Why Self-Care is Godly and Important for Your Marriage

June 10, 2017

Warm weather, cook-outs and graduation parties signal that summer is here!

You probably have some vacation plans in the works … but let me challenge you to drill down a little deeper.  What’s your vision for your marriage and family during this time together?  What does your marriage need now?  What do you need to get refreshed and reloaded?

When I first heard the term “self-care” I struggled with how it squares with the Bible.  I was taught to deny ourselves … to serve others first … “self-care” sounded selfish!

But the Great Commandment tells us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself … so God must want me to love myself in some way …

I’ve learned that self-care is not self-indulgence … it’s developing a strategy for taking care of your heart, soul, mind and strength so that you can become all God intends you to be … and so you can be all you need to be for your spouse and children.

So, how do we recharge the batteries of our personal lives?

Your heart: … is the center of our emotions … our feelings.  What fills your emotional tank?  For me it’s time with Karen, our sons and their wives, and our three granddaughters … nobody does it better.  So I make sure we have lots of family time during the summer months.

Your soul: … You need a regular time in God’s Word so you can live and love God’s way … make sure you spend some personal time with the Lord over your break …

Your mind: … You become what you think; so, what are you reading or listening to that is stimulating your mind … that is helping you ruminate on the right things?

Your strength:  Physically … what do you need?  More rest … better nutrition … more stamina … better health and vitality?  Your body is the temple … when your temple is weak … you’re vulnerable everywhere.

Self-care is vital to the health of your marriage and family … when you take the time to replenish your heart, soul, mind and strength … it allows you to love and serve them out of the overflow of your life.  You can’t fully love and serve from a depleted you!

Take the time during your vacation to recharge your batteries!

Sign Up

to recieve our weekly Marriage Devotional.


Further Reading

Missile Words

September 18, 2023

When you find yourself engaging in a disagreement with your spouse, your instinctive goal ...

Read Full Article

Excuses for Ending a Marriage

September 11, 2023

While doing our marriage intensives for couples who want to save their marriages, we’ve heard ...

Read Full Article

3 Unrealistic Assumptions that will Kill Your Marriage

September 4, 2023

Good communication is vital to a healthy marriage. Yet many of us struggle on this important area o...

Read Full Article