HabitsSample

Be Kind to Yourself

The day you decide to get serious about making good daily habits is the day you step out of the “perfection zone.” This brings up today’s letter: be kind to yourself. On the day that you fail to keep up with your new habit, be kind to yourself. 

Don’t give into negative self-talk and self-hatred. Cling to God’s truth and the healthy identity He’s been restoring in you. Take this as an opportunity to dig a little deeper into whatever the bigger issue is. Spend some more time reflecting on your healthy identity and asking people you trust for help. 

Maybe you’ve already slipped up. Maybe you haven’t yet. Either way, ask God, and maybe some people, for forgiveness. Then, view this as an opportunity for growth, deeper healing, and another chance to reinforce a good daily habit that stands up to all sorts of difficulty. Just like when you get a cold and your immune system gets stronger, this is an opportunity for the self-control that God gave you to grow and get stronger.

Jesus commanded us to love God with everything we’ve got and love others as we love ourselves. These are referred to as the two greatest commandments. But really, there’s a third hidden in there. To love others as you love yourself, you have to love yourself! So, even if it’s just because Jesus commanded you to, be kind to yourself when you slip up. Don’t give up. Don’t beat yourself up. Just get up, look up, ask for forgiveness, and try again!

Pray: God thank You for Your love that gives me the strength to get it right and grace when I don’t. I need Your help, and I’m trusting You to stick with me even when I miss a step. Amen.