Good evening my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray you’ve spent the week living intentionally and with purpose. If you haven’t listened to my audio about my “Perpetual State of Worship.” Check out my prior post from this week. I pray that it will encourage you to become more cognizant of the time you spend in worship with God.
Today is another edition of Self-Care Sunday. This is my weekly Sunday post where I get to provide further insight and tips on how to become more conscious of your ability to self-care. In the past, my posts have typically dealt with our state of mind and allowing God to lead us in our lives. As a baseline, all my posts will be intertwined with growing in God then building upon that relationship. Now that we’ve got that disclaimer out the way let’s talk Self-Care.
I love to write! I can’t tell you when I started writing but I have journals that are 20 years old. When I write I pour everything I’m feeling into what I’m writing. It brings me happiness, it relaxes me, it’s a great stress reliever, and it comes naturally. When I was praying for God to reveal to me what this weeks Self-Care Sunday post should be about; He told to write about what I love to do. He told me to ask His people, “What is it they love to do and does that thing edify Him?” I can remember a time that I use to love to drink alcohol and party. It provided no lasting fulfillment, but every weekend I was out with my girls. Even in the midst of my emptiness I always found myself writing. From poetry, songs, blog posts, and soon to be books writing is what I love to do.
Self-Care is about investing in yourself. Your inner self first then in all other areas. When was the last time you spent time doing something that you love to do that was just about you? Not you and your friends. Not you and work. Not you and you’re significant other. Just you and the thing that you inherently love to do. Don’t forget to ask yourself does it edify God?
The more I grow in Christ I understand that the thing that I love to do so much that is natural to me is a gift God gave me. Even though it brings me so much joy and satisfaction it ultimately isn’t just for me. My love of writing is my God-given contribution to the Kingdom. When He told me to ask you does what you love to do edify Him. He wanted us to gain perspective. When Christ gives you an ability He expects that ability to grow. When cultivated properly not only will it grow you but it will grow those who come into contact with you. Ask yourselves, “Does what you love to do grow you and those around you? Or does what you love to do prevent growth within yourself and others around you?”
The word of God says,
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“
(Ephesians 4:11-13)
This means that we were all given a gift to do something. God is so gracious that He allows the gift He placed on the inside of us to also be the thing that we love to do. When you love to do something it isn’t a chore. It’s the thing that you will invest in, the thing that will build you, and grow you. It’s the thing that will change the lives of people who come in contact with you. Your gift is impactful. Your ability to do it is unlike anyone else. It was specifically planted on the inside of you and is awaiting the opportunity to be birthed and grow. God sent me here to tell you, “Don’t allow life issues to stop the growth of what He planted on the inside of you.” Develop that thing that you inherently love to do that edifies Christ. Invest your time in it. Allow it to blossom. Don’t hold up someone else deliverance by your stubbornness to not grow what God gave you. When you do that you are forfeiting your right to be connected to the vine.
The Bible tells us,
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me?
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from m,e, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
(John 15:1-8)
Have you been cut from the vine, because you’re choosing to not grow your God-given gift? If so, I challenge you to reconnect to the vine, which is Jesus. Dig deep. As Him to reveal to you what He placed on the inside of you. Maybe you have been so estranged from the Father that you can’t remember what that thing is. Ask Him to restore your gift. As you seek Him more He will do what you asked. When He does don’t miss the opportunity to grow the gift He planted. Remember, we all have a gift. Yours is unlike anyone else. No one can do it like you. The Kingdom is waiting for you to do what you love to do. This is your sign to do it. Blessings.
Mindful of Me 