What exactly does loving ourselves look like?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is it making sure you plan at least one self-care day each month?\u00a0 Is it having a diet cheat day and treating yourself to cheese steak and fries?\u00a0 Or is it relaxing after a long day of work and scrolling Facebook for two hours to unwind while watching your favorite TV shows?<\/p>\n
We know that God tells us to love others as we love ourselves, which implies that it is indeed okay to love ourselves.\u00a0 But the question is, what exactly does it look like to love ourselves in a way that is not sinful, or self-deprecating, but rather honors and pleases God?<\/p>\n
In this post, we will tackle this question by looking at five essential ways to love ourselves the way God intended.<\/strong><\/p>\n First, I\u2019ll start with a brief recap of the first part of this post series, in which we learned 7 Key Things the Bible Teaches About Loving Yourself<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n In light of what Scripture teaches us about loving ourselves, let\u2019s see how we can apply those principles and dive into the specifics of how<\/em> we are to love ourselves.<\/p>\n What exactly does it look like on a practical, everyday basis to love ourselves biblically in the way God intended us to?\u00a0 Although I\u2019m sure we could all come up with several answers to this question, I believe there are five essential ways to love ourselves according to Scripture.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve learned that our love for God should take precedence over our love for ourselves.\u00a0 Do you realize that the best act of love towards yourself is to spend time building your relationship with God?<\/p>\n If you care about your well-being in any area of life and truly want to grow and live life to the fullest, the way God intended, then you absolutely cannot neglect spending time with God<\/a><\/strong> regularly.<\/p>\n Far too many Christians treat time with God as optional.\u00a0 As if we think all we need is our \u2018get out of hell free\u2019 card and that we can live life on our own and only call upon God if a need arises.<\/p>\n To show just how unbiblical and even sinful that kind of mindset is, let\u2019s look at the words of Jesus himself:<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tThere is no such thing as true spiritual flourishing or abundance in this life apart from God!\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The best way to get to know God is through the pages of Scripture.\u00a0 The Bible helps us recognize the character of God, the things He loves, His priorities, and His will for us.\u00a0 It trains us to recognize His voice so that when He responds to our prayers, we know it\u2019s Him.\u00a0 The more we read, study, and learn God\u2019s Word, and the more we talk with and listen to God, the closer we get to Him.\u00a0<\/p>\n A nurtured relationship with God equals a nurtured mind equipped to face the challenges of life and deceptions of the enemy, and it WILL absolutely change your life.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. \u00a0Then you will learn to know God\u2019s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.<\/em><\/p>\n Romans 12:2 NLT<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sometimes the only tweak you need to improve any area of your life is more time with God.\u00a0 So do yourself a favor, and start TODAY.\u00a0 That<\/em> is how you love God and yourself the way He intended.<\/p>\n And if you are already spending time with God regularly, keep doing it!\u00a0 Don\u2019t you dare give the devil a foothold in your life by slacking off now.<\/p>\n Do you know why self-affirmations are so popular, even amongst Christians?\u00a0 It\u2019s because they make our sinful nature feel good.\u00a0<\/p>\n I am beautiful.\u00a0 I am funny.\u00a0 I am intelligent.\u00a0 I am strong.\u00a0 I am capable.\u00a0 I got this.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s not wrong to say these things or even to admire what we see in the mirror.\u00a0 We just have to remember that our flesh has a tendency to be laser-focused on self.\u00a0 And self-affirmation done often enough without acknowledging God as the source of the admirable things can lead to narcissism without us even realizing it.<\/p>\n But do you know what would be a good self-love practice that would actually nourish our spiritual nature and honor God? Quoting biblical truth about who we are and whose we are!<\/p>\n As Christians, we must learn to agree with who God says we are, and walk firmly in our identity in Christ.<\/a><\/strong> When we don\u2019t know who we are in Christ, we are more susceptible to the lies of the enemy regarding our identity.<\/p>\n So, who are you?\u00a0<\/p>\n The Bible has a lot to say about our identity, but for the purpose of this post, I\u2019ll focus on four key things.<\/p>\n For starters, God created all of us in His image.\u00a0 Therefore, as his image-bearers, every human being (Christian and non-Christians alike) has transcendent, intrinsic worth.<\/p>\n Then God said, \u201cLet us\u00a0make mankind\u00a0in our image,\u00a0in our likeness,\u00a0so that they may rule\u00a0over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,\u00a0over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.\u201d\u00a0 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them<\/em><\/em>.<\/p>\n Genesis 1:26-27 NIV<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is simple yet so important, especially in a secular world that teaches us to value, categorize, and treat people based on things like race, gender, age, religion, physical appearance, background, social status, political affiliation, and financial standing.<\/p>\n EVERY human being has value simply because they are a created image-bearer of God. Period.\u00a0 To love yourself the way God intended is to believe this truth and not question your value or worth.<\/p>\n When we as Christians learn to stop being so influenced by secular culture, only looking at outward appearances as the standard, we can learn to better appreciate who God created us to be.<\/p>\n For you created my inmost being;\u00a0you knit me together\u00a0in my mother\u2019s womb. I praise you\u00a0because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;\u00a0your works are wonderful,\u00a0I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you\u00a0when I was made\u00a0in the secret place,\u00a0when I was woven together\u00a0in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;\u00a0\u00a0all the days ordained\u00a0for me were written in your book\u00a0before one of them came to be.<\/em><\/p>\n Psalm 139:13-16 NIV<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n God doesn\u2019t make mistakes.\u00a0 Those eyes, that nose, that mouth, those hips, your complexion, the type of hair you have, your height \u2013 they were all planned and crafted by God!\u00a0 He knows every detail about us. \u00a0<\/p>\n Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don\u2019t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Luke 12:7 NIV<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So, when we allow the devil or culture to trick us into thinking that we are lacking something, we have to remind ourselves of who God says we are \u2013 fearfully and wonderfully made! \u00a0For me, that includes my bowlegs, bad\u00a0eyesight,\u00a0and all!<\/p>\n There is no other you <\/em>on the planet. \u00a0To love yourself the way God intended is to acknowledge and appreciate God\u2019s masterpiece.<\/p>\n This one may seem obvious, but as a Christian, you are a child of God!<\/p>\n Do you understand that we are not like people in this world who don\u2019t have a relationship with God?\u00a0 We have been adopted into His heavenly family.\u00a0 We belong to Him!<\/p>\n As children of God, we inherit ALL the promises, privileges, and spiritual blessings that come with that!\u00a0 That includes the fact that we are loved, forgiven, and victorious through Christ.<\/p>\n As a child of God, loved by God, and empowered with the Holy Spirit, I am equipped to be more than a conqueror and face ANYTHING life throws my way.\u00a0 Now that <\/em>is a biblical affirmation you can quote every day as a way to love yourself the way God intended.<\/p>\n Unlike in Old Testament days, God does not appear on the earth in a cloud or speak to people in an audible voice out of a burning bush. \u00a0However, because His Holy Spirit lives in us, all Christians are essentially ambassadors (representatives) of Christ.<\/p>\n We are, therefore, Christ\u2019s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.<\/em><\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So, what exactly does that mean?\u00a0 It means we not only need to agree with who God says we are, but we also need to start being <\/em>who God says we are.\u00a0 And here is what being a representative of Christ looks like:\u00a0<\/p>\n As Christians,\u00a0we don\u2019t just represent our household, our family heritage, our race, our business, our local church, or our alma mater. \u00a0First and foremost, we should seek to represent Christ.\u00a0 That<\/em> is how we love ourselves the way God intended.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/inthemirrorofgod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Ways-to-Love-Yourself.jpg\"\/ "\\"Personal")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/inthemirrorofgod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Ways-to-Love-Yourself.jpg\" "\\"Personal")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhat the Bible Teaches about Self-Love<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Love Yourself According to Scripture<\/h2>\n
1. Nurture Your Relationship With God by Spending Time With Him Regularly<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
2. Agree With Who God Says You Are and Walk Firmly in Your Identity in Christ<\/h3>\n
Image-Bearers of God<\/h4>\n
\n
Fearfully and Wonderfully Crafted By God<\/h4>\n
\n
\n
Children of God<\/h4>\n
\n
\n
Representatives of God<\/h4>\n
\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/inthemirrorofgod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/40-Biblical-Affirmations-Printable.jpg\"\/)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/inthemirrorofgod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/40-Biblical-Affirmations-Printable.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n