Summer has arrived. The sun shines bright and the days are longer. I grew up in Arizona and came to appreciate the onset of dusk when the evening darkness cooled the heat of the day. At that time of day,  the sun hangs low in the sky and the moon peeks up to chase it away. The earth seems to slow down and a hush begins to fall over the earth.

The light of the moon is a softer glow than the sun and has a peacefulness and a “romantic” quality to it. It bathes us with light rather than shining on us. In Genesis 1:16-18 (NIV) we read: “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.” God intended the moon to have a different function than the sun.

A mini-sized poster titled “Advice from the Moon” hangs by my desk and I read it often as it offers wisdom in the form of 7 “self-care” statements that I share here as “Lessons from the Moon:”

Lesson #1: Live life to the fullest.  

Are you living your life as God has called you to? 

** Deuteronomy 30:19: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

** 1 Corinthians 7:17: “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.”

Lesson #2: Be someone to look up to  

Are you a role model for anyone? A mentor?

** 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

** Proverbs 13:20: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Lesson #3: Don’t be “phased” by difficulties. 

How do you handle obstacles?

** James 1: 2-4: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

** Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Lesson #4: Take time to reflect. 

How much time do you spend with the Lord each day? Is it a priority in your life?

** Psalm 63: 6-8: “When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

** 1 Chronicles 16:11: “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.”

Lesson #5: Enjoy a Little Space

Do you recognize when you are overwhelmed and need to step away from toxic relationships or from being over-committed?

** Psalm 18:1-2: “I love you, Lord, my strength.The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

** Isaiah 26:3-4: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Lesson #6: Honor the cycles of nature. 

What do you appreciate about God’s creation? Does your lifestyle change with the seasons?

**  Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

** Psalm 104:19: “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.”

Lesson #7: Light up the night. 

What does it mean to reflect Jesus’ light?

** Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

** 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

The importance of self-care:

Self-care is critical in our walk with the Lord. When we are at our best, we are better equipped to follow His commandment to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” (Matthew 22:35-40)  If we are exhausted or stretched too thin, we cannot on focus on studying His word or on praying if we have no brain power to do so.

A good article you might want to read can be found at  https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/christian-self-care/.  What are your favorite forms of self-care? How can you take these 7 “lessons from the moon” to heart and enjoy the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? Feel free to leave a note in the comments and let me know.