"Self-Care"
- C. Atkinson
- Nov 15, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2024
Daniel 1:8
"But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods”(NLT).
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Oh, let us praise His holy name!
I greet you today with great pleasure and joy, and I am thankful for the opportunity to encourage you. Brethren, it is not by my own strength or power, but truly only by the Spirit of the living God that lives within me that I am able to write to you. It is a good thing to put our trust in the Lord, and to recognize when He is speaking to us. I would also like to thank you for your continued support to JD&L Mission’s weekly devotionals. It has been a joy to witness God’s will being done and His truth revealed to all men that "JESUS SAVES." Truly, what a friend we have in Jesus! What a mighty God we serve, He walks and talks with us along this life’s journey.
Have you been feeling weary, tired, or just drained from an overload of work? Or perhaps you are mentally exhausted, needing a break from the demands of work or the cares of life? What are you putting in your body? What food are you feeding both your body and your soul? For truly the choices we make can either leave us feeling weary and restless or strengthened and restored. Today I want to encourage all of us on the importance of “Self-Care,” a concept the Lord reminded me of this past week as my pastor expounded from the book of Daniel. His sermon centered on the theme: “Being aware of the Spirit of Babylon.” In his teaching, we were reminded of Daniel, who refused to defile his body by eating or drinking what the king commanded.
Some key areas of “Self-Care” we should be mindful of include physical well-being (exercise & healthy eating) and mental well-being (meditation on the Word of God & prayer). “Self-Care” is vital for all of us, and we must be intentional about it. Our bodies are so important that the Lord calls them temples of God. Our Father in Heaven desires for us to take good care of them knowing that we can be happier and and more fulfilled if we are healthy in both body and spirit. Our Father understands that we face temptations that threaten our physical well being and can harm our souls. For this reason, He has provided guidance on what is good for our health and what is harmful. For example, in Genesis 1:29 said, "God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. '” This scripture emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet, one rooted in natural, nourishing foods. As a healthcare provider, many times because of the demands of our workload- we neglect our own “Self- Care” –while caring for others.
I have been convicted many times for not being consistent with my “Self-Care.” I can recall instances where I made plans for the day and took care of others, but neglected to drink water or eat a healthy meal. There have been times when I was consistent with my daily Bible reading, but then things would come up, and I would get distracted. I would become so overwhelmed that I didn't realize it until someone brought it to my attention. I know many of us can relate to this struggle. But God desires for us to care for His temple so that we can be of good use for His kingdom. We must be intentional about taking time each day to read the Word of God. It should be the first thing we do in the morning, so the Lord can guide our steps. David declared, “O’ God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” (Psalm 63:1, KJV).
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "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."(NLT). At times, taking care of ourselves requires a significant sacrifice. So, let us take a page out of Daniel's book.
Daniel 1:8-9;12-15 tell us "But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see. The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king" (NLT).
People of God, can we be real and admit that there are some unacceptable foods we have placed in our bodies, simply because they taste and look appealing? Yet, these foods are not healthy for our bodies and often are the reasons why we feel weary and tired.
“A diet with lots of leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats such as fish, nuts, and seeds may help lessen the effects of feeling tired!”
I pray that, together, we will be intentional about what we place in our bodies. Having a balanced diet is essential. Using our discretion with our food intake, sleep habits, and exercise is vital. Just as important in being intentional about our quality time spent in the presence of the Lord. He desires that the fire to draw near to Him to never go out, but continue to blaze daily within our souls. Let's be mindful that "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:" Proverbs 2:10-11, KJV.
The Lord desires us to be effective as His servants in order to carry out our kingdom assignment effectively, we must be mindful of caring for God's vessel. Treat yourself to a Spa, a vacation for 3 days away from all the hustle and bustle...be intentional about your "Self-Care"! You are worth it... You have to take care of yourself, so you can care for others!
May the Lord bless and keep you always! As we continue to encourage one another about "Self- Care", Together will be intentional about honoring God's temple, in Jesus name.
Heaven bless you!!
Please see the attached link:
WELCOME TO THE FATIGUE REDUCTION DIET!
If you would like to take a page from the life of Daniel. Please see the link below if you desire to hear the sermon "Being aware of the Spirit of Babylon" ~Pastor Wray. A word from the Lord:
Please continue to read the scriptures throughout! Praying the Lord takes you deeper into the knowledge of His truth.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
"The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep" (NLT)
Praise The Lord my sister. so sorry for the delay in responding. He is truly a good Father!! and I give God thanks for you. pray the Lord continue to guide our steps each day to be obedient to His Word!! Have a bless evening.
Praise God! This wa beautifully written. This is so true about self care and taking care of out temple (God’s temple). I can admit that I don’t always take care of myself the way I should, but thank tou for allowing God to use you in such a loving way. I always enjoy reading your posts. What a blessing it is to have another day to deepen my relationship with God!