Selfcare gets a bad rap from the Jesus crowd. But here’s my take.
You want a Biblical example? Fine. You can’t get much better than Jesus.
He went into the mountains, the desert, or away for the night – BY HIMSELF – more times than I can count in the gospels.
In fact, He’s pretty much showing up for the crowds, teaching His disciples, or – wait for it – fueling Himself with the Father, the entire time during His ministry!
Serve from a full cup
So you want Biblical precedent? There’s your precedent.
You need to show up with a full cup to serve those children He’s given you.
(Yes, yes, not every situation in motherhood gets to be starting from a full tank. Trial by fire night feedings for newborns, anyone?)
But on the whole, loving your children, giving wise counsel, making good business decisions – those are things that take a non-frazzled brain. Someone’s whose had some downtime to recharge and think clearly.
Okay?
Don’t live from frazzle
This means taking enough time to spend with Jesus yourself.
This means going for a walk, just to process the day, and end up praying over it.
This means sitting down on the sofa with a hot cup of tea because you’re a physical being and you just need quiet.
Selfcare gets a bad rap from the Jesus crowd.
God will give you the strength and energy you need to parent graciously when your boys are running wild, shooting nerf guns over your head, your daughter is talking to you, and you’re trying to cook dinner.
(Oh, and you’re 5 minutes late to community group already.)
But He didn’t call you to live in noise, and frazzle, and on the verge of snapping at every moment of the day.
That’s not living by the Holy Spirit. That’s not letting Him fill you.
Own up to your choices
And He doesn’t expect you to be a super saint about it, either. (I.e., do nothing about your physical surrounding and piously pray to bear the noise – as if your kids or your schedule have nothing to do with your area of responsibility.)
Uh, who put Monday night soccer at 8pm on the schedule? That’s right, you did. And who has the power to take it *off* the schedule if it’s 2 hours too late for your family’s ages?
Oops, that’s you again.
So use a little common sense (along with your Holy Spirit leading) and frame your home in a way that makes it possible to hear Him.
Chaos isn’t really a great motivator to do that.
- What would you flip about your need for quiet if you thought God approved of you taking time for peace?
- How would you parent your kids differently if you knew God was a God of order and respect?
- What would happen if you actually built in charge-up time *before* you headed off to the ministry you help lead?
What’s going to change about the number of breaks you’re taking, day to day, to honor the Lord and what He’s called you to this season?
