Biblical Self-Care
Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.
- Parker Palmer
Historically, Christians have had an inconsistent view of the importance of the body. Christian thought about the body has been influenced by ancient Greek philosophy, believing that the soul is essentially good and the body is bad. But the Bible paints a totally different picture of our physical nature as something good and worthy or respect and care.
Spending time with God in prayer is the first and most important part of biblical self-care. But since the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, when we attend to the basic needs of our bodies, we will likely find ourselves more attentive to God and more available to people.
Here are a few ways we can engage in biblical self-care.
Adequate Sleep
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep” (Ps 127:2).
If we get enough sleep, we will be more present to God and more available to others. If we are sleep deprived, we are less alert and more irritable.
Healthy Eating
“And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat’” (1 Kings 19:5).
When God showed his care for Elijah, he gave him gifts of freshly baked bread and water. So like sleep, food is a gift from God. Eating nutritious food nourishes and enlivens us, and puts us in a much better position to be fully present to ourselves, others, and God.
Regular Exercise
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Cor 6:20).
Our bodies don’t just belong to us. This means we should take care of the temples we reside in—our bodies. It may be easier to accept that good food is a gift from God, but exercise is as well! Exercise—even going for a walk—releases the neurochemicals serotonin and dopamine, both of which create a heightened sense of well-being and reduce stress.
Restorative Recreation
“The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets” (Zech 8:5).
The Lord promised Israel that when he returned to bless Jerusalem, a sign of that blessing would be that the streets would be filled with boys and girls playing.
How would you define play? Play is doing something for its own sake. It’s something you do just because you enjoy it, even if you’re not that good at it. Play comes in many forms: painting, dancing, hiking, sports, and blowing bubbles. Whatever its expression, it helps us more fully appreciate how we live, move, and have our being in God. Play is not something separate from our spirituality; it is itself a sign of the presence of God in the world.
Biblical self-care through regular exercise and play, adequate sleep, and healthy eating are a foundational part of our life with God, self, and others. Scripture says to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love your neighbour as you love yourself. Many times, we either miss that last word “yourself” or overvalue it. the Bible says that we are to love ourselves; not out of self-absorption, but in order to love God and love others. We honour God, love ourselves, and strengthen our life for vocation and ministry by regular attention to the care for our physical bodies and their health.