1st Thessalonians 5: 12-18
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Over the last three to four years I have been amazed at the main stream medias push for self-care products. We are being marketed to at every turn in news parers and magazines we see all sorts of vitamins and multivitamins that are specialized to our gender and age. The television reminds us during one out every ten commercials to use Proactive or Clearasil for our skin, and billboards around the country remind to Just Do it and buy special shoes for running, others for cross training, and yet still others for walking or playing various sports. Millions of dollars a day are spent on reminding people that we need to take care of ourselves, but somehow in the hustle of our busy days many of us still forget about how important self care is despite these reminders.
I believe the apostles Paul's words to the church of Thessalonica were reminders to take care of self. These words echo down throughout time to the church of today, reminding us to take your ourselves not only physically but all too importantly spiritually.Paul reminds us to encourage one another, be patient with one another, rejoice in the goodness of God and to pray always. For Paul I believe that these are the blueprints of true self-care, for Christians and non-Christians alike. For me as a United Methodist a consistent discipline of prayer and social holiness are at the center of my theology, as well as my self-care.
Recently, I heard a preacher make the statement that many Christians attend church but don't allow the spirit of God to move in them or throughout the worship service. It's my belief that many people come to church not expecting God to do a great thing and not having prepared himself throughout the week through prayer and communion with God for the spirit to move in their lives on Sunday. In short I making the assertion that many Christians only pray and communicate with God doing Sunday morning worship!
So I agree with this preacher statement, and I place my basis in Paul's words from Thessalonians. We must live a life of prayer, we must live a life of encouragement, we must live a life of rejoicing daily. Living a life of prayer and communion with God is how Christians take care of themselves spiritual. A a daily practice of prayer, reading scripture and or devotion keep us in tune with God's will for our lives. So that when we arrive on the steps of the church Sunday morning, we don't arrive empty waiting for God to work magic but we arrived full excited for the Holy Spirit to pouring into us all that God has revealed throughout the week. This is when we enter into worship with expectation because we know how great God is, and not walking in the door thinking that it will be just another Sunday.
Therefore today I ask you to take care of yourself, this is all reminder that self-care is not just physical but also spiritual. Brothers and sisters pray always, study the Scriptures, encourage one another,and always strive to do what is right. I promise that if you start on this journey of spending time daily with God not only will you worship experience change, but your entire life for the better.
Love P.J.
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