Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NIV)

Matthew 3:25, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (NIV)

Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (NIV)

John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (NIV)

Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)

• If you have the capacity to love God and love others, you have the ability to love yourself. Would the way you treat yourself align with God’s immense love for you? Why or why not?
• Can you extend the love of God to your neighbor if you cannot first receive it for yourself? Explain why receiving the love of God is just as important as extending it?
• Remember, you are as much valuable to God as those around you. Take time and ponder what it would look like to be compassionate and kind toward yourself.  Write those thoughts down. 
• In your own words, what does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? How can that truth be practically demonstrated in and through your life?

Finish the following sentences:

• If I loved and valued myself the way God does I would…
• If I love and valued myself the way God does I would not…

Make choices to go after a nurturing and compassionate relationship with yourself that would be honoring to you, God’s creation.