Spiritual Self-Care for the Christian
Self-care is the name of the game in our culture. And rightfully so-we need it. But about 100 bubble baths later…I don’t really feel better. Why?
No matter how much a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine do to help me rest, they don’t really begin to touch my soul. Naps rarely clarify my calling. Vacation never fights away the unhealthy desires in me to earn, strive, and do more.
There is a level of self-care for the Christian that is both deeply personal and spiritual. This is not to say it is self-created, but is God-inspired, for you.
But there are spiritual practices that should be forming the foundation of your faith. This post is not about those. This post is not to remind you to read your Bible, but it is to appropriately position you to ask the question: What do I, as a unique believer need right to lift, replenish, and protect my soul? How do I specifically respond and experience the person of the Holy Spirit? Where am I personally feeling dry?
What I’m getting at are the sweet moments that are made for you. The moments that reveal to you how much God loves you, personally. These are really important.
#1 Stop looking to those around you to make Heaven for you.
You have been called to a plan and with a purpose. You are a child of the King. You are more than a conqueror over the difficult things in your life. There are things God still wants to show you. Write that down if you need to.
The tricky part is, that’s easy to forget. And when we forget it, we want people to help remind us. While I believe it is the role of the body of believers to encourage one another in Truth-it doesn’t always happen that way. It’s a blessing when someone near you can speak out what they see in you, but even without them, you have the authority to bring Heaven to Earth. There’s no reason to deny what’s true. God doesn’t need an echo. If he said it, we must commit to seeing it.
The How: Affirm Yourself with Truth From God, Not From Yourself
Get creative. Affirm yourself with written truth. Find online sermons and worship that speak to your soul. Take time to pray aloud scripture around your home and over yourself. Begin building habits of encouragement within your community and watch it spread. Part of self-care is getting creative with how to set your focus on what is true.
#2 Perform a heart scan
Ever hear of a body scan? It’s a mindful technique I love, where you slowly mentally scan your body for any tension or pain. It helps to identify evasive discomfort.
How much more ought we do this with our heart? Many of us walk around a little irritable, overly defensive, panicked or edgy, and we discount it like it’s nothing. Maybe your unrest is rooted in something God is prepared to free you from, you just have to take the time to notice.
The How: Solitude and Stillness
Take 15-30 minutes of stillness every day. Begin by asking God to reveal the roots of your anxiety, unrest, or whatever else you sense inside. Then wait. Choose one thought about His faithfulness to focus on. And wait for Him to bring personal revelation. A habit of stillness with God produces unshakeable stability in every other part of life. Stillness = stability.
#3 Identify and protect powerful spaces
This one is so simple. It’s my favorite. The primary question is: where do you connect with God the best? Think about it. A friend of mine and I spoke about this last week. She said it was singing worship out loud in her house. Full volume. That’s her powerful space. For me, it’s either alone outdoors or in my prayer closet. Maybe for you, it’s painting scripture, or reading commentary after commentary. Whatever it is, figure it out and protect it! It’s these spaces where God reminds us that He knows us uniquely. The result? Confidence that breeds the belief that God knows you. So, don’t deny the spaces where that’s made clear.
The How: Have quality time with God that fits your personality
The first step for you might be figuring out where these spaces are for you. I gave a few examples up there, but take a few minutes to write down yours and one way you can incorporate that into your week this week.
These are just a few ways we can intentionally care for our soul. I have to remind myself to come back to these practices often, but as I made subtle swaps between just resting my body and decidedly resting my soul, I always end up with more clarity, peace, and a restful heart.
