Taking the time to care for yourself shouldn’t be a struggle. These motivational bible verses about self care that will help you prioritize the stewardship of your health.
Between giving your best in the office and then giving the rest of your best to home, you are probably running on fumes and caffeine.
As women it can seem like we are hard-wired to take care of everyone. This often leaves us with little for ourselves. Whether it’s guilt, overwhelm, confusion, or some mix in between, I want you to let go of the limiting mindsets that keep you exhausted by showing you what the bible says about self care!
Living life with a constant level of overwhelm isn’t the life that God called us to. God’s word says that he has better for us, plans that prosper us and not harm us, so there is no way he could honestly want us to live a life of emptied-out-ness.
Studies show that when you live constantly worn out without taking a little time to yourself (even a few minutes), you can grow to resent those who you are caring for. Taking the time to get away by yourself was modeled by Jesus in many scriptures of the new testament.
If you struggle with the idea of caring for yourself, these bible verses about self care might be the affirmation you need to steward your health even in the midst of busyness.
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What is self care?
Self-care is defined as anything that is done deliberately to focus our efforts on caring for our health mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It’s the basis for improving our mood and reducing anxiety.
It’s not selfish, its about knowing how to take care of our needs so that ultimately, we can take care of others.
But, self-Care for Christians feels tricky. The idea of doing something to take care of yourself, when God says he will supply all our needs seems counter Christian.
As I have studied and prayed about God’s thought on self-care, I have come to see that there is a place for self-care within the Christian community, but the dialogue is different!
Christian Self-Care Starts with knowing Jesus. The basis of any great self-care plan is getting to know the one who knows you best. Seeing how you were created and really accepting the Love he has for you is key to understanding what you need for proper self-care
Serving others is a form of self-care. We were created with purpose that would make the lives of others different. Once we have accepted Christ we are to press in and become more like him. Which means we serve others and then turn to God to be refilled. Jesus served often, but he also deliberately went alone by himself to be filled up by the Father. This is our example of Christian Self-care.
Walking in your purpose is taking care of yourself. When we think of mental self-care we think of that overwhelmed feeling we get when we pour out the very last we have in situations and areas we were never called to. When we instead get to know God, press in to him and find out what plans he had for us, we begin to experience a joy, gratitude, and fulfilment that can only be explained by pointing to Jesus.
Self-care is about good stewardship. Our minds, bodies, and hearts are all blessings and gifts from God. When you think of traditional self-care, this is what normally comes to mind. Self-care as a Christian implies we think of our health as a gift. We should consider the health of our minds, bodies, and souls as a way to be a good steward of the blessings that God has given us. It can be easier to work towards the goal of maintaining our health.
Encouraging Bible verses about self care
While there may not be any bible verses that say specifically self-care, I would propose that the entire bible is about the best ways to care for yourself. It’s a manual for how to live life well and isn’t that really what self-care is about. The bible is all about wisdom for health; mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
What does the Bible say about self-care?
The bible is clear on self-care. It says we are called to renew our minds, guard our hearts, protect our bodies like they are temples, and then tend to our spirits. If this isn’t the baseline for self-care, I don’t know what is!
Mental self care bible verses
Mental self-care is a huge component of any self-care routine. It involves managing how you think and feel and increasing the positive habits you have that benefit the way you think and feel. Mental health, however, is a tricky subject for many because our thoughts often wander towards labels that come from being mentally unhealthy.
Mental health scriptures often look like promises, affirmations, and declarations of your capabilities because of who God is. These scriptures also remind us to talk about our feelings.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This may be one of the most well known scripture that also talks about the health of your mind. We are called to a life of renewing our minds, breaking the destructive mindsets, and focused on the word of God.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. ESV
Power, Love, and self-control. These are the things God gave us in exchange for our fear. This is what you have instead of the fear that may paralyze you. Or maybe the fear just keeps you from speaking to professional help. Or maybe the fear keeps you from simply asking for help. We do not have to do this world alone, and we do not have to live with the stress.
We can find the motivation it takes to take care of our health. Taking care of ourselves is not selfish!
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
This next verse on our list of bible verses about self care is a can to arms in my opinion. It is a battle cry and a verse of strength. It is our reminder that nothing is too hard when we have a heavenly father on our side. It tells us that we have a strength that covers all. It also is telling us that we have to connect to tap into that strength.
READY TO STEWARD YOUR HEALTH WELL BUT UNSURE WHERE TO START??
Get the journal that helps you finally understand that caring for yourself is good stewardship of the blessing of health that God gives you and release the guilt to start taking care of yourself so you can better serve those you love!
Physical self care Bible verses
In general we understand that physical self-care means diet, exercise, and sleep. But more often than not, we tend to live a life that says we value the opposite. Busy schedules, long work hours and poor time management leads us to fast food, late hours, and sedative living. We tell ourselves that we are focusing on the important parts, but we are simply showing a lack of stewardship, self control, and self love.
Mark 6:31
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Did you know that rest was self-care? So often we neglect the care of our bodies because maybe we feel it is vain or selfish, but there are so many verses about taking care of your body! Many of these verses speak to the importance of such things as rest and nourishment in your physical body! In the scripture above Jesus Christ is encouraging his disciples to care for their physical health by resting! (So take a nap if you need too)
In addition to speaking about rest, there are many scriptures about a healthy body! These can help encourage you to build schedules and routines for a healthier you. I’ve found it easier to follow a routine when a have a scripture to remind me of why I am choosing health. Here are a few additional scriptures on taking care of your body to use as encouragement.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
When we care for our bodies and make an intentional effort to take care of our health, we are caring for the temple that houses the holy spirit! We are honoring the blessing of health and the body that God gives us to do his will!
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
This bible verse about self care can help us with our choices. Eating healthy and making sound decisions when it comes to our health should always be done with the filter of glory to God not just about the outward appearance. When we care well for our health and honor God by honoring our physical bodies we are practicing self-care as well as showing the world what we value.
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1 Corinthians 3:17
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
While this verse sounds more like a warning, it is one that helps steer us back to a place of God honoring health. Our body is a temple, so taking the time to take care of yourself isn’t selfish. It is an order and command of the creator of the Universe. We have to remember that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and these numbing effects do not allow us to do the good things God calls us to.
Ephesians 5:18
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit
So many times when we feel the extreme emotions of this world we may be driven to excess. Excess food. Excess lethargy. Excess drinks. We do these things in an effort to numb the feelings we may feel about what is going on around us. The consequence of this however is the toll it takes on our bodies!
Also Read: 33 Uplifting Bible Verses about Rest
Emotional self care Bible verses
Emotional self-care is all about identifying your emotions, expressing them, and having techniques to cope. The bible is our manual for daily living and its full of coping mechanisms.
Our emotions can fool us. God wants us to bring our emotions to him. He wants us to be able to put those emotions up to the truth of his word and shine light on the deceit that often comes with the emotions we feel.
This next set of bible verses about self care all speak to the emotions and our emotional health. They should encourage you to take stock of your emotions and direct them to the father in prayer or towards trusted Christian counselors should you need it.
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
If you have ever found yourself minimizing your emotions, or feeling as if they are too much to handle, this scripture about self care should be a huge encouragement for you! God knows that emotions can be hard to deal with. He knows that they can make you feel crushed. Emotions are hard. But our God is greater!
Proverbs 14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Envy is another emotion that can steal your joy and keep you from experiencing the fullness of all that god has for you! Emotional health and taking care of it means exposing all of the emotions you feel, even the fringe ones and exposing it to the light of God’s word. Rooting it out and experiencing the freedom that comes from standing on the word of God and seeing it work in action is a crucial part of emotional self-care.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Doubt and fear are two emotions that can rob us of our fruitfulness and keep us from stewarding our health well. But this verse reminds you that God is with you so doubt and fear have no place in our lives.
Spiritual self care bible verses
When I think of spiritual self-care, I think of things that help to grow our faith and our spiritual needs. I think of the core scriptures that make up our beliefs and encourage us to persevere! This is spiritual self-care, and while I have listed it last, it is by far the most important self-care you can focus on and the one from which all the others will spring forward.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God loves you. He loves you so much that he sent his one and only son for you to live abundantly and eternally! So why would we believe that in this life he wants us to live run down. We are his workmanship. We are his light. We are his mirror and showing the world what it looks like to serve the one true God. We shouldnt look like what we have been through, we should look like heirs of the king of the heavens. Caring for ourselves and embracing the blessing of life he has given us shows the world what God Love looks like in action.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
This verse about self-care reminds us again that our body isn’t just flesh and bones. It is a temple of the Creator of the universe. It is where the Lord’s spirit resides. Taking care of our health and stewarding the health blessings God has given us honors this truth
Isaiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
This bible verse about taking care of yourself reminds us that even on our best days we will still need God and he will provide. He will keep us and strengthen us where our ability ends. He is our source and our strength.
How do you put Christian self-care into practice?
Once you know what the bible says about self-care, you can do better. With a better understanding of what God wants for us, we can begin putting these biblical self-care practices to work.
God desires for us to serve. He calls us to good works and to bring glory to him! He desires that we come alongside him and participate in the miracles he is working everyday. We are called to be his hands and feet on this earth. He also desires us to have a rhythm of work and rest. His word encourages us to take care of ourselves as well as taking care of others.
These bible verses on the topic of self-care are encouraging words from God to remind you that he desires you to be your best self. Being your best requires you to take time for yourself and you should not feel guilty about that!
You can use these scriptures for your personal bible study quiet time!
- Journal them
- Memorize them
- Write them out on note cards
- Pray through them
Keeping these words of God in the forefront of your mind is key to creating a mindset that makes self-care a priority!
How are you planning to make self-care a priority in your life?
This is a beautiful and helpful post! A very timely post too. I love howyou relate different types of self care to a verse. The word of God is complete…So beautiful ❤
Thank you!! I love that there is literally an answer for everything in the bible!!
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I’ve been studying this post for the past several days. It is so good! Thank you for your reminders and allowing God to use you to bless others. (BTW, I was a dental hygienist for 28 years!)
Thank you so much Tammy! And how awesome I love the dental field so much! Im so grateful for you checking out this post!
Ashley,
I have always put myself last! Helping others and taking care of them,,,,trying to be compassionate, generous and kind. Often setting my own needs aside! Thank-you for showing me that its ok to put your self first and that its not prideful or selfish! Glory Be to God!
Praise God, I am so glad you were able to get a better understanding of God’s intention of self-care! I too find myself giving and giving, and not stopping to replenish. Our strength comes from the Lord! Self-care is simply good stewardship of the blessing of our minds, bodies, and souls! Blessings to you sweet sister!
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Oh, I cannot thank you enough for this affirming and comforting work you did. The world needs more uplifting and validating ladies like you.