In Luke 2:52, Jesus is the prime example of foursquare development which continued on earth until His death, burial and resurrection. The scripture validates that He increased or continued to grow in wisdom (intellect), stature (physical strength), and in favor with God (His spiritual Source) and men (His social network). Other scriptures support the fact that He took time to rest, eat and exercise as He traveled from town to town to ensure that he was in good physical shape. He also fasted, prayed and was ministered to by the Holy Spirit as needed to tend to His spiritual development. He was found in the synagogue as a young child and speaking to multitudes wherever He went, and His inquisitive nature and masterful teaching underscore His intellectual stimulation and growth. And of course, Jesus surrounded Himself with an outer group of 120, an associate group of 70, and a smaller group of 12 disciples. To further reinforce the need for human contact and social growth, Jesus chose a more intimate, inner circle among His disciples who were asked to join Him in prayer and on specific occasions when He wanted to reveal more of Himself to those who knew Him better than anyone else (Peter, James and John). We each need to have an inner circle of trusted friends with whom we can be ourselves without position, platform or pretense.
Acknowledging and applying foursquare self-care is vitally important in order to nurture our own spiritual, mental/intellectual, physical and social development. Here are some ideas in which to develop growth in each of the following areas:
Spiritual: Consider attending church consistently as well as spending time with God throughout the day by praying, reading the Bible and other spiritual resources, listening to inspirational music and journaling to encourage yourself and others.
Mental/Intellectual: Becoming a voracious reader causes one to think critically. Consider visiting museums to learn new information, and traveling to places where you’ve never been to become acculturated and accepting of others’ perspectives and ways of doing things. Mental wellbeing is often ignored because of the stigma of what is associated with visiting a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor or therapist. Seeking help from any of these professional experts should never be discounted, especially if and when needed.
Physical: Consider exercising at least four times a week and making wiser choices regarding food consumption and calorie intake. It is recommended that one needs at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night to receive the proper amount of rest. For physical as well as mental rest and relaxation, massages are a good idea to reduce stress and promote wellness.
Social: Be intentional about maintaining current friendships and developing new associations with those who can sharpen and stretch you to be better in order to grow and excel, but also so that you won’t take yourself so seriously.
Now that we’ve covered all of the aforementioned information vital to acknowledging and applying foursquare self-care, don’t you feel the need to nurture and develop growth in the spiritual, mental/intellectual, physical and social areas of your life? Self-care is an intentional, ongoing effort that requires thought, a strategy, and the willpower to follow through in placing yourself on your “to-do” list daily, without feeling guilty for doing so. If Jesus could do it, you and I certainly can!
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