“To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.”
– Proverbs 19:8

Self-care seems to be our culture’s favorite word in these mid-20’s. Some self-care is good stewardship of your body, mind, and energy. Other self-care is simply an excuse for self-indulgence that many can’t actually afford. What this proverb describes, however, is good biblical self-care! If you want to care well for yourself, get wisdom! If you love yourself, get wisdom!

What is wisdom? It’s knowing how to live well in a world governed by an all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful God. Wisdom is embracing those practices, habits, and character qualities that tend to result in a godly, honorable, respectable, and successful life in God’s world. Because this world is a fallen world, wisdom doesn’t guarantee every little thing will work out perfectly. However, wisdom consistently produces satisfaction, peace, prosperity, joy, and (most importantly) God’s favor.

How do you acquire this kind of wisdom? First and foremost by regularly reading and carefully thinking about the Bible. It’s God’s Word for you and contains many applications for your life. How to live, how to love, how to work, how to play, how to interact with others, how to interact with God. It addresses right priorities, right attitudes, and right words. As you read Scripture and slow down enough to let the Holy Spirit point out areas where you need to change, you acquire wisdom. You become like Jesus. That’s real self-love and self-care! That’s a blessing that will serve you well in every circumstance in life, whether pleasant or unpleasant. #FollowJesus

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” – Colossians 1:21-22

If Jesus is your Lord, then this is what He’s done for you! When you believed the good news of Christ’s sinless life, sacrificial death, and physical resurrection, trusting your life to Him, He made peace between you and God. The two of you are reconciled now. Where there was once rebellion and warfare, there is now peace and love. By God’s grace, this is who you truly are now – holy, blameless, and above reproach.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Especially don’t tell yourself otherwise! Whatever shame lies in your past, it’s been washed away by the blood of Jesus. Whatever guilt lies in your past, Jesus has completely paid for it. Whatever failures, mistakes, and embarrassments lie in your past, God no longer sees them, chooses not to remember them, and will never remind you of them. Because of what Jesus did for you, you are truly clean, holy, and righteous in the eyes, mind, and heart of God. 100%.

Many people have trouble believing this in their own hearts. They hear the voices of others… their own voice… the voice of the devil… They struggle to let go of what Jesus has already washed away. Don’t be like that. Don’t hold on to or rehash what’s already gone and the past is truly gone. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has passed away. Embrace the love and grace with which the Lord views you. Forgive yourself and simply #FollowJesus

“There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.”
– Proverbs 15:10

This is a recurring theme in Scripture that runs completely counter to our modern culture. We naturally desire affirmation in everything we do. Our culture teaches us to demand instant affirmation and assume the worst about anyone who doesn’t give it. We want green lights all the time. However, Scripture is clear… God gives us warnings, red lights, obstacles, setbacks, and correction to help us. To bless us. To save us from ourselves.

Sometimes this comes through the words of a trustworthy believer who sees something in our life, conduct, or character and has the loving courage to say something about it. Sometimes it comes through unexpected obstacles that slow us down or change our course. Sometimes it comes through a word of Scripture that takes on added life when we read it. Sometimes it comes through a painful event in our life that stops us in our tracks, leaving us no choice but to think.

Correction and discipline aren’t hostile acts. They aren’t given to undermine you or hurt you. They’re life-giving, soul-nourishing acts of love and kindness. We never like discipline or correction in the moment. It wounds our pride and that hates to be wounded. But God knows when we need it. Perhaps because we’re doing the wrong thing. Perhaps because we’re doing the right things in the wrong way. Perhaps because we’re doing the right things but not in step with the Lord’s pace.

The next time you find yourself frustrated or angry by things that slow you down or the words of generally trustworthy people that run against whatever you want to do take a moment to pause. Reflect on the overall situation. Rather than assume the worst, think about your motives. Your words. Your actions. Are you in step with the Lord? Are you conducting yourself like Jesus did? Instead of opposition might you be encountering the loving correction or discipline of the Lord Himself? #FollowJesus

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21

Can you say what Paul says here? Has this become your perspective on life? It really should be, if Jesus is your Lord…

Paul wrote these words from prison. His earthly future was uncertain but his eternal future was rock solid in Jesus Christ. He would soon stand trial and perhaps be set free to once again travel freely and share Christ openly. Or perhaps He would be executed and join His Lord in Heaven. In the meantime, he loudly and proudly shared Christ with all of his guards. For Paul, to live was to serve Christ in the power of Christ. To die was to enter into Christ’s presence forever. To live is Christ and to die is gain!

How do you feel about living? Can you honestly say that your life is so tied into the mission of Jesus that no matter who you are or what you do for a living, you are serving Christ by it? This is the call for every Christian. To align our lives to the disciple-making mission of Jesus so that as we go about our day – working, studying, shopping, playing, hanging out, whatever – we are bringing honor, glory, and fame to the name of Jesus. As you grow closer to Christ and are transformed by Him to be more and more like Him, this is what He’s working to make true about you, if you’ll let Him.

Now, how do you feel about dying? Do you know – not just in your head but in your heart – that because Jesus is your Lord and Savior that dying truly is gain for you? Are you afraid of death or you confident that you truly will be in an infinitely better situation once you’ve finished your race here on earth and entered into glory? Again, as you grow closer to Christ and are transformed by Him to be more and more like Him, this confidence is what He’s working to instill in you, if you’ll let Him. #FollowJesus

“Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” – Ephesians 6:7

Sometimes work can be a four-letter word! God created work before the fall into sin. It was given to be a blessing, a source of meaning, purpose, and provision. However, when mankind fell into sin, work was cursed. It became difficult and quite unpleasant in many cases. That’s true whether your work is going to school as a student, working in a paid job to provide for yourself or your family, caring for loved ones of any age, or whatever else. Sometimes work will be hard. Sometimes it will be miserable. Sometimes it will hurt even after you’ve left it behind. It can be frustrating, disappointing, and humiliating. It can leave you in tears or fill you with rage.

Often, the source of our greatest anger, frustration, struggle,, or sorrow is someone we’re “working for”. A supervisor. A customer. A teacher. A student. A difficult parent, spouse, or child. Someone unappreciative. Someone maddening. Someone hurtful. What Paul says in this verse is tremendously helpful in those times when work is very much a four-letter word. When you hate it, don’t want to continue with it, but you must anyway. He says, don’t focus on that earthly person who’s causing you such distress. Do every bit of your work as if God the Father is your one and only supervisor. Understand that God is the only supervisor and evaluator of your work Who matters eternally and He already loves you!

No matter what your job is, do it for the Lord rather than for a person, paycheck, or grade. Don’t dwell on that person who’s driving you crazy or leaving you in tears. Focus on the Lord! Understand that He sees your every effort as well as your heart behind it. Work hard. Work honestly. Work humbly. Work well. God will appreciate it, even if others don’t. Seek to please the Lord and let everyone else’s response be what it is. #FollowJesus