September marks Self-Care Awareness Month. Before dismissing this post, as in older terms, as “New Age” when I speak on mindfulness and meditation, bear with me as I unfold that it is not only beneficial but Biblical to meditate.
Self-care is the practice of taking care of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness. Without self -care we run the risk of emotional instability, stress, and a wide variety of physical ailments. Trust me when I say this is absolutely true. I have not always practiced self-care like I should, and my mental health and physical health has gotten the brunt end of my refusal to take the time to care properly for myself.
We are called to meditate on God’s Word. The very source of Life so that we can walk in His ways. Success in this life looks different than we often think. It’s not about high paying jobs, possessions, and popularity. It’s about family, relationships, and being able to look over your life and be content with the choices you have made on how you lived your life. What legacy are you leaving for others when you take your final breath? Allow others to see that self-care was an important part of who you are as a spiritual being.
Oftentimes, we find that Jesus left the crowds and disciples on many occasions to meditate and spend time with God, the Father. Jesus by his own example shows us the importance of living by the Word and spending time with the Father. This equipped Jesus with the strength He needed to continue to walk the mission set before him. How are you walking your mission today? Are you struggling? seek God. Are you discouraged? Read scripture. Spend time quietly sitting in God’s presence. Do not neglect the spiritual being that you are.
Self-care takes many forms. I will list a few ways to participate in self-care, but it looks different to everyone. There is no one way or right way to practice self-care. The only way to do it wrong is to not do it at all. Let’s break self-care into the categories I listed above:
Physical: this type of self-care encompasses a lot of areas. From healthy eating, exercising to appropriate hygiene rituals. Activities such as a warm bath, walking, eating healthy, staying hydrated, yoga, and stretching and moving are all ways that we can honor the body God has gifted us and it allows us to treat ourselves as image bearers to God.
Mental: Journaling, meditation (praying), time in nature (I LOVE waterfalls), reading, coloring, doing a craft or hobby that you enjoy. Allowing your mind a time to not think but enjoy the moments.
Emotional: Mindfulness is being present in the moment. Not thinking of the past and sitting in depression; not dwelling on the future in anxiety; but fully present in the here and now focusing on what you are involved in. I encourage my clients to practice grounding techniques. Its a form of mindfulness that incorporates the 5 senses to assist you with remaining present. What are 5 things you see, 4 things you physically feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you can taste? Other strategies for emotional self-care is to allow yourself to feel the emotion you are experiencing. No emotion is bad, they all serve a purpose. You need to cry then cry, You want to laugh and shout then laugh and shout. Enjoy the notion that we get to experience a variety of emotions and that their job is to communicate with us what we need.
Spiritual: Spend time seeking God in prayer, reading scripture, or going for a walk in nature and noticing all of God’s creation. When you pause to notice His creation, you will often find God in those moments.
God desires for us to care for ourselves. It is an act of worship to Him when we can take care of every aspect of our being. I highly recommend checking out the book on my review list Holy Noticing. The book is great at leading you into genuine meditation of God using your body, spirit, emotions, every aspect of who you are in a way to manage and settle yourself so that you can continue to show your worship to God as you live out each day.
I will end with this one verse to encourage you to seek Him today. Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, My Rock, and My Redeemer.
Reckless Writings 
In college days (a WHILE ago), I heard only of a “new age” type of meditation that made me feel uncomfortable. If I had known then what I understand now of “mindful meditation” as a sensible way to rest in God’s presence, then I might be more at ease with my self today. So I am grateful that you are communicating clearly about the importance of caring for the self and of meditation as a way to more fully experience the presence of God.
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