I’m Surrounded By Entirely Too Much of Myself
I’ve spent the week getting beat up. Getting beat up by myself and my thoughts (repeatedly, consistently). By the angry world around me. By circumstances, sickness, and worries.
After several days of reading God’s Word through a Bible plan online, I had a revelation. No one, not even myself, loves me as much as God does. And the thoughts He thinks towards me are ones of love and kindness.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)
Today is my day off and I’ve decided to be kind to myself.
6 Ways to Love Yourself
1.) No thoughts of what will happen if.
I will live in the moment. God is omniscient and I know His plans for me are good. So, I will let go and trust Him.
2.) Me-Time
Some of the things on my To Do list are purely for me, like painting my nails or giving myself a facial. Instead of pushing those off until last and never getting to them (for weeks), I’m doing them first. My bruised soul could use some TLC.
3.) Ponder forgiveness, even for just a little while.
I have a date with myself to cry a little later. I need to forgive myself and ask for forgiveness from God over some things. Weariness begins with burdens not released.
4.) Look Upward
I’m surrounded by imperfection. I will never be worthy or maybe even feel worthy. But Christ is in me. It’s time to look upward and not so long inward.
5.) Spend Time with God to be Washed by His Word.
I’ve been entirely too distracted by shiny pretty things. Caring again, properly, starts with the soul then reaching out to others.
6.) Cultivating a Selfless Mindset
A me-centered mindset needs to now take a back seat. Proverbs 18:1 says A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
It’s a Start
Things may not be perfect, or far from it. I don’t have the answers for some of the things that are still raging outside, beating on the door of my brain to get my attention and worry. However, too much time in my head thinking over what I can’t control isn’t the answer.
Conscious changes can cause tiny ripples of hope that God can perform miracles through.
The steps above, they have helped. Reaching out, asking for prayer. Taking the time to approach God and realize I’m worthy of His glance, His attention, even when I’m the most undeserving and unrighteous sinner. He sees me through Jesus’ sacrifice and to Him, I am clean, I am holy and He loves me just as I am.
Have you had similar days or weeks of feeling beat up? What steps have you taken to get out from under the onslaught?
[ctt template=”2″ link=”6E3T5″ via=”yes” ]Learn to love yourself with these 6 tips (that probably aren’t what you’re thinking)[/ctt]
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“Conscious changes can cause tiny ripples of hope that God can perform miracles through.”
Love this! And I like your 6 steps because they are small and doable. Small steps are easier to start with and continue with, while giving room to build upon. Have a good week!
Thank you so much for commenting, Laura. I’ve been repeating some of these steps since I wrote this and they are helping so much. God bless you and I hope you have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much for this. I needed this today. The first line and I am asking myself is she writing to me 🙂
Awww, hope your day is blessed. We are looking up. ♡
That’s something that I still need to be learning to do
Working on it daily also. ♡♡ thank you for dropping in.
Laura, this is a good reminder that we need to get off by ourselves and give ourselves the attention we need, so that we are always ready to serve Him when He calls. Thanks.
Amen, Amy. Love how you boiled it down! God’s blessings over you and your family.
We do need to take care of our bodies and not allow ourselves to dwell on negative thoughts.
Amen. ♡♡
We have to be able to live in the moment and laugh at ourselves. We all need to work on seeing ourselves through God’s eyes.
Yes! Laugh more is on the list. Thank God for kids, they help in that department. Have a great day!
Pondering forgiveness, being selfless… I never would have thought about adding those to a list of ways to love myself, but you are so right. Those are some of the best things we can do for ourselves. Thanks for sharing your heart with us today.
Laura, I love your 6 tips on learning to love yourself more. I especially love number 5, spend time with God in to be washed by His word., because He loves us so much, it’s nearly impossible not to begin to love yourself through His love for us. Thanks for your encouraging post, I’m visiting your post today from Faith Filled Friday.
Great post. Ever since my kids were little, I’ve made sure to have ‘me time’ regularly. Now that they are older, I find I don’t need it as much…maybe because they aren’t demanding my attention all the time anymore. I also made a point of training them when they were little that mommy needs time to pray and read her Bible so I can be the best mommy I can be. I really helped – they would see me praying or reading my Bible and they knew it wasn’t a good time to interrupt.
Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.