we have to be more creative – maybe stay in bed for a few minutes in the morning or hide in the bathroom for a few extra moments (whatever it takes).
Jesus was the expert, the model for prayer. So if Jesus needed to be alone to speak to God, then you and I probably need to be alone too.
- “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5:16). (NLT).
- “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6) (NLT).
And while we’d love a full 30-45 minutes of alone time to pray – sometimes an escape for a 5-minute break on a crazy day is enough to achieve a calming prayer and self-care experience. In fact, one of the most-read self-care Bible quotes comes from Matthew 6.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33)(NLT).
Scriptures About Self-care to Rest in the Lord
For the longest time, I had the wrong understanding.
I thought I had to rest to worship, which would make me stronger.
That thinking was backward.
Jesus offers rest through His saving plan for us.
- “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28) (NLT).
- For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)(NLT).
He wants to take our burdens. None of us are perfect, like Jesus.
So notice He didn’t say, give me a tiny portion of your load. He didn’t say, “Shape up so you can come to me!”
He says I will give you rest.
The rest that Jesus provides is like no rest we can receive here on earth.
To clarify, when we spend more time in the Word; we’ll feel more rest.
Therefore, we need to spend time reading Scripture verses to help us focus on self-care.
When you feel rested, you’ll make healthier and holier self-care choices.
Bible Verses About Taking Care of Your Body
There seems to be a lot of concern about whether self-care interferes with self-denial.
To me, there is a difference between self-denial as a Christian and self-denial related to self-care.
We have to deny our old selves to carry out Christian values. They lie opposite each other.
And, there are times when we must deny ourselves a self-care need to fulfill a task or service for the Lord.
However, the Lord expects us to care for our minds, bodies, and souls. Doing so can help us carry out the Great Commission. Our self-care can be a way to honor the Lord.
Therefore self-denial as a Christian and self-denial related to self-care are not mutually exclusive.
So regarding our self-care needs, know there are times when God will ask us to forego self-care needs, but also as I wrote above, our bodies, minds, and souls require the rest of our Father.
- “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” (Romans 14:17-18) (NLT).
- “And so, dear brothers and sisters, 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. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2) (NLT).
Bible Verse About Taking Care of Yourself Before Others
People often ask me if I know of any bible verses about helping yourself before others.
The Bible doesn’t say this phrase specifically.
But we do have guidance through Galatians.
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” (Galatians 6:2-5) (NLT)
We have a responsibility to carry each other’s burdens. But we must also still carry our own burdens.
In her book, “I Do Boundaries“, Havilah Cunnington writes, ” We are responsible to each other, but not for each other.”
God’s Word instructs us we’re to carry our own burdens. And, if we see someone else’s burden is too heavy for them, we’re to help them through it.
But it’s not meant to last forever. I think this is the part that applies to taking care of ourselves before others.
I see many Christians (especially women) trying to carry others’ burdens indefinitely. Or, even more difficult at times, more than one other person’s burdens at a time.
But none of us are built for that.
We can get overwhelmed when we take on another’s burdens for too long, which will interfere with our ability to carry our own burdens or to carry a different person’s burdens when they are in need and God places them in front of us.
So prayerfully consider if it’s time to stop carrying another’s burden. This will help you determine if you should take care of yourself before helping others.
Bible Verses About Your Body is the Lord’s Temple
Your body is part of the church.
When you accept Christ as your savior because He died for your sins, He lives in you as the Holy Spirit and helps you actively live out your faith.
When you sin to or with your body, you are sinning to or with the Lord’s temple. Conversely, it pleases the Lord when you treat or use your body righteously.
Scripture tells us to take care of ourselves, but it centers on God, who dwells in your midst (in you), so you are to treat your body in a holy and honoring way.
So, when considering all these things, the effort to take care of yourself is related to treating your body like the Lord’s Temple.
- “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV).
- “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 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT).
In the true context of where this verse is in the chapter, this Bible verse applies to sexual immorality. But it also indicates that God wants an intimate relationship with us.
Taking care of yourself as a living sacrifice or temple for the Lord places you in a position to have a special and intimate relationship with the Lord.
Verses to Help You Focus on Self-care and Learn Self-care God’s Way
The Lord knows your body needs proper care to live out your purpose and perform the good works God has waiting for you to do.
When you don’t take care of yourself, whether it be not eating correctly, not spending time with close friends, or getting enough rest, your temple is not at its highest level of wellness for the Lord’s service.
If you’re like me, you don’t want to miss an opportunity the Lord has already set up for you!
In addition, when you let the Lord lead you with your self-care, he can help you supernaturally overcome barriers in your path.
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians, 2:10) (NIV).
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) (NLT).
- “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) (NLT).
- “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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.” (Philippians 4:6-7) (NLT).
- For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. (Romans 11:34-36) (NLT)
Understand God is Always With You
As I said, there are days when I’m just not feeling motivated about taking care of myself through self-care.
Sometimes I might feel lonely, sad, or anxious.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed just thinking about going to the gym or needing to do a hundred things, and somehow I have to take the dogs for a walk too.
But, I am comforted knowing God is with me. And you can be comforted also!
When you:
- Feel alone, know He is there, and sense His tenderness.
- Are sad, be comforted by His presence.
- Are overwhelmed, God cheers you on and helps you see how to take it one step at a time.
- “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) (NLT).
Having God with you is what can help you overcome anxiousness, make better choices, and take better care of yourself throughout the day.
God Provides Promise Verses to Help You Focus on Self-care
God cares for you completely through the Gospel message.
Through the blood of Jesus, you are healed. God promises to provide for all of your needs.
- O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! (Jeremiah 17:14) (NLT).
- “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. (Exodus 23:25) (NLT).
In closing, indeed, it’s not easy to focus on self-care with a busy life and schedule.
Thankfully, as with many other topics in the Bible, there are Scriptures on self-care to help you focus on self-care.
Get your FREE list of Self-care Verses Here – and use these free printable Bible verses about self-care.
Don’t forget your FREE Self-care Starter Guide! Get it HERE.
Thanks for reading! Know someone who would benefit from reading this post? Share it on social media!
Save a pin to your favorite Pinterest board!
Ready for more? Here are my latest posts!
- Overcome Self-care Barriers with 4 Easy Tips
- 4 Easy Ways to Get Your Spouse to Eat Healthy Food
- 5 Easy Ways to Find Me-Time in Your Busy Schedule
- How to Try New Vegetables When You Hate to Eat Veggies
- How to Love Eating Vegetables and Not Gag
Copywrite
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Updated on 8/15/23. Originally published 9/23/20. Written by Lisa Kimrey, RN.
Be sure to grab your FREE Self-care Starter Guide! Lisa Kimrey is a 33-year veteran registered nurse (RN), speaker, and author of the Bible study, The Self-care Impact: Motivation and Inspiration for Wellness. At Mylifenurse, Lisa combines her nursing expertise with Scripture-based encouragement to show readers who serve and care for others how to begin and maintain their self-care journey – without feeling guilty or overwhelmed – to feel happy, healthy, and rejuvenated.