Here at Faithful Workouts, when we say ‘love yourself,’ we are NOT focusing on what the world tells us about self love. The world often tells us that we are amazing, we can do anything, and that we need to love ourselves. Though this message sounds positive, its root is in our egos, and that is NOT what Christ wants for us. The self love we are focusing on is the kind Christ speaks about in the bible. Multiple times throughout the Gospels, Jesus commands his disciples and other listeners to “...love those around you as you love yourself” Matthew 19:19 (TPT), or more famously said, “...love your neighbor as well as you love yourself” Luke 10:27 (TPT). So what does that exactly mean? Doesn’t that mean we need to love ourselves like society says? Well, yes and no-let’s break it down.
The bible tells us exactly what love is, and why we so desperately need it. “This is love: He loved us long before we loved him. It was his love, not ours. He proved it by sending his Son to be the pleasing sacrificial offering to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (TPT) Further along in this chapter, we can read that “Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us” 1 John 4:19 (TPT). The only love we truly have is God’s love, and any expression of love we feel or receive is a direct extension of the love from our Heavenly Father. That is a POWERFUL thing to come to terms with, and it’s why understanding ‘self love’ in a Christian context is so important.
In order to love yourself you need to first know that you are unconditionally loved by the creator of the universe who sacrificed everything to save you, and that there is nothing you could do or say in your lifetime to separate yourself from this love. You were bought at the highest price, eternally saved, and completely forgiven by Christ on the cross. This is the love that covers you every day. So, to love yourself is not to look in the mirror and say “I am amazing all on my own.” Rather, it is to know who your Father is, how much He loves you, and that you are to let this love permeate every area of your life.
You are not to degrade yourself or treat yourself poorly; Jesus didn’t save you so you could do that. You are to respect and love yourself as Christ would in mind, body, and spirit. Self love doesn’t mean you believe you are enough, it is recognizing that you have been saved from your sin and that the love and forgiveness of Jesus is more than enough to redeem you. To let the love of Christ cover and guide your thoughts, feelings, and actions is to love yourself.
I often hear from people who go on diets or start a new exercise program because they hate their body (so sad) Our hope with our “Love Yourself Healthy” challenge is that you will be motivated to make healthy changes because you love your body and want to take good care of it. Our thoughts play a huge part in our actions so if we can change our thoughts we increase our success rate in changing our actions.
So here’s what we want you to do. Write down 3 goals. We want you to come up with SMART goals which means they need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. We also want your goals to be action orientated not results oriented, so your goal would be about your daily activity, not the result you hope to achieve. The last part of the goal setting is you have to begin with the words, “Because I love myself I will…..” (this is the part that may feel super uncomfortable, but go with it)
So let me share my goals with you so you can see how this comes together.
Because I love myself I will eat at least 3 servings of vegetables each day
Because I love myself I will go for a prayer walk 4 times a week.
Because I love myself I will read at least 1 chapter in my Bible each day.
Notice that each of my goals are specific, measurable (don’t just say I will exercise more or I will eat healthier make it more specific and measurable) achievable, realistic and timely PLUS they are based on actions not results.
Love and prayers to you, Michelle