Matthew 22:39

“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

How many of you have heard the saying, “If you don’t love yourself, how can you love someone else?” So before we tackle the topic of loving our neighbors, how we love self must be addressed. 

Have you ever encountered a person who has no respect for anyone? Chances are, that person has no respect for themself. Were you ever bullied to later find out that the bully was really insecure? Maybe you had a hypercritical mother who always made you feel like you were never good enough. But in reality, it was your mother, who had low self-esteem. These are examples of people who do not love themselves. 

In a culture full of selfies, self-care reels and narcissism, how can loving ourselves be a Godly principle? 

If you read the book of Genesis, you will learn that God created us in His own image. His OWN image! We are image bearers

of our Creator! Let that sink in for just a moment…

If you read any of the gospels in the New Testament, you will learn that Jesus Christ,  Himself, willingly gave Himself on the cross for YOU. You are greatly loved by your Savior!

If you read Matthew, chapter 10, you will learn how much God cares for you. He cares for you so much that He knows the number of hairs on your head. He sees every tear you cry. The Bible says that He saves your tears up in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)

I could go on and on with examples about how you are loved, valued, cherished, and so very important to our heavenly Father.

An extremely high price was paid for you. This is why you are commanded to love yourself. You love yourself by respecting yourself, speaking kindly to yourself, thinking good thoughts about yourself, reminding yourself of who you are in Christ, and by taking care of your physical body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

You may think, “There is no way I can do that.” We have been so conditioned as women to take a backseat to everybody else in the world, almost as a subservient, second class, second rate human being. But we are in fact, daughters of the most high King, and that’s how we should treat ourselves. I’m not talking about being full of pride and arrogance. But I’m talking about having God-fidence and respecting God’s precious creation. 

If the great Creator created you in His very own image, and sent His Son to die for you, because He loves you so much, don’t you think you’re worth loving? Ask the Lord to show you what you look like to Him. Ask Him to help you discover who you are in Christ through His Word. 

Here is a non-exhaustive list of ways to love yourself. 

1. Learn to value your identity in Christ
2. Stop comparing yourself to others.
3. Nurture your relationship with God through prayer, the Word, worship and in the secret place.
4. Steward your strengths.
5. Rest, eat properly, exercise…take. Are of your body. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit! 
6. Give yourself a break when you’re not perfect!
7. Live with purpose and intention.
8. Speak life over yourself! No more stinkin’ thinkin and word curses over yourself!
9. Pursue joy and peace!
10. Love yourself where you’re at…not 20 lbs from now or when you attain some level of so-called perfection!