Many
people are so mindful about meeting everyone else's needs that they ignore
their own needs. This behavior diminishes our physical health, ruins our soul's
condition by entertaining resentment and/or anger and eventually bitterness,
and taints our spiritual discernment.
Due
to these intense negative feelings, we slip into compulsive, neurotic behavior
without even being aware of why we are acting this way. We end up unloading all
of that negative emotion on the people we care about the most.
If
not arrested, this negative spiral will turn into a tornado of thoughts that
feed attitudes, which fuel behavior in ways that make no sense to us at all. These
thoughts are usually halfway concocted from our personal insecurities, and the
other half come from Satan's lies.
We
form bad habits to protect our soul from hurt, afraid to trust anyone too much,
skeptical and cynical of other people. Experts tell us that habits can be
changed within a three week period.
We
make a concentrated effort to do the opposite of what we have always done. We
are mindful now of our own needs in each moment of the day. When we trip up and
resort to our prior behavior, then we admit our mistake, apologize and try
again.
Caring
for our own needs, rather than expecting someone else to meet them, will save
us from destroying our relationships and our own health. We can start by doing
one kind action for our self each day; then we increase the amount of our
self-care from there.
When
we experience the multitude of ways that God starts to meet our needs, from the
moment we make the commitment not to put unnecessary expectations on others, we
will feel a deep sense of joy from His obvious love and care for us.
Prayer:
Father
God, we often have discouragement from Satan when we purpose in our heart to
change our negative behavior to more constructive conduct. Remind us that in
our times of vulnerability, we can pray, journal or talk to a confidante about
our true feelings. Help us to realize that it is not fair or righteous to
expect others to meet our needs, and we can trust that You want what is best
for us.
Sometimes,
what is best will make us sad, until we come to see that You meant it for our
good (Genesis 50:20). We trust You, and praise You for Your involvement in our
personal, individual life. Remind us to trust in Your goodness and to believe
that You have our best interest in Your plans. You never leave or forsake us,
and we give You all of the glory and praise for who we are, what we have and
where we are going.
Thought
for the Day:
Self-care
is such a foreign topic in Christian circles, because God's Word encourages us
to die to our self and to put others first; both of these facts are true, but
they do not negate our need to meet our own legitimate needs as well, rather
than expecting others to do so.
- John 5:17
