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LESSON 33
SELF-CARE STARTS WITH GOD

Why is it significant that Self-care Starts with God? It is significant to start with God because we were made by Him and for Him. We were made to crave Him. We were made to know Him and grow closer to Him. You see, as His creation, real self-care gives us an opportunity to glorify Him, to worship how incredible He has made us, and to appreciate His design and plan for our lives.

Tips/Nuggets

n this lesson, we discuss why it is important to start everything with God. Even the verse in 1 John 4:19, “We love him because he first loved us” says it all. The fact that before anything ever was, there was God. In Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet to some, it is contested. Because we hear so many people give credit or credence to the Universe or Mother Nature without ever considering the maker and creator, God himself. God is a god of order. And from God, mankind was gifted with the faculty of “free will” ever since the fall of man from the garden of Eden to choose either good or evil.
Nugget #1 - Anything and everything that was created started with God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things (Universe, galaxy, mankind, etc.) were made by him; and without him was not any thing that was made.” - John 1:1-3.
Let us use a cake that was made for example. Even the greatest Nobel Prize winning Scientist cannot tell you why a cake was made, yet Aunt Matilda, who made the cake can tell you every ingredient, and why she created it in the first place. She can reveal everything about it to you. But if she doesn’t reveal it to you, you’ll never know. This is the same with the Universe. Unless we acknowledge the maker of the Universe how can we EVER know its reason, purpose or revelation without asking the one who created it. Ever since the dawn of time, man has been attempting to solve the meaning of life through science or inventions like the Hubble telescope, yet NEVER has. Yet, God’s Word does just that starting in Genesis 1:1. Everything always started with God.
(Big Bang Theory)
Nothing + nothing = something
vs
(Biblical Truth of a Creator according to God’s Word)
Nothing + God = everything
Have you ever wondered why they call it the Big Bang “THEORY?” You see, the statement “In theory” is used in describing what is supposed to happen or be possible, usually with the implication that it does not if FACT happens.
Something to think about. The Universe out there and the human mind in each of us that has the capacity to perform science, are ultimately the product of the same intelligent divine mind of God. In Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” With that being said, it is the only “reason” that science can be done. Therefore, the mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God.
Nugget #2 - When you are a believer, you have the mind of Christ to discern the things of God. You win every time you start with God.
1 Corinthians 2:11-16
“For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Nugget #3 - Self-care is deliberately setting your mind towards God, aligning your perspective with his.
As his creation, real self-care gives us an opportunity to glorify him and to worship how incredible he has made us and appreciate his design and plan for us and mankind.
We were not created to be happy. We were created to be Holy. Self-care starts with acknowledging as a believer you are a chosen people, a Royal Priesthood that has the honor and privilege to embody the Holy Spirit of God within your own body. The Holy Spirit isn’t a thing. It is a person. It is part of the Trinity, three in one, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So instead of being like the non-believers who deny God, either by ignorance or purposefully. Acknowledge Him and honor him by being a great steward of this body you’ve been given to embody the very presence of God Himself. For further understanding read a few of the roles and privileges of the priesthood (Hebrews 5:1, Leviticus 10:11, Jeremiah 18:18, Leviticus 13:2-3, Deuteronomy 33:10) just to get a glimpse of how blessed and worthy you really are to be a believer.

Additional Resources

REST
Sometimes in life we get caught up with our busyness and because of it we can short change ourselves by missing a meal, forgetting to drink water (hydrating), slowing down to gather our thoughts or seeking rest. Our bodies are made of an intelligent design because we are made in God’s image. Our bodies give clues when it’s tired, hungry or overwhelmed. Just like the act of forgiveness, it’s not how but when we decide to act on what we know to be true, righteous and healthy.
Mark 6:31 - 32
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. ' So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”
EXERCISE
Caring for our physical bodies is useful and responsible, especially because our bodies are the Holy Temple of the Spirit of God. God’s Word tells us to exercise self-control through disciplining our bodies. Of course we are to exercise in moderation as to NOT idolize our own bodies or others.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Timothy 4:8
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
DO NOT WORRY
Worrying is a sin. When we take our eyes off God’s Word and his instructions and wisdom for our life we allow ourselves to sink into the “Below the Line Thinking” like in Lesson two. Instead seek God first! It ALL starts with Him. Trust God to supply your physical needs.
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
———————
Ultimately Jesus was our greatest example of Self-Care. Jesus prioritized his self-care by taking time to rest, eat, exercise, pray and meditate.

Real Talk

Who do you “model?” Who is your mentor? Who do you find yourself following?
Self-Care often starts with modeling, mentorship and follower-ship. If it doesn’t start and end with God, then who is better to lead you?
You see, as a child, your parents or another adult influenced, molded and shaped you. A Harvard University statistic found 85% of a person’s beliefs, programming and attitudes will be formed before the age of 18 years old. So with that being true, think about it, parenting is the only occupation of responsibility for the human race that doesn’t require or mandate any licensing, training, certifications or structured preparation. At a time, children are the most innocent. Yet miraculously, the world continues to function and operate. Typically this is a formula for disaster; our parents (parent figure) are the most ignorant and we as children are the most innocent and vulnerable. It’s no wonder we hear the Jim Rohn quote to the wise, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time (hang around) with.”
The Bible, in its infinite wisdom clearly understands the concept of learning being foundational from an early age has either grave reward or consequence. According to the Old Testament teachings, when a child is young and he/she is trained a certain way, it will stick with them, or always be around for them to return to (Programming). “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6.
However, the New Testament is equally important and applicable! In a day and time when social media and everything under the sun is in opposition of God’s laws and principles, a wise man/woman, to include a parent MUST consider WHO is training (what is being watched, witnessed, taught, or listened too) our children, let alone ourselves and our loved ones.
“The student is not above the teacher (influencer), but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher (influencer).” - Luke 6:40.
WARNING (Be vigilant)
Remember the devil does NOT come to play, instead he wants to harm us and keep us from living our God given purpose. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” - John 10:10.
Through:
Social Media (shapes and molds culture, ideologue, and behaviors)
Television (tell a vision)
School / Education
Friends and Influences
Circle of "friends?"
PROTECTION (Model Christ)
Psalm 143:8 (pray early)
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for you I entrust my life.”
Mark 1:35 (Jesus prayed early)
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Matthew 6:33 (seek God first in every area)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 (put on the whole armor of God)
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesian 3:20 (let go and let God)
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
#lesson33 #selfcarestartswithGod

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