TO LOVE THYSELF.
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Notice the standard He uses: yourself.
This does not promote selfishness or self-centeredness. Rather, it recognizes that healthy love for others begins with understanding how to receive and extend the love God has shown us.
If you constantly despise yourself, condemn yourself, or believe you are unworthy of love, it becomes difficult to genuinely love others. You may either seek validation from people or pour yourself out in unhealthy ways.
To love yourself biblically is to recognize that you are God's creation, valuable to Him, and worthy of care—not because of your perfection, but because of His love.
Jesus didn't say, “Love your neighbor instead of yourself.” He said, “as yourself.”
Learn to extend to yourself the same grace, patience, forgiveness, and compassion that you are commanded to extend to others.
You cannot give healthy love from a heart that has never learned to receive God's love.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to see myself through Your eyes. Help me receive Your love, walk in Your grace, and love myself rightly—not selfishly, but according to Your truth. Then teach me to extend that same love to others. Amen.
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