I am not the best when it comes to cars. I mean, you could literally tell me the brand of a car, walk away, ask me in half an hour and I may struggle to remember it. The most I know about them—apart from driving them—is the usual top up on petrol, check the oil, check water level and things like that. I have even had a situation where I had to call my husband to meet me at a petrol station, just to put some air in one of the tyres (I have since learnt how, to my husband’s relief). Yet one thing I do not compromise on is the servicing of the car.

One of the ways you maintain a car is through regular servicing. You don’t wait for a car to breakdown or ‘show signs’ before you take it for servicing, you service it because it is part of the maintenance and upkeep of the car.

Your body, as a Christian, is God’s temple. God’s house. God resides in you.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy spirit who is in you….” 1 Corinthians 6:19

A temple or house is not designed to be worshipped; it is just a building. So, this isn’t about ‘self-worship’. This is about caring for the very important house that houses God. You do not worship the temple, but you worship in the temple. We ought to respect our bodies and take care of them.

Self-care is not a sin. It is not frivolous, and it is not fleshly. Self-care is acknowledging that one of your responsibilities is to yourself. Stopping to take a break from time to time, working out a healthy routine, grooming, engaging in productive endeavours are some steps towards self-care.

Another area of self-care is the care of our minds. You are responsible for the state of your mind. We are daily bombarded by things that have the potential to, and in some cases actually, cause hurt, harm, distress, fear, discouragement, the list goes on…When in these situations, we have a choice to control the impact these things have on and in our lives. We may not have control over the sources, but we can control the impact. As part of your responsibility to yourself, focus your mind and thoughts on productivity.

‘Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.’

Proverbs 4:23 GNT

We need to develop a maintenance culture for our bodies and our minds.

“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right pure, lovely and honourable ” Philippians 4:8 GNT.

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of

praise, think continually on these things [centre your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].“ Philippians 4: 8 AMP