12 Bible Verses About Self-Love: And Practical Applications
Followers of Christ are called to put others first, but this doesn’t mean we neglect ourselves. Today, we’ll explore 12 Bible verses about self-love as we aim to align our perspective with God’s perspective. Then, we’ll discuss some practical ways to extend kindness to ourselves.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you learn to be loving toward yourself so that you can be more loving toward others.
12 Bible Verses About Self-Love
Let’s begin by examining God’s words about loving ourselves.
Bible Verses About Self-Love
1. Mark 12:31, ESV
“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Jesus spoke these words after declaring that the greatest command was to love God.
Let’s not gloss over these words because they are familiar.
If we do not learn to love ourselves well, we will never be capable of fully loving others. A person who is self-critical and self-condemning will eventually project these mindsets onto others.
We love others well when we extend compassion and grace to them. The best place to begin practicing this compassion is by offering it to ourselves. We’ll look at some practical ways to do this at the end of today’s post.
2. 1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
God is the embodiment of love.
If we fail to love ourselves, we are failing to embody God.
God wants us to care for our bodies as we would care for our most precious loved ones. Does this kind of care describe the way you treat yourself?
3. Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
God makes every person fearfully and wonderfully.
No part of you is a mistake. Embrace this truth as you aim to love yourself more deeply.
4. John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God demonstrated your value once and for all when he allowed his precious Son to die in your place.
You are dear to him, so dear that Jesus would have gone to the cross if you were the only person on earth. Soak in this radical love today.
If God loves you this much, you honor him by loving yourself.
5. Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
You are so dear to God that he has numbered the hairs on your head.
He knows you better than you know yourself, and he cares for you deeply. Lean into this truth when you find it hard to love yourself.
More Bible Verses About Self-Love
6. Song of Solomon 4:1
Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful!
God’s love for you can be represented by the love a man has for his wife in a healthy, thriving marriage. As a husband looks at his wife and calls her beautiful, God looks at you and calls you beautiful.
7. Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
This verse states that you were created in the image of God. The next time you doubt your worth or experience critical thoughts about your worth, remind yourself that you were made in the image of the Living God.
8. 1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
God is a good Father. He loves you in the way a good dad loves his children.
He believes in you, stands with you, and will never leave you.
9. Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
God can never forget you. As a mother tenderly thinks of her nursing child, the child she sustains, God’s thoughts are always with you.
He wants you to embrace these thoughts and let them change your identity, grounding you in his love.
10. Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
God cherishes you. You are the apple of his eye and his treasured possession. He dearly loves you.
Think of the way you feel about a precious child in your life. God feels this way for you. His heart overflows with love for you.
Because you are precious to God, your life is of great value. Soak in this.
11. Song of Solomon 2:16
My beloved is mine, and I am his.
If you are a follower of Christ, you belong to him, and he belongs to you in the way a married couple belongs to one another.
Jesus is yours, and you are his. This is the truest part of your identity.
Soak in this and speak it until you believe it.
12. Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God formed you in your mother’s womb with his hands. No part of you is hidden from him.
He also prepared good works for you to complete. Step into these assignments as you trust that God created you exactly as you were meant to be.
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Let’s now apply these Bible verses about self-love to our lives in several practical ways.
Applications of These Bible Verses About Self-Love
I’ve spent most of my life being unreasonably hard on myself.
I stand in front of mirrors, roll my eyes, and commit to more rigorous ab workouts.
I regularly push myself beyond exhaustion and feel guilty for taking naps—even after staying up all night tending to fevered children. Often, I tell myself to suck it up, try harder, go faster, and give more.
You might not push yourself through exhaustion or condemningly grab your love handles when you stand in front of the mirror, but I imagine you know all about self-critical attitudes. Most of us would never talk to our friends the way we talk to ourselves.
How to Be Gentle With Yourself
Not long ago, God showed me that the critical spirit with which I judge myself has a significant impact on the way I love others.
Whether I like it or not, being self-critical will eventually lead me to be critical of others.
Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, but if we’re critical of ourselves, we will eventually project a critical spirit onto others as well.
Throughout the past few years, God’s been teaching me how to be gentle with myself.
Instead of being critical, I’m learning to be thankful for this belly that bore three beautiful children, these legs that have carried me thousands of miles, the lines on my face that show my age, and this body that regularly endures sleepless nights.
I’m also learning to embrace the unique parts of my personality. Instead of being critical of my introversion, sportiness, and woodsyness, I’m learning to nurture these parts of me and even share them with others.
God is inviting you to be gentle with yourself as well. He wants you to embrace your uniqueness and be gentle with your weaknesses. As you learn to be more loving toward yourself, you will naturally become more loving toward others.
Practical Ways to Apply These Bible Verses About Self-Love to Your Life
Here are three practical ways to apply these Bible verses about self-love to your life.
1. Thank your body for serving you.
When you get dressed today, look in the mirror and ask God to help you see yourself the way he sees you. Pay particular attention to the body parts you don’t like.
Instead of criticizing these parts, thank them. You might thank your laugh lines for sharing life’s joyful moments with you, thank your thighs for their strength, or thank your core for providing stability.
God loves you—just the way you are. Ask him to help you learn to be gentle with yourself as you aim to extend this same gentleness to others.
God loves you—just the way you are. Ask him to help you learn to be gentle with yourself as you aim to extend this same gentleness to others. #LovingGod #Gentleness #Kindness Share on X2. Regularly talk to God about the condition of your body and soul.
At least once a week, carve out ten to fifteen minutes to assess the state of your body and soul. Find a quiet place to sit, take a walk, or even assess your life as you lie in the comfort of your bed.
How is your soul? Are you tired? Excited? Bored? Stressed?
Talk to God about anything you notice. He wants to show you how to step into the abundant life, but most of us are too busy to pause and be real about where we’re at. Regular check-ins can help care for our bodies and souls.
3. Love yourself by changing the way you look at yourself.
Throughout the past few years, God has been renewing my mind by helping me see myself the way I see my children.
I’ve been learning to treat myself the way I would treat my kids. I imagine their sweet faces and precious bodies.
When critical thoughts about myself arise, I remind myself to be tender with myself in the same ways I’m tender with my kids. I forgive myself for mistakes and aim to care for my body in the same ways I care for their little bodies.
This mindset helps me resist some of the following behaviors:
It keeps me from shoving sugar into my mouth to fill an emotional void;
I’m far less critical when I look in the mirror;
I go to the doctor instead of putting it off;
I’m willing to invest in vitamins and healthy food for the good of my body;
I exercise for the well-being of my body and not primarily to burn calories or chase a cultural image.
Try this mindset for yourself. Imagine your most precious loved one when it comes time to care for your body or when critical thoughts arise. God can use this mindset to transform your life. Most of all, he will align your heart with his heart. You are even more precious to him than your most precious loved one is to you.
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If these Bible verses about self-love and applications were helpful, I invite you to explore our devotional books and library of free devotionals and eBooks below. Most of all, I pray you will turn to God as you seek your worth. You are precious to him, and you glorify him when you care for yourself.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
