It's officially 2024. And usually I try to come up with clarity over what I want to create in the new year. I try to condense it all into one word. At first I felt like "Self-Care" encompassed what I'm looking for. And it does in part. Parts of me need healing, restoration, and care. But there's also another component I'm still trying to grasp.
I once heard that self-care and self-love, really boils down to self-discipline in terms of behavior. If you love yourself, you will create a system of habits that build a healthier version of yourself. Simple things like eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, healthy relationships, and spirituality should be important ingredients towards self-development.
I'm still learning the term, "adulting." Perhaps the reason that word sounds a bit scary is because it means taking full responsibility for yourself. It means taking ownership for your life, relearning to take care of yourself and your needs. It means doing hard things whether you want to or not, and purposely facing your challenges instead of avoiding and running away from problems. Adulting involves a level of maturity in taking care of themselves in every area of life. As a child we could rely on someone to spoon feed us, tend to our needs, and walk us through hard things. As we grow older we must learn self-reliance and self-efficacy.
It's easy to want to give up and crumble to life's stressors. It takes courage and boldness to do what you do not want to do. This takes vision, intent, and training towards your goals. Often, if you can see what you want, and who you want to become, you can work backwards to see what actions can get you closer to that reality.
Self-care is definitely becoming a high obvious need for me. But the other words that come to mind are a combination of Grit, Focus, Commitment, Energy, Power, and Consistency. I'm not sure what word can encapsulate this inner strength and mindset. I find myself distracted and unable to stay on task lately. My mind wanders all over the place and yet nothing actually gets done. Perhaps if I had greater focus and power, I could do more, and be more efficient & productive.
"Self-Care" is more commonly heard over "Soul-Care" and they can often be used interchangeably. Yes spirituality is part of self-care, however, Soul-Care emphasizes a high reliance on one's relationship with God on a daily basis. Soul-Care elevates one's intimacy with God above other aspects of health.
If one were to elevate physical, emotional, or mental health over one's spiritual health, I'd say that notion is a bit backwards. One's spiritual life needs to be our highest priority, as all things flow from our soul. Nurturing our souls and inner most being comes directly from our relationship with God. The main way we get fed as children of God is by going to our Father. Reliance on our God is the same as faith or trust, knowing that He is there to comfort, care, empower, and be with us.
What would my life look like if I sought God first and foremost? What would my new year look like if I purposely waited on God, and listened in silence to God's provision and guidance? What would it look like if I surrendered my will and replaced it with God's desires?
There is a spiritual power.. that can only be received from God. In His presence He pours out true love, joy, peace, and power. And where He guides He provides. He speaks if we listen carefully to both His Word and Spirit. Where He leads, He gives us the sufficient energy to accomplish His will. Jesus tells us that if anyone thirst, we should come to Him. God provides everything we need, not only to sustain and survive, but to thrive and flourish.
The biggest idol is ourselves. We are all to some degree self-seeking. And we do everything we can to avoid any form of suffering and discomfort. We live in a culture that is all about consumption, entertainment, and comfort. In a way, I think it makes us weak and distracted.
I think a good starting point is a place of surrender. And not asking what do I want this year, but rather, what does God want us to focus on this year? At the end of the day, I think God asks for our heart. To simply be with Him, enjoy Him and glorify Him by being truly satisfied in Him.
This year, I pray that I would become a man of God. I pray that I would have more energy and to stay focused and committed towards becoming a stronger man of God. The past few years, I've tried to make myself more disciplined and consistent. And perhaps I relied too much on my own strength rather than trusting and inviting God to be with me. Our own ability will only get us so far. Apart from God we really can't do much. Self-belief is useful, but faith in Jesus is even greater.
A true man and woman of God is one that abides, obeys, listens, and receives from God. God calls us to Him. He says, come to me. He asks us to sit at His feet. To give up our sense of control, and to place our hope in Him. God works all things for our good, and I keep forgetting that. But in the midst of the storm, there is nowhere better than to be right next to Him in His care.
Whatever circumstance or trial you're going through or have gone through, know that we have a gracious and loving God. He never abandons us, and is with us at every moment. Place yourself under His outpouring and receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual disciplines make more space, so our inner life can be more full of Him and less of ourselves.
Father God,
Keep my heart and mind set on you. Help me to follow your ways. Grant me the energy and focus to overcome the challenges that come my way. I pray for greater discipline, self-control, and consistency in creating healthy habits. More than pursuing my own goals, may I pursue a deeper walk with you Lord. Help me to surrender, and give you my best. I pray for healing over areas where I'm wounded and broken. I pray for perseverance and power to accomplish your perfect will. Speak to me. Help me to listen better and come directly to you. Keep my eyes on you Lord. Create in me a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Thank you Lord, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment