Loving Others - Katie Luse
Loving Yourself
Katie Luse
Jesus was clear about what matters most. When asked about the greatest commandment, He answered:
“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.”
— Mark 12:30–31 (NIV)
We talk often about loving God and loving others—but Jesus intentionally includes a third piece that is just as vital: loving yourself. Not in pride or self-centeredness, but in wholeness. Sometimes, the deepest healing our hearts need is reconciliation with ourselves.
Why Loving Yourself Matters
Our ability to receive love shapes everything—how we see God, how we relate to others, and how we live in the world. When we struggle to receive love, we often struggle to give it freely.
Jesus didn’t say, “Love your neighbor instead of yourself.” He said, “as yourself.” That means how we treat ourselves becomes the measure of how we treat others.
John the Baptist gives us a powerful picture of healthy self-acceptance. When questioned about his identity, he answered simply and confidently:
“I am not the Christ.”
— John 1:20 (NIV)
John knew who he was—and who he wasn’t. He was comfortable in his own skin. He embraced his unique assignment without comparison or insecurity. That kind of clarity only comes when we are rooted in God’s truth, not others’ expectations.
How Self-Image Is Formed
Our self-image doesn’t appear overnight. Much of it is formed early in life—through words spoken over us, experiences with authority figures, and moments where we learned about fear or love.
Scripture reminds us:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
— Romans 12:2 (NIV)
The way we think about ourselves shapes the way we experience life. Healing often begins when we allow God to renew what we’ve believed about ourselves for years.
Identity Comes From Christ
Before we ever had a chance to perform, achieve, or fail—God already knew us.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”
— Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
Through Jesus, we are invited into a new family, a new identity:
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
— 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
At the core of loving yourself is this truth: you are who God says you are. The real question becomes: What are you afraid will happen if you truly accept how deeply loved you are?
Reconciling With Yourself
Healing often requires honesty and courage.
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
— James 5:16 (NIV)
Reconciling with yourself may involve:
Forgiving yourself and others
Breaking ungodly beliefs
Renewing your mind with truth
Learning to care for your body, soul, and spirit
Self-love in God’s kingdom isn’t indulgence—it’s stewardship.
Becoming a Strong Receiver
Jesus said:
“The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
— John 4:14 (NIV)
Your relationship with Jesus is first for you. Your gift is first meant to be enjoyed by you. What flows out to others should come from a place of being filled, not depleted.
You can only give what you’ve received.
There is holiness in learning to love yourself the way God loves you. Healing the heart often happens best in community—where truth is spoken gently and love is practiced faithfully.
An Invitation to Silence and Solitude
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”
— Psalm 62:1 (ESV)
You cannot love what you do not know. Creating space to be still—to face yourself honestly and receive God’s love—is essential. Consider setting fixed moments of prayer throughout your day, pausing to listen, breathe, and remember who you are.
Loving yourself isn’t about striving. It’s about receiving—and allowing God’s love to heal, restore, and redefine you from the inside out.
