Improve Your Spiritual Self-Care Routines with this Free Checklist | Self-Care Hacks Episode 152

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We all need spiritual self-care routines, whether we realize it or not! I’ll share a handy acronym to help you set new goals and habits.

Who Needs Spiritual Self-Care?

“Who wants to give their life to Jesus?” the pastor’s piercing eyes searched the congregation.

I sat paralyzed on the front pew. My hand wanted to shoot up in the air; I had questions. For example, if I gave my life to Jesus, would I have to become a missionary? What if some African chief offered me meat? Would I have to eat it? Did God want me to dedicate myself to martyrdom at the tender age of five?

If I gave my life to Jesus, would I enter into a constant round of doing things for the church? What if I had to stand up front and preach? Would I have to serve at potlucks while watching everyone else eat my favorite things?

It seemed as if the adults in the pews around me spent a lot of time doing God’s work. Would making a decision to follow Jesus launch me straight into adulthood?

I grew up thinking busyness for God meant spiritual self-care. If I taught classes to the youngsters, faithfully went to prayer meetings, vespers, church, and evening programs, I must be doing what God wanted, right?

Wrong. It took me a few decades to realize it’s not what I do for God that matters. It’s what God does for me.

“All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”
Luke 10:20 The Message

Don’t Confuse Busyness with Relationship

Spiritual self-care means we enter into a life-long relationship with Creator God. We don’t have to follow a church’s formula or a set of rules. But we do have to take time to nurture our relationship. In today’s podcast, I’ll share four ways you can work on your spiritual self-care (without signing up for potluck duty or preaching a sermon).

Show Notes

Download your FREE spiritual self-care printable here!

Check out Michelle DeRusha’s book here, or listen to an interview with her here.

Come Back Next Week

Next week, I’ll share the surprising thing I’ve learned about distortions.

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8 Comments

I love how you thought as a five year old Anita! What mature questions you had my friend for such a young one!
Blessings, Jennifer

I love your five-year-old questions. Looking back, I laugh at my interpretations of what I saw, too, and find myself so relieved that God’s expectations of what I need to do are so much better!

I am so grateful God uses us right where we are for He knows how He formed and equipped us.
Joanne Viola recently posted…The First Taste

“I grew up thinking busyness for God meant spiritual self-care.” Me, too! It’s taken a lifetime for me to see He would rather have my full attention than a full to-do list!
Jerralea Winn Miller recently posted…I’m Excited for the Next Chapter

It is easy to fall into thinking it’s all about what we do for God. Sadly, I think that’s the example we see too often in the church.

Oh I remember worrying that being a Christian equaled having to go to the mission field. And trying to check off enough boxes to “be a good Christian” and show that I loved Jesus as a teen. What a relief to realize that my salvation wasn’t dependent on my checklist.

I love your never-ending encouragement for self-care. You started way before the current trend. I’m hosting a month of seeking self-care for caregivers and just posted about tapping into our creative side as a form of self-care. It really does soothe the soul. Thank you for your helpful and consistent message.
Suzette Katopodes recently posted…Creative Self-Care – Discover The Benefits by Taping Into Your Creative Side