The Bible offers all the instructions we need to ensure we are living a spiritually healthy life. In a gospel context, this means embracing Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and living our lives based on that paradigm. Part of being a healthy individual is figuring out who God wants us to be and learning to grow into — and love — that person.
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Bible Verses About Loving Yourself
Sometimes it can be a challenge to love ourselves but God’s Word can help. After all, how can we love God's people if we first don't love ourselves? Here are 20 Bible verses on self love:
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
God created us and shows His great love in the way He relates to humanity - by making us in His own image. When considering scriptures on loving yourself, remember that the Lord created and loves you — and that’s reason enough to care for yourself spiritually, physically and emotionally.
Read Also: Spread Love Through God with These 15 Bible Quotes
Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these."
Jesus makes it very clear in the Bible that it’s essential to love God and love others. This Bible verse about self love even says that these are the two greatest commandments. In order to love others, God calls us to to love ourselves. Fully accepting ourselves and practicing self-love is one way to show that we love God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Part of loving ourselves is finding out who God wants us to be and then aspiring to become that person. The type of person we are shouldn’t be based on our own whims, but instead on the Lord’s will for our lives and who He is calling us to be. This is what can ultimately lead us to heaven and fulfilling His will. Scriptures on loving yourself remind us of exactly that.
We see this put into practice in the Great American Pure Flix Original movie, "Birthright Outlaw." Upon hearing the truth of Martha Rose's past as an outlaw, she reveals that she desired to leave that behind and become a "new creation" when she found God's transformational love.
Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor."
Bible verses about loving yourself and being properly in line with God also focus on the importance of humility. While we're called to self-love, we must do so in a humble way so that our lives point back to God rather than ourselves. Noah's story in the Great Amerian Pure Flix Original movie "God's Country Song" shows us the importance of practicing humility when learning to love ourselves.
Proverbs 27:2 (NIV)
"Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."
Bible verses about self love calls for a similar message to those on pride and humility. If we truly want to follow Bible verses about loving ourselves, we can start by making sure we praise no one else but Jesus Christ - not even ourselves.
In "Like Arrows," parents Alice and Charlie try to raise their children in a loving and faith-filled home, but struggle to make that a reality. It isn't until the come to learn how to praise Jesus and look only to Him for guidance and direction that they're able to pass that on to their children. Humbling themselves, they admitted they needed help while learning to rely on God to be their strength and how to pass His love on to their children.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Scriptures on loving yourself are really about recognizing God’s plan for your life and letting go of control. When things feel out of control or you feel lost, turn to God and ask for guidance. The Bible, in speaking about love for God, calls us to appeal to Him and to allow His love and guidance to transform us.
Read Also: 29 Bible Verses About Wives, Marriage and Love
Proverbs 19:8 (NIV)
The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
Bible verses about loving yourself point towards the importance of taking care of your soul. Proverbs 19:8 encourages us to love our own soul so much that we find goodness and truth. This goodness and truth is freely available in Christ.
Reverend Jeremiah Jacobs in "Birthright Outlaw" has always known God's love and followed His guidance. Because he is a faithful servant to God's will, he sought God's wisdom throughout his entire life. Jeremiah knew of God's love, therefore he was able to understand that he, himself, was also worthy of love.
2 Timothy 3:1-2 (NIV)
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy"
The Bible warns us against being lovers of ourselves. While we should love ourselves by ensuring we have spiritual, physical and emotional health, we should not self-obsess over ourselves. Two of the Bible verses on self love worth reading are 2 Timothy 3:1-2, as they outline what the end times will look like — and none of the examples are viable examples for love.
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Spiritual health means forming a relationship with Christ. Numerous Bible verses about Jesus — and the words of Christ himself — confirm that love of God means embracing the holy spirit. Jesus can cover the great multitude of sins, and his great love for us should guide us toward seeking robust spiritual health.
Leviticus 18:19 (NIV)
“‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period."
Part of being content with ourselves is following the Bible’s advice that we love others. In fact, we’re supposed to love and care for ourselves and, in turn, love others in the same manner.
Psalm 36:9 (NIV)
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
If we’re looking to improve our lives and we’re learning to love ourselves, Psalm 36 is one of the scriptures on loving yourself worth reading: God is our fountain of life who offers us great love and can set us on our intended paths.
Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV)
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Matthew 10 provides another reminder of how much God loves us — and if God loves us, we must also care for ourselves. After all, Jesus tells us the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to find the 1. That's exactly how much God loves us - so much that He knows how many hairs are on our head. The love of God should inspire our hearts and souls.
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."
If you’re feeling pained or downtrodden, consider seeking out a “good word” and read some Bible verses about self love. Crack open your Bible, call a friend who can encourage you — or take time to show the love of God to someone else in your life who might be struggling.
Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."
Take your struggles to God. Jesus’ sacrifice covers the multitude of sins. When fear strikes, self-love and care means turning to your Creator. He will help you through the tough times.
Read Also: 15 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up .. Even in the Hardest Times
John 14:27 (NIV)
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Many of us struggle and seek peace in our lives. John 14 reminds us that we can find solace in the love of God. Sometimes we may struggling see what others have and wonder why we don't have the looks, talents or gifts they possess. But this scripture on self love tells us that God does not give as the world gives. Each of us have our own unique talents and gifts that God designed for us specifically. Let us have peace in knowing that our unique talents have been chosen just for ourselves by our mighty and loving God.
Romans 8:26 (NIV)
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
There are times when our pain might feel too significant. God knows our struggles, and we can take solace in that reality. Love God and His grace will be sufficient.
Galatians 5:16 (NIV)
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
This is an important scripture when it comes to exploring Bible verses about loving yourself. When you struggle with sin, be sure to remember that the closer you cling to Jesus, the easier it will be to overcome your temptations. Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the "desires of the flesh" - especially our physical appearance. Regardless of our physical appearance, God tells us that we are His creation and simply because of that, we are beautiful.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
"We love because he first loved us."
Bible verses about self love reminds us that we should love ourselves because God loves us. Remember God’s love for you is a powerful way to approach your own quest to better love God — and yourself. You matter to God.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Performing good works is one way to show great love and help others, while increasing our own happiness. The Bible makes it clear that the love of God should spark a desire to help others around us.
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
When we align with God, our perspective changes. This simple scripture is one of the best Bible verses about loving yourself; we can best love ourselves when we know what it is God wants of us.
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