Learn To Take Care Of Yourself (2) - All The Word for Today Daily Devotionals for 2025

‘You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.' Psalm 23:5 NIV (2011 Edition)
THERE ARE two kinds of people who'll never understand your need to take care of yourself: 1) Legalists. They never stop trying to measure up to certain perfectionistic moral, ethical, and religious standards. 2) Serve-a-holics. They sacrifice themselves on the altar of endless church activity, believing it's the only way to please God. Some of Jesus' disciples did this. When a woman poured expensive oil on His head they got upset. How come? Had they never read the words, ‘You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows'? In Bible times, oil was used for different purposes such as soothing,massaging, and refreshing the body after a long journey or a hard day's work. ‘So God thinks it's okay for me to take a break?' You ask. Yes, but since serve-a-holics have a need to be needed, like the disciples they think, ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor' (Matthew 26:9 NIV 2011 Edition). Their belief system is: ‘Others matter - I don't!' Understand this: When you take care of others but not yourself, you a) become spiritually and emotionally drained; b) end up resentful because your needs go unrecognised and unmet; c) start looking for relief in the wrong places. That's what drove Samson to Delilah's house. She gave him a place to relax and let down his hair; then she exploited it for his destruction. When we look to the wrong people and things rather than learning to care for ourselves, we give a foothold to enemy. Don't let that happen to you. Start taking care of yourself spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

Bible In A Year: Exodus 21-22, Matthew 19