Dispelling the Lie

She plopped down on her bed, and said, “Mommy, I have a song for you.”

She proceeded, singing, “BK! Have it your way! I say, now, BK, have it your way!”

My sweet 9-year-old had memorized the Burger King jingle!

And what she sung is the theme of our culture: It’s all about what you want.

This is also witnessed in the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie You’ve Got Mail, when Mr. Hanks’ character visits Starbucks:

“The purpose of places like Starbucks is for people...to make six decisions, just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall…light, dark...caf, decaf...low-fat, nonfat...
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So people...get not just a cup of coffee...but an absolutely defining sense of self.

Tall! Decaf! Cappuccino!”

As the BK jingle goes, “have it your way.”

When an intentional Christian woman, then, is approached with the concept of self-care, in a culture that is ‘all-about-me’, she can run up against a lie that halts her in her place.
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The lie: it is sinful and selfish to take time for myself.

Let’s clarify what self-care is not.

It is not saying yes to yourself at the expense of your relationship with God, or your family.

It is not saying yes to things that are coping mechanisms, when you don’t want to deal with the life you’ve been given. (Chocolate chips, anyone? That’s one of mine.)

Rather, it’s saying yes to refreshing yourself in Jesus Christ, in the way He made you.

When you say yes to self-care, you say yes to:

• serving the Lord with a sincere heart
• loving your family better
• handling daily life with patience, rather than annoyance.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29)

Jesus modeled self-care for us when He took time by Himself, and with His Father.

“After he dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…” (Matt 14:23)

“…Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:31-32)

There are further examples in Matthew 13:36 and 14:13, and in Mark 4:36 and 6:46 (and I just went through two of the gospels!).

If Jesus, who was without sin – perfect – needed time away, and time with His Father, would it be sinful? Selfish?

Momma, whenever you think you’re too busy, or ‘should’ do an item on the To Do list, or the enemy accuses you of selfishness regarding self-care, then stand firm in Jesus’ examples.

Believing the lie that it is sinful and selfish to take time for yourself results in depleting all you have to give.

You are left with a shell of yourself, going through the motions, without soul, with little joy, and with much burden.

You are designed to need rest. Your soul needs to rejuvenate, be refreshed, and replenished.

So tell the lie to return to the pit. Take time for yourself, come to Jesus, and find rest for your soul.

Make self-care a part of the rhythms of your life.

Where is a favorite place you go, or activity you do, to care for yourself?
Please share in the comments.
​Let’s glean from each other.

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All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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