3:40 – Treat Yourself Like A Friend

#faithbites #faithjourney friend

How do you talk to yourself in your head? Are you kind to yourself? Are you hard on yourself? Maybe you don’t realize the time you take when talking to yourself.

This weekend has been high on the anxiety scale as I haven’t felt I’m accomplishing anything and letting everyone down. Yesterday was the worst day I think I’ve hard. Tonight, a good friend, told me be a friend to myself. I had to think about that.

I always give others the benefit of the doubt looking beyond their actions to their intentions. No matter what others say, I try to see the good in others. But for me, I’m hard and angry to myself.

If we believe that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28) and we are children of God (John 1:12) then when we are hurtful to ourselves, we are hurtful to God. Jesus tells us to Love God and love our neighbors (Mark 12:30-31). Why wouldn’t we love ourselves?

Scripture

(Yes, you get extra scripture today.)

• Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. – Proverbs 19:8
• For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, – Ephesians 5:29
• For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10

Reflection

Call it a Holy Spirit moment, but as I was writing this, my eldest came down with a Valentine’s Day card she wrote to herself from herself. We talked about loving ourselves and she said she’s always mean to herself.

We don’t teach self loathing but we all do it. We need to stop it. If we are to love all of God’s people, we need to love ourselves. No ifs, ands, or buts.

You are a loved, chosen, exalted child of God. You are worthy. Share the love of Christ that you share with others with yourself.

Challenge

Love yourself. Don’t try to justify it. You are loved. Treat yourself, forgive yourself, and comfort yourself.

Prayer

Heavenly Lord, thank you for your love. We often try to love others at our own expense. We think we aren’t supposed to love ourselves as that is prideful. We aren’t talking about loving ourselves over you, but loving ourselves as you wouldwant us to. Help us to treat ourselves as we would a friend with love, compassion, and understanding. In your name, Amen.