LOVING YOURSELF
“You are to love the Lord, your God, with a passionate heart, from the depths of your soul, with your every thought, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.’ You will never find a greater commandment than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Two sparrows sell for a penny, don’t they? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Never be afraid, then—you are far more valuable than sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“Peace of mind makes the body healthy (a heart that has peace is life to the body), but jealousy is like a cancer; It is healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up.” (Proverbs 14:30).
Welcome to the month of February! It is not out of place to wish you a happy new year still. God has been faithful. 2025 is indeed our landmark year, a year to be much remembered for good, a year of exceeding abundant grace. Hallelujah!🎉🎊
So what direction is the Spirit leading us this February? As we step into this month, often celebrated as the month of love, we are reminded of our call to love God wholeheartedly and to love others as a testament to our identity as disciples of Christ (Mark 12:30-31; John 13:34-35). However, the Holy Spirit is inviting us to pause and reflect inwardly. This month, we are called to a deeper understanding of self-love, because our ability to genuinely love others is rooted in the love we have for ourselves. Thus, the theme for February 2025 is LOVING YOURSELF.
As we explore the theme of loving ourselves, we begin with SELF-WORTH which is about recognising our inherent value as God’s creation and children. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s masterpiece, an exquisite work of art, fearfully and wonderfully made by the Master Artist. 1 Peter 1:18-19 reminds us that we were not bought with gold, for our value is far more than things that perish; we are blood-bought. Realistically, you know that when you pay heavily for an item, you are extra careful in how you handle it. When we understand who we are in Christ, when we understand the value that God places on us, we would not settle for a lifestyle of sin, mediocrity, comparison, or guilt. Jesus admonished that we should not cast precious and special things to pigs (Matthew 7:6). How do you treat yourself? Do you walk around with an air of defeat, or believe the enemy’s lie that you do not matter? Read God’s proclamation of love to you in Isaiah 43:4. Let the way God sees you shape how you see yourself and live your life.
Next, SELF-CARE is prioritizing our well-being in alignment with God’s purpose for our lives. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinth 3:16-17); He lives in us, and we need to be fit for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21). Most times, we tend to spend and be spent for the kingdom. While this is commendable, we must recognise that there has to be a place of constant refuelling and renewal of strength (Isaiah 40:30-31). Have moments of time alone with God (Mark 1:35). Also, learn to take time off (Mark 6:31-32; Psalm 23:2); remember God rested on the 7th day, not because He was tired, but to set an example for us on the need to rest (Exodus 31:17b). 1 Timothy 4:8 highlights the value of physical exercise. 2 Kings 4:38-41 admonishes us to eat healthy. What are you feeding your mind? Your spirit? The hymn writer advises that we take our burdens to God in prayer, because worry never solves any issue (Matthew 11:28; 6:27). Ultimately, remember that we cannot truly love and care for others if we are not doing okay ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Please, take care of yourself - spirit, soul and body.
SELF-AWARENESS is the capacity to understand ourselves — how our thoughts, emotions and actions align with our values. It involves understanding our strengths, weaknesses and motives; as well as accepting and embracing our uniqueness, while trusting God’s transformative work in us. Apostle Paul admonishes us to have a balanced perspective of ourselves, knowing where we stand before God (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinth 10:12; 2 Corinth 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Corinth 13:5). Self-awareness is being truthful with ourselves, judging our motives, weighing our actions, recognising our need for God, His mercy, and His grace. It is asking for wisdom, and reaching out for help knowing that we are not self-sufficient. Our sense of self must be rooted in our relationship and fellowship with God, and not shaped by people’s opinions (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Essentially, self-awareness (who we are in Christ) is foundational to building self-love. A crucial aspect of self-awareness is emotional intelligence, which involves recognizing, understanding, and managing our emotions. It is the ability to value emotional experiences, express ourselves in healthy ways without hurting others, and separate people from their emotions. An emotionally intelligent person is able to practice empathy and extend grace to themselves as well as to others. The Holy Spirit is the best ally in stabilizing our emotions (Gal 5:16-23). Through Him, we are equipped to grow in self-awareness, emotional maturity, and Christ-centered self-love.
Finally, SELF ACCEPTANCE is appreciating our stature, our physique, our calling and God’s grace upon our lives, without wanting to be another person (Psalm 139:14). This does not mean that we get comfortable in a life of sin or resist change. We can only find and experience acceptance in relation to Jesus, as we let Him shape us into His perfect will (Isaiah 64:8). Through Christ, we have been accepted into the beloved, so we no longer need to conform to the world’s standards to gain its approval (Ephesians 1:6; Romans 12:2). As we continue to grow in God’s grace, we submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and are transformed from one level of glory to another. It is then we can love others as God would want us to.
As we go through this month, let us choose to walk in love towards ourselves. To love yourself is to extend grace to yourself, to forgive, to be patient with, to honor, to esteem, to do right by, and to be kind to yourself - the list is endless, but you get the point. Know your worth, take care of yourself, be aware of your place in Christ, and know you have been accepted in Christ even as He does His perfect work in you. Remember, God loves you passionately; He thinks the world of you. You are not perfect, but He thinks you are to die for, literally!
Our series this month are: Knowing & Loving Yourself, You are Loved & Accepted, Understanding Emotions, and Gracious Love. Shalom❤️