Do you apply faith in your self-care goals? Yeah, okay, I didn’t either. But have you ever noticed the route we, as Christians, take when we decide to improve our self-care habits? There’s an easier way!
We go all out for that effort. I mean, we practically sound trumpets!
Don’t believe me?
Ok, how about this. New. Years. Resolutions.
What have you said on New Year’s Eve?
- This is the year I’m finally going to eat right and get healthy!
- I’m going to go to church regularly!
- I’m finally setting my priorities straight!
I know I’ve said those things. Then, I do the stuff people do. Well, we all say the things and do the stuff that worldly people do:
-We put our intentions on social media. We buy new ‘work-out’ clothes.
-Maybe splurge on equipment or memberships.
-And even buy special food or supplements.
-We commit to giving more energy to our goal.
-We swear we’ll conquer our fears and finally change our lifestyle.
-And we promise time to our self-care.
The list is endless really, but those three words stand out to me as a symbol of our enormous efforts as well as the predictable failure to change our habits.
We go at them with big preparatory words and actions, vast intentions, and huge commitments. A few achieve, but so, so many never get past the first week.
Most quit before day 12.
But As Christians, We Can Apply Faith in Self-care Goals!
You know, I think we use the process outlined above anytime we make self-care goals. But we don’t have to do it this way.
Because, the thing is, that method doesn’t help. I know it, and you know it.
Our big worldly aspirations don’t do anything for us physically. Or emotionally. And indeed, they don’t help us spiritually.
So, where do we find the motivation we need to transform our self-care?
Well, we know where it is not. It’s not in:
- Big aspirations and glam
- Loud, worldly efforts
- A silver bullet or the latest diet trend
Be intentional to apply your faith in your self-care goals.
Be intentional with your faith.
Stop substituting the Lord’s guidance and faithfulness with the elaborate worldly treatment (which we think will work better and have a higher value).
Being intentional with your faith allows you the opportunity to experience the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is the power that motivates our transformation.
Motivation comes from the quiet faithfulness of the Lord.
It is found through our obedience with our self-care for the glory of God. Living this way, applying your faith in your self-care, improves your self-care.
Our transformation comes in 3 ways:
- First, there is unlimited power in the self-control from the Holy Spirit compared to the limited human-driven willpower.
- Second, there is an ease of effort from the faithful performance of the Holy Spirit compared to the diligence required of our human efforts.
- And third, there is a calm in the presence of the Holy Spirit’s peace compared to the frenzy we feel as we work to fulfill worldly desires.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is available to provide self-control, faithfulness, and peace towards your self-care efforts. (See Galatians 5:22).
It is available to you right now. That is to say; you do not have to wait for a significant symptom or illness. Paul’s words in Scripture encourage us to think a little differently; we can pray and ask God for help with our self-care (even with learning how to love to exercise or to eat vegetables), or with a minor symptom before an advanced diagnosis comes (like we typically do).
When we are faithful to apply faith in our self-care, we experience spiritual growth. We have a connection with God that can only occur through intentional faith and obedience.
It makes me wonder what else we can experience.
His promptings? His little requests to grow His kingdom? I don’t know about you, but when I’m loudly announcing things I have a hard time hearing anything else.
In closing, it is good for us to be intentional to apply faith in our self-care goals. But, unlike the noisy worldly efforts, it comes through quiet faithfulness.
If we want to transform, we must apply faith in our self-care. We can experience the incredible power of the Holy Spirit’ self-discipline, find ease in our self-care efforts, and live peacefully and calmly in His presence. Finally, we have the opportunity to see God’s work and will apply to our lives every day!
Learn how to apply faith in your self-care and find motivation, take better care of yourself, and meet your self-care goals!
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.