SPIRITUAL VITAMIN DEVOTIONAL

LOVING SELF

"Love your neighbor as yourself. "
~Mark 12:31

When I have asked others who is the first person we are to love, most say "my neighbor". Yet, Jesus was very clear. "Love your neighbor as yourself." You can't love others until you love yourself. When you truly learn to love yourself through God's eyes (the good, the bad and the ugly parts of you) you will learn to love the good, the bad and ugly parts of your neighbor...

When the Lord said, "Love your neighbor as yourself", He was not talking about a self-centered, self-focused type of love that says "me first". You know, the unholy trinity, "me, myself and I..." I believe it is a healthy balanced love that says I must take care of myself, the "whole" person - Spirit, Soul (heart) and Body. I have learned the hard way that I am no good to others unless I am taking care of me, all of me.

Just as we are to love God with our whole being, we must not separate the Spirit, Soul (heart) and Body connection in learning to love "self". We must address the issues of the heart, as well as, the spiritual and the physical. Loving self takes time, education and work. It includes learning who you are - your strengths and weaknesses, not abusing self (Spirit, Soul and Body) or allowing others to do so. It also includes learning to set healthy boundaries and not allowing toxic people in your life. As Dr. Phil says, "You teach people how to treat you."

Do you love yourself through God's eyes? Do you really? Are you being pro-active in learning more about who you are? Are you growing spiritually, emotionally and mentally? Are you taking care of the "issues" of your heart? Are you eating right, exercising and getting enough rest? If so, you are loving yourself through God's eyes... If not, I encourage you to slow down and take inventory Spirit, Soul (heart) and Body, so that you will grow into the person He desires you to be.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your powerful Word that teaches me Truth in my inner being. Thank you for loving the good, the bad and the ugly parts of me. Help me to fully understand what it means to "love self" so that I may know you intimately and love my "neighbor" as I love myself.

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SPIRITUAL VITAMIN DEVOTIONAL