The popular verse that covers the second great commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, contains an important truth. Most people focus on the loving others part and miss the key: love yourself. You cannot love others until or unless you truly love yourself.
Let these seven helpful prayers for self-love and healing be an open door for you to walk in your growing relationship with God. You can modify any of the sentences to better suit your particular circumstances, as needed.
You can also pray about getting closer to God, or about living in the present moment.
“ In all my prayers for you all, I always pray with joy for your collaboration in the gospel from the first day until now, being convinced that he who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus ” (Philippians 1:4-6, NIV).
The apostle Paul gives us insight into ourselves in this pair of verses. It is God who started a good work in you. Not a bad work, or a worthless work, but a good work, a valuable and worthy work.
And did you notice the second part? God takes it to the end . God finishes the work started in you. God does not leave you alone. God is there with you, until the day of Christ Jesus!
Surely the good work that God began, and is finishing, in you is worth taking care of, isn’t it? So self-love, dedicating yourself to self-care, is a valuable activity in your life. The prayers here are a way of going to God with your desire to take care of yourself. The One who created you can guide you on this new and exciting journey.
As you pray, we invite you to share your prayer requests and celebrations with us in the comments section at the end of this article.
Short prayer for self-love
Dear God, I want to take better care of myself than I am now, but I don’t know what to do or where to start. I am praying to you because I want to love myself so I can love others better. I want to do this the right way so please guide me. I trust you to help me on this new path I am taking. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer to love myself
Dear Lord Jesus, it’s okay to love myself, isn’t it? I don’t mean in a self-centered or narcissistic way, but to love who I am. I think I will do better in all aspects of my life if I can accept myself for all that I am, the good and the bad.
You love me unconditionally, but I have trouble loving myself. By your grace, allow me to accept where I am on my journey with you and accept all the good things you have done in my life so far. I know you’re not done with me and I believe self-love is an important part of loving yourself and loving others.
I also believe, Lord, that this is a step that will take a while, so give me perspective of time as I learn to love myself for who I am in You, and who I will become as You continue the good work. you started. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, Amen.
Prayer for self healing
Father God, I need healing within me. I do not need physical healing, but a healing of myself, of the essence of who I am. I want to be a better version of myself and I can’t do it alone. I need you, Lord.
I ask that you guide me in this healing, which I believe will take a long time. I have the feeling that even by praying this prayer, I am heading in a good direction. I trust that by your grace and through your mercy, I will continue on this path of healing for the rest of my life.
I am filled with joy and fear as I pray this. I don’t know what will change within me, but I know that, in fact, I need to change. Help me, Lord, through Christ Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for self-love at work
Dear God, I like what I do at my job, but I also feel like I’m not holding my own in my workplace. I am praying that I can improve my self-love at work.
I want to be able to not be dumped with work I’m not supposed to do, but also still be a good employee. I can’t keep up this pace of doing my job and the work of others too. I’m getting overwhelmed and I don’t want to burn out.
Help me take better care of myself and put some necessary boundaries in my work relationships. I pray please as I talk to different people over the next few days. I pray for strength and perseverance as you move forward in this positive direction. I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer for self-love at home
Lord God, I need your help and guidance for the situation I face in my home. I don’t feel like I have time for myself. Someone always needs something from me. I always have to do something, go somewhere for every person in my home.
I feel like I’m diminishing as a person like my true self is slowly ceasing to exist. I need some time for self-love, time to focus on myself and what I need. I don’t feel selfish at all for praying about this, Lord. I desperately need your guidance as I look to do this.
I don’t think my family will really understand if I ask them for this time, so I’ll have to take it. I need to say no more times and isolate something from what I do or what I need. Help me to love myself in the days ahead, as I love you with all that I am. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Prayer for self-love at school
God, I don’t think I’ll be able to get through this next semester if I don’t take better care of myself. I’m burning the proverbial candle at both ends and soon there won’t be much wax left.
I enjoy everything I do, but I am overloaded. I need the guidance of your Spirit to know what to cut and where to focus my time and energy. It’s so hard when everything is positive and helpful in some way. I just know in my gut that this is a step I must take.
I pray for wisdom to make good decisions in the coming weeks as I try to love myself better than I have been doing. I pray this prayer with hope for Jesus, Amen.
Prayer to stop criticizing myself
Dear Lord, my friend alerted me about a bad habit I have. I’m so self-critical. I tell myself how wrong I am, or how stupid I am, every time I make a mistake. I feel so bad about myself. I don’t think I have the confidence to do much of anything.
I need your help, Lord. I need to stop criticizing myself so much and so often. Allow me to calm my negative self-talk. I realize it may take time, but I want to love who I really am. I want to accept who I am, and the truth that I can grow and improve as a human being.
Help me to see myself as you see me, dear Lord, perfectly loved. I ask you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Consider this
When we hear words like self-love, we may be tempted to think that it means turning inward, excluding everyone around us. But what it really means is that we keep ourselves in the right position, relative to everyone else. Self-love is not selfishness, it is taking care of yourself, to be a better person, and thus be able to also take care of others.
Sometimes you need to be a better coach to yourself and not your own worst critic. Remember the truth of who you are in God, as the apostle Paul poetically reminds us:
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” ( Ephesians 2:10 , NIV).
Self-love, taking care of yourself, is truly allowing yourself to be the masterpiece that God created, redeemed, and guided to this moment. Accept God’s guidance as you pray these prayers, today and every day.
Any complaints or suggestions? report