Day 13: What is self-care?

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

As women, we often juggle with many roles and wear many hats. With all the competing demands on our time and energy, we often neglect ourselves in the service of others. But what does biblical self-care look like? 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

For me, self-care is taking time to journal and unload my mind at the end of the day, being completely honest before the Lord and reflecting on the highs and lows of the day. It has become an essential part of my nightly routine that helps me to relax and unwind.

Remembering is key to breakthrough. Reflecting and remembering what God has done in the past and what He has promised for the future allows me to face my present boldly. It also serves as a record of God’s faithfulness and goodness in every season of my life that I can look back on in the years to come.

Self-care is not only about taking care of our minds and physical bodies. More importantly, it is about caring for our souls. Our physical body is important, yet the Bible says that our souls must also prosper (3 John 2). It is only when we surrender our worries and anxieties to the Lord that we are able to truly find rest in His embrace and refresh our weary hearts. - By JN

---

Pray Father, I come before You with the burdens of my day. Help me to lay them down before You. I know that You care deeply for me and that You are always watching over me.

Day 12: Putting on the mind of Christ

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

It was another day of doing the pile of dishes. After going outdoors with my son, prepping and cooking a meal for the family and now having to go through the stack of unwashed dishes, the bubbles of resentment burst with every scrub: “Why am I the one doing everything? Why is XX not doing anything? Why am I a slave? Why…”

Out of the blue, I heard in my mind a different voice that asked, “Are these thoughts from me?” In that instant, I became aware I was entertaining thoughts that were not God’s. And I needed to change my thought-life. This realisation has changed the course of my life. I now realised the power of the verse in Philippians 4:8.

When we acknowledge that the meditations of our heart are not on the things of God, we have a choice to turn away from these thoughts and begin to meditate on His word and goodness. In that turning away, we get to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding and begin to be filled with His joy that is truly our strength. - By JC

---

Pray Father, I reject every thought that is not from you. Take over my mind and fill me with Your peace and joy in every circumstance.

Day 11: By His peace you will overcome

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

Psalm 40:1

I panicked. All alone on my own in Africa, just four days into my 6-week deployment to Eswatini, I knew I needed medical help. “Can you fly back home? You’ll probably need evacuation for surgery.” Instead of hysteria, an unspeakable peace overwhelmed me. I felt the tangible presence of angels all around my room and knew I was buoyed by prayer.

That night, I had a strange dream - Cliff and an Infectious Disease doctor-mentor of mine helped to mend my body. I woke up, thinking, shouldn’t it have been a surgeon? Was there a mistake? That early morning, a doctor-mentor back home went through all the possibilities of temporary measures with me before surgery back home. My heart sank. But God reminded me of the angels and said, “Trust Me.”

Minutes later into the detailed tele-consult, my mentor declared in epiphany, “Oh! We’ve got it all wrong! It’s an infection! You don’t need intervention!” The dream was spot on. In time of struggle when you feel all alone, know this - the enemy wants you to abort your mission. He can’t wait to strike you. But no matter how high the stakes, God has you in the palm of His hand.

The safest place to be is in the center of His Will. - By WJ

---

Pray Father, enshroud me with Your unspeakable peace to defeat the enemy completely.