I had an awesome day on Sunday. I attended a very good church service, taught two classes that went very well and attended a Super Bowl party that was full of great food, fun and fellowship. Then I woke up yesterday and it wasn’t long before I thought, “I should have just stayed in bed today.”

While it seemed I could do nothing wrong the day before, this day it seemed like I could do nothing right. I made one mistake after another that cost me much time and much money. As the day went on, I became more and more frustrated with myself for making so many stupid mistakes in one day.

Then the Lord reminded me of the commandment of love.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… (Matthew 22:37, KJV)

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:39, KJV)

In the Amplified Bible verse 39 reads like this:

…You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

How do I love others? I am patient and kind with them. I believe the best of them. I am quick to forgive them of their sins and I don’t remind them of their past sins.

So how should I be towards myself when I make a mistake? I should be patient and kind towards myself. I should be quick to forgive and forget my sins. I should believe the best of myself and show myself the mercy I show others.

It wasn’t long after I switched my thinking towards myself from one of frustration to one of love, that all the things that had happened that day seemed like no big deal. When I got out from under the self-condemnation I received God’s forgiveness and confidently asked Him to help me cover the cost of my mistakes and to redeem the time lost.

In the healing ministry, I have seen many people not only lose their peace and their joy over their mistakes, but actually lose their health. One doctor that talks much about this is Dr. Don Colbert. He speaks on taking care of your body physically by making good choices in the foods that you eat. (Sounds like loving yourself!) He also talks about the importance of positive, healthy emotions and how negative, ‘deadly’ emotions can cause physical problems in your body.

Today I came across this statement in the book “A More Excellent Way” by Pastor Henry Wright discussing self-rejection, self-hatred and self-bitterness.

There is a spiritual dynamic that comes, in which the white corpuscles are invisibly redirected to attack living tissue while ignoring the true enemy which is bacteria and viruses. As the person continues to attack themselves spiritually, the body finally agrees in which the white corpuscles start attacking the body. That is a high price to pay for not loving yourself.

I shared the following statement with friend this morning and found myself saying it throughout the day.

My Father loves me and so do I.

Here is one more scripture that I think will help you love yourself. It is Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)

Do you make mistakes? We all do. Are there things in you that need to change? We all have things that need to change. Let the Lord help you with all that, but in the meantime love yourself. When you think about yourself think lovely thoughts. He does.

What is man that You are mindful of him and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? ( Psalm 8:4, Amplified)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare  and  peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified)

Remember your heavenly Father loves you and so should you.