Caring for God’s Temple
Awake My Body (Self-Care)
Self-Care is taking care of our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs in a God honoring way.
Spiritual
Having a relationship with the Lord and being immersed in the Word, and in prayer daily is taking care of our spiritual life.
Activities: Devotions, prayer, worshipping with others, small group study.
Mental
Focusing on stress-reducing activities, taking the time to do things that leave you feeling refreshed, talking to someone about life.
Activities: reading, journalling, spending time with family, doing your favorite things.
Emotional
Expressing feelings, having healthy relationships, develop coping mechanisms helps you emotionally.
Activities: Quality time with loved ones, participating in social activities, maintaining a healthy support system, and celebrating life’s little victories.
Physical
Healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and keeping medical appointments is all part of taking care of yourself physically.
Activities: walking, sleeping, cooking, and laughing.
Benefits of Self-care
Feeling good due to better health, reduces stress in your life, you become more productive and positive, which leads to a better mood and attitude, leading to healthier relationships, and a better quality of life.
Making a Self-Care Gift Basket
(Note: The idea is that through the devotional the women will put together a self-care basket showing how filling our lives with things that honor God keeps us healthy and makes a big difference in our life. Starting with an empty basket and then at the end having a basket that is beautiful and overflowing, as our lives will be when we take care of ourselves.)
Guide for self-care.
*Set realistic goals. Make goals that can be part of your regular routine, so they are easier to keep up long term.
*Be aware of yourself and how you are feeling. Be patient with yourself on days that you need to. Don’t stress over things you can do nothing about.
*Keep prioritize the little things. If you have to sit in a school pick up line, make sure to have coffee and a book, which will help you enjoy those few quiet moments. Order your groceries for pick up so that you save that hour fight through a grocery store. Do something for yourself in the time saved.
Corinthians 6:19-20
Easy-to-Read Version 19 You should know that your body is a temple[a] for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.
“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” (1 Corth. 6:19-20 NIV).
How we take care of our bodies effects everything in our life. From how we feel, to how healthy we are, to our spiritual relationship with the Lord, even to our attitude. Self-care is our way of honoring God, but often as women we get so busy taking care of everyone else that we let our own care slide. Let’s think about a friend or family member who could use some encouragement in self-care and make a gift basket for them.
Supplies: Basket (Body), Bible (Spiritual), Thermos Cup (Mental), Jewelry (Emotional), T-Shirt (Physical).
Basket: The basket represents the body. Baskets are made of different materials and in different sizes and colors just like each of us. We are unique and have different needs, but some basics are the same. Let’s fill the basket with self-care items that will keep us going.
Bible: Our Bible represents our spiritual needs. The need to connect with and daily continue to build our relationship with the Lord. Keeping the Lord center in our lives is the key to having the strength to weather the storms of life.
Devotional book: spending time seeking the Lord.
Prayer Journal or Notebook – Praying.
Scripture cards – Hiding His Word in our hearts.
Thermos Tumbler Cup – represents our mental needs. When we slow down for a few minutes its often with a cup of coffee, tea or soda, depending on your preference. Take a deep breath to relax on a busy day. This is a way of mentally stepping away for a few minutes.
Book – Reading gives us a mental break and takes us on an adventure.
Journal – Writing down your thoughts and problems is an outlet that helps refresh you.
Family Picture – Spending time with family or friends fills our mental spaces and heart with love.
Gift Card – What is your favorite thing to do? Let your friends and family know so that they can spoil you by helping you do something you love, going to a spa, getting in a new purse or shoes with some retail therapy.
Jewelry – Represents our emotional needs. Have you ever noticed how the jewelry we wear often reflects how we feel inside. When you are feeling your best, you have fun and layer it, so you sparkle and shine. Other times, we are not feeling so great emotionally and so we either don’t bother with jewelry.
Movie card – Go out with friends and do something socially.
Hand cream/nail polish – Have those friends who you can sit back and share life with who will support you.
Chocolate – Celebrate life’s little victory’s with chocolate.
T-Shirt represents taking care of ourselves physically. Whether we are going to go walking or workout we often put on a comfortable t-shirt for the physical activity. Taking care of ourselves physically is important because being Gods temple it honors Him. Making medical appointments, getting sleep, and having a healthy diet are important.
Baked goods – Cooking is a fun way to take care of yourself.
Fun picture or prank item – Laughter is good for us it releases stress and keeps us healthy.
Work out item – Being active walking, biking, yoga, working out, is all important to taking care of ourselves physically.
We started with an empty basket and as we have added the ways we can care for ourselves we can see how making time to take care of ourselves fills our lives with amazing things. Remember: “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.” Corth. 6:19-20.
