This past week the enemy tried to take me out with a series of circumstances: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. In the midst of celebrating our youngest daughter’s first birthday, the enemy TRIED me, but he failed! Nonetheless, speaking from a very authentic standpoint, his attacks were real; they were strategic; they were sharp. It seemed like exhaustion plagued me, sickness and allergies tried to overtake me, my attitude towards my own husband went sour, and there were times when it became too overwhelming to think clearly.
You see, more often than not, as mothers we take on a host of responsibilities that can almost seem impossible to conquer. We say yes to the carpool. We say yes to the mall run. We say yes to the dinner. The dates. The laundry. The grocery store. The cleaning. The cooking. The volunteering. All. The. Things. And while that seems absolutely okay, in the midst of saying yes to everything and everyone else–we forget to say yes to fueling ourselves with what matters most. And that my friends, is not okay.Here’s the deal. We’ve got to say yes to self-care and all the things that FILL US UP. And I’ve learned that self-care can’t just be a 1-day a week ritual. It has to be a DAILY practice. There’s no compromise to this. The only way we are going to be able to fight in the battle, is if we are equipped, trained, and rested enough to do so. Because laundry, grocery runs, and car pooling doesn’t sound so bad until the right kid says something to you sideways on the wrong day! Come on, somebody! And in those moments, whatever’s inside of you will come out.
So what does this mean? It means that we’ve got to monitor what we’re putting inside of us: food wise, music wise, book wise, social circle wise, entertainment wise, rest and exercise wise, and most importantly spiritually wise. All these things in priority and in balance play a part in what we have within at any given moment.
You see, self-care for me is spending time in the presence of God. Worshiping at His feet and reading His love letter to me. It’s an opportunity for me to bury His word deep within my heart, so that when times get tough, then I can fight back with the Truth that is hidden inside me. The enemy’s attacks may be sharp to the cut, but we have something sharper–sharper than any two-edged sword, that is: we have the Word of God.
Self-care for me is also taking time for myself to go to the gym. An author I’ve read after for many years now, Brendon Burchard, says in his book High Performance Habits that we are much like energy plants. We don’t have energy; we must CREATE energy. So, working out for me is taking care of my body and knowing that I’m creating the positive energy I would like to flow out of me even after I’m finished working out. It blows my mind sometimes to be able to feel–literally feel–the difference between my couch potato days, my motionless body underneath me, and the lack of motivation overall compared to the heightened sense of invincibility when I’m working out consistently! It’s crazy, but it doesn’t surprise God. He knows how he created our bodies, so when I’m in-tune with Him, following his suggestion to go and take care of my temple should be a no-brainer since he knows it’s going to benefit so much of what we are trying to accomplish! Oh and P.S. — we like to make excuses for not going. Let me knock some of those out for you real quick: “I don’t have any cute workout clothes.” Girl, bye. Find you those old faithful yoga pants and your favorite breathable t-shirt & sneakers. Stop playing with your health, Momma. Nobody at the gym is judging you for wearing the basics. Start simple & the more you ramp up in attendance, then you’ll have the track record to support your need for new workout threads. “But my kids will need me when I’m gone. I can’t leave them.” Girl bye. Your kids need you to take care of you! Do them and yourself a favor and invest in your physical health! “I just don’t have the time.” Girl byyyyyyeeee!! Find the hour. The half hour. The fifteen minutes. Every other day. Every 2 days. Whatever it takes to invest some time in your physical health every week! Make a plan. Tell a friend. Have him/her help to hold you accountable. And go.
And finally, self-care consists of my positive self-talk. Last week the enemy tried to take advantage of my weak and vulnerable moments whispering lies to me about my worth, my intelligence, my abilities. Nevertheless, just like my SHE-ro Priscilla Shirer preached this past weekend at Fervent, my heavenly father is the ONLY AUTHORITY who can give me my name! So in times when the enemy comes against me with lies, I say out loud that God has chosen me! I am here on purpose for a purpose! I have been set apart and predestined! I have an expected end! I am the head and not the tail! I am above and not beneath! I come behind in no good thing! I live, serve, and love from the inside out and I shall lack no good thing! God loves me, and through Christ, I CAN do all things because He gives me strength! When you speak the Truth out loud, you are affirming your worth in Jesus and reminding the enemy who God says you are! Sometimes, you may not even believe when you’re saying it, but I’ll tell you this: you have to speak your way into the Truth sometimes! And “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).This weekend, one of my girlfriends told me to be sure to get some rest, but also learn to “rest in Him.” She reiterated there’s a difference between the two. She wanted me to get physical rest for my tiredness, but she also wanted me to remember that it’s through rest in Jesus that I can find peace and comfort and strength. It’s through his strength that He makes up the difference for my shortcomings. I don’t know about you, but on a week like last week, I needed to be reminded of that! It’s not in my strength that I can accomplish my work, the errands, the cleaning, the nurturing, the shopping, the cleaning, care-taking, and everything else, but through God’s sovereignty and grace I can have victory in my own life—one piece of the puzzle at a time.
I wonder how many of us are still trying to do it all in our own strength. When I’m not connected to The Source, I’m a mess. However, when I’ve spent time in His presence and in His word, there’s a sense of peace I receive even when the enemy is trying my last nerve. I remind myself–I can’t afford not to spend time in His presence. It doesn’t work out for anybody in my circle. Much like we are instructed to tithe the first 10% of our income, the Lord desires us to tithe the first part of our day just to Him. Whether your schedule looks different to the point that you have to set your quiet time some other place in your day, that’s between you and the Lord; but God wants to meet you there, so he can fill up your tank with all manner of goodness to live out a victorious life in spite of what the enemy throws your way. I’ll leave you with this: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV). When you find yourself in what seems to be a lifeless place, speak this scripture over yourself and watch life spring up a well in you in the areas you want to come alive!
Happy Self-caring!!
Bri
Love this Bri! I needed this for this week!
I was praying this past weekend and the Lord told me to prepare for a challenging week, but not to panic. He was right about the challenge. Haha. But I have been trying to listen to him on just preparing. And trusting in self and in Him.
I love the scripture too!
Besos from Leo and I! 😍
Ahhhhh!!! God is faithful to speak to us through anything he can get our attention through!! Lol! So glad this word blessed you & im so proud of the woman you are and the beautiful Momma you are to Leo!! Thx for reading babe!!
This is a great read Bri! You betta get yo preach on!
You are amazing! Girl, this is just the beginning…
I just love you!! Thanks for the encouragement and support!! You’re a gem!! -Bri