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The Bible describes many ancient religious practices largely foreign to our own cultural practices. Notions of consecration, dedication, vows, holiness, and ritual cleanness are somewhat common in contemporary Christianity. But how well do we know the origin of this terminology and these practices? Take, for instance, the Nazirite vow. The Bible provides a detailed description of how any Israelite could dedicate a distinct period of time to the Lord. Samson was a lifelong example of this (Jdg 13). And perhaps some of Paul’s associates (Acts 21:20–26), but any Israelite could have participated in this special period of consecration. Let’s learn more about the Nazirite vow from the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.
Dedication Practices in the Ancient Near East
Vows among ancient Near Eastern cultures from Mesopotamia, Anatolia and the Levant reflect the following pattern:
(1) The vow grows out of a situation of need or distress.
(2) The vow is made by a human to the gods.
(3) The vow is generally conditional in nature.
(4) A responsive votive offering is made publicly at a cultic place at the conclusion of the vow conditions.
The Nazirite vow includes abstaining from alcohol“The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the LORD as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.” -Numbers 6:1-4
Restrictions for the Nazirite are more stringent than those for the priest; the priest need only refrain from fermented beverage during his period of service in the sanctuary (Lev 10:9). A Nazirite must abstain from all vineyard products at all times, defined in detail down to the grape hulls, pits and even the vines.
In Nu 6:3 the intoxicant beverages are listed as “wine” (yayin) and “other fermented drink” (shekar). Wine was the most common form of grape beverage, produced in the late summer and early fall in ancient Israel in winepress installations and then stored in subterranean bell-shaped caves for fermentation.
The “other fermented drink” (shekar) has historically been translated as “beer” — a common Mesopotamian and Egyptian beverage made from barley known from inscriptions and carved or painted murals — or as “strong drink” (a grape by-product such as brandy). Shekar had an alcohol content of 20–60 percent in comparison to wine’s 12–14 percent. The emphasis here is total abstinence from anything associated with the vineyard, lending support to the interpretation of shekar as an intoxicating beverage produced from vineyard produce. However, it is not drunkenness that is the issue here, but rather grape drinks or products of any sort.
The Nazirite vow includes abstaining from cutting hair
“During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, they may use no razor on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the LORD is over; they must let their hair grow long.” -Numbers 6:5
The visible distinctiveness of allowing the hair to grow long and remain uncut for the duration of the vow (Nu 6:5) set the Nazirite apart from societal norms. In Mesopotamian and Mediterranean law codes, hair played a significant role in ritual and legal practices. In the Code of Hammurapi, cutting one’s hair was a form of punishment and humiliation for bringing a false accusation against another man’s wife in matters of property.
The Nazirite vow includes distancing oneself from dead bodies
“Throughout the period of their dedication to the LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the LORD.” -Numbers 6:6-8
Touching or even coming into close proximity with a corpse was a common means of ritual contamination (6:6–8). To maintain the sanctity of a vow, a Nazirite could not participate in the standard ritual mourning for the dead, even a member of one’s own family. Nu 6:9–12 provides for accidental contamination, whereby the Nazirite removes the outward symbol of identification by shaving the hair and offering it to Yahweh at the conclusion of the period of uncleanness (6:18). Restriction also included the Levitically prohibited participation in ritual associated with the cult of the dead. The story of Samson implies that the restriction also applied to animal corpses since he withheld from his parents the knowledge that the honey he presented them was gathered from the carcass of a lion he had killed with his bare hands (Jdg 14:5–9).
The Conclusion of the Nazirite Vow
Numbers 6:13–21 describes what the Israelite must do when the time of their dedication has concluded. They must present five offerings before the Lord at the tent of meeting. The five offerings are the burnt, sin, fellowship, grain, and drink offerings. The final act of the Nazirite is to shave their hair and place it under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
“Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering…This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the LORD in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.” -Numbers 6:18, 21
The evidence in the New Testament suggests Jesus was not a Nazirite. But it definitely is true to see elements of Nazirite dedication in his life. After all, who was more fully devoted to God than he?
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.’ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll —?I have come to do your will, my God.’” -Hebrews 10:5–7
Fill Out Your Understanding
Take your study and understanding of the Bible further with the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.
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Journaling for self-care is like the meeting of two friends who were always meant to be together. Journaling, apart from all other benefits, helps us understand ourselves by expressing our thoughts and feelings.
And, one of the most helpful things for self-care is to understand what you want. So, today I’ll give you self-care journal prompts to help you practice your self-care with the tool of journaling.
I’m not having the best time of my life these days and the first thing I did this morning was writing 3 pages of everything that was on my mind.
As I really don’t know what to say to other people about how I am, having my journal that never expects anything in return, it’s easy to just say anything, you know?
And it’s not always that people expect from me but I just don’t feel comfortable saying anything other than “I’m okay” right now. My journal is the space where I am honest, rude, negative, hopeless, and above everything, true.
And, that’s really important to come to a better place. It is not always a bright path that leads to a bright destination. Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Sometimes we have to tread unlit trails to come to the shore of a majestic ocean.
Journaling is not always fun, beautiful, or with a defined happy ending. But, it is safe, cathartic, and reliable.
So, yes, self-care and journaling go hand in hand. Before I get to the prompts, let me give you a few tips that will help you be more natural with writing.
Tips for Self-care Journaling
1. Forget perfection
Yes, throw it away. Don’t think about it at all. How your handwriting looks, how clean your sentences are, how they sound, whether they are clear to understand or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you express yourself.
And, that can’t be cohesive. We are all jumbled up with thoughts, feelings, memories, fears, and hopes. And, when you write, all of this is going to come out, and not in sequence. So, it’s okay to say you’re tired of life and then say that you want ice cream.
The best thing for you to do is be honest when you write. Forget about perfectionism. You’re not journaling to become a writer.
You’re journaling to take care of yourself, give yourself the space to be human, and be free to be however you are. You’re writing for yourself, not anyone else.
2. Be regular
Journaling is like therapy to me. And therapy helps better when you don’t take it only in the most desperate times. When you are taking it step by step, in the good days and the bad days, knowing that it’s not just for disaster management but for a good life overall.
So, journal when you’re distraught, but journal at other times too. I’m not asking you to burden yourself with a strict routine you’re not ready for. But say you choose to journal for 10-15 minutes in the morning 3 days a week.
You can set a reminder for yourself to do that. A self-care journaling app might turn out to be very helpful for you here. For me, having an app has helped me journal regularly for more than 900 days now. Journal in a place where you feel comfortable and will not be disturbed.
3. Trust yourself
I know it’s not easy to have the courage to write what you really feel because it can be really dark, and you can feel guilty about it. For example, I feel guilty when I write that I’m tired of doing everything because I have people relying on me and it feels wrong to not want to do that. But, that’s how I feel!
I can’t lie to myself, it won’t change anything. And, maybe by being honest, I’ll be able to find someplace for myself in my heart, maybe I’ll share some of my load or go easy on myself when it gets difficult.
And, with that, let’s get to the self-care journal prompts!
Self-care Journal Prompts
How are you feeling in this moment? Describe all that you are experiencing within yourself.
What do you need in your life right now?
What is something that you’re grateful for today, and why?
Write down three things that you accomplished this week, no matter how small they may seem.
Write about a song that always comforts you. What do you like about it?
What is something that you did today that made you feel happy or proud?
What is something that you’re struggling with right now, and what steps can you take to address it?
Where do you feel most happy and relaxed?
What is one part of your life that you won’t trade for anything?
Choose 3 people to say thanks today. Write about why you are thankful to them.
What is your idea of a happy life?
List 3 things that help you feel cozy and comfortable.
What is a little thing that you can do to take care of yourself?
Write about one positive change in your life from the last year.
Write a letter to yourself, reflecting on your strengths and the progress you’ve made recently.
Write down three things that you want to prioritize in your self-care routine this month.
What is something that you can do today to show yourself some love and kindness?
Write down five things that you’re looking forward to in the next week or month.
What is something that you’re currently worrying about, and how can you reframe your thoughts to feel more positive and empowered?
What is something that you’re struggling with right now, and how can you show yourself kindness and compassion in this moment?
Write about a time when you felt truly happy and content. What were the circumstances, and how can you recreate that feeling in your life now?
Write a letter to yourself, reflecting on your current emotions and how you’re coping with them. Be kind and compassionate to yourself as you write.
What is something that you’re afraid of or anxious about, and what steps can you take to address those feelings?
Reflect on a recent event or experience that brought up strong emotions for you. Write about what you felt, why you felt it, and what you learned from the experience.
What is something that you’ve been avoiding or putting off, and what is holding you back? How can you take a small step towards addressing it today?
Write down three things that you’re grateful for today, and why you appreciate them.
Reflect on a time when you felt disappointed or let down by yourself or others. Write about what you learned from the experience and how you can use that knowledge moving forward.
What is something that you’re looking forward to in the near future, and why does it bring you joy and excitement?
Reflect on a time when you overcame a difficult challenge, and write down what you learned from the experience.
What is a quality in yourself that has helped you through the years?
Positive Journal Prompts
What is one thing that you can do for yourself today to promote self-care and positivity?
What do you wish other people knew about you?
Given the choice, where would you want to be right now?
List 5 things in your bedroom that you are grateful for.
Write a letter to your future self. What are your hopes for them?
Write down three things that you love about yourself, and why they are important to you.
Reflect on a time when you overcame a challenge or obstacle. What strengths and qualities did you draw upon, and how can you use them moving forward?
Write about a person or experience that brings you joy and positivity. What do you appreciate about them, and how can you cultivate more of that feeling in your life?
What is one small habit or routine that you can incorporate into your daily life to promote self-care and positivity?
Write about a time when you felt proud of yourself or accomplished. What did you do to achieve that feeling, and how can you replicate it in other areas of your life?
Reflect on a time when you gave yourself permission to rest and recharge. How did you feel afterwards, and how can you prioritize rest in your life moving forward?
What is one thing that you can do today to show yourself kindness and compassion?
Write down three things that you are grateful for in your life, and why they bring you positivity and joy.
What is one positive affirmation or mantra that you can repeat to yourself throughout the day to promote positivity and self-care?
Reflective Journal Prompts
Write about a time when you felt truly understood by someone. What did it feel like, and why was that experience important to you?
Write a letter to yourself at a difficult time in your life, offering yourself compassion and understanding. What would you say to yourself now, with the benefit of hindsight and growth?
Describe a place that feels particularly calming or peaceful to you.
Reflect on a time when you felt truly passionate or inspired.
Describe a moment in your life when you felt truly alive or present.
Reflect on a time when you felt a strong sense of purpose or meaning in your life.
Write about a time when you felt truly creative or innovative.
What makes you feel calm?
What makes you feel in control?
What makes you feel powerful?
How do you remind yourself that you’re enough?
How do you calm your nerves in a difficult situation?
When do you feel happiest in your skin?
If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the one thing and the one person you would choose to have with you and why?
If you could relive an experience in your life, what would it be?
What does growing older mean to you?
Do you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction? Why?
What do you love about your mind?
What do you love about your body?
What do you love about your personality?
What are the 5 things that your past self would love about your current self?
What is a challenge that you have overcome?
Self-help and Self-healing Journal Prompts
What’s one feeling that’s been bothering you lately? How can you process and release it?
What dream or desire have you been hesitant to pursue? What’s holding you back, and what steps can you take to move towards it?
What situation has been causing you stress or anxiety? How can you approach it in a way that aligns with your values and needs?
When have you felt truly confident and empowered? How can you channel that energy into your current situation?
When have you felt a strong connection to someone or something outside of yourself? How can you cultivate more of that connection in your life?
When have you felt truly alive or present? How can you tap into that feeling again?
When have you felt misunderstood or invalidated? How can you communicate your feelings and needs in a way that helps others understand you better?
When have you experienced a significant loss or change in your life? What did you learn, and how can you use that knowledge to move forward?
When have you felt truly vulnerable or exposed? How can you use that vulnerability to connect with others in a meaningful way?
When have you felt truly seen and heard by someone else? How can you offer that same level of understanding and validation to others in your life?
When have you felt a sense of shame or guilt? How can you release any negative feelings associated with that situation and move towards a place of healing and forgiveness?
When have you felt a sense of purpose or meaning in your life? How can you use that sense of purpose to guide your decisions and actions moving forward?
When have you felt truly grateful or appreciative? How can you cultivate more gratitude and appreciation in your life?
When have you felt truly creative or innovative? How can you nurture your creativity and innovation in your daily life?
When have you felt a strong sense of empathy or compassion for someone else? How can you cultivate those feelings of empathy and compassion in your daily life?
When have you felt a strong connection to nature? How can you foster that connection in your daily life?
What’s one negative thought or belief you have about yourself? How can you challenge and reframe it in a more positive light?
What’s one activity or practice that always makes you feel better? How can you incorporate it more into your routine?
What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding that you know you need to confront? How can you take the first step towards confronting it?
What’s one thing you appreciate about yourself? How can you celebrate and honor that trait or quality in your life?
Self-awareness Journal Prompts
What are your core values, and how do they guide your daily life and decision-making?
Write about a recent situation in which you felt triggered or reactive. What was the trigger, and how did you react? What can you learn from this experience?
What is your biggest fear, and how does it impact your behavior and decisions?
Write about a time when you acted in a way that wasn’t aligned with your values. What did you learn from the experience, and how can you act differently in the future?
Reflect on a time when you felt most alive and engaged. What were you doing, and why did it bring you so much joy?
Think about a time when you made a mistake. What went wrong? What do you think about it now?
What is one belief or assumption that you hold about yourself or the world, and how does it shape your perspective and behavior?
Write about a goal or aspiration that you have, and why it’s important to you. What steps can you take to work towards that goal?
What is one habit or behavior that you would like to change, and why is it important to you? How can you work towards making that change?
Reflect on a relationship in your life that is important to you. What do you value about that relationship, and how can you nurture it?
Write about a time when you faced a difficult decision. What factors did you consider, and how did you ultimately make the choice?
What is one skill or trait that you admire in others, and why? How can you cultivate that quality in yourself?
Write about a time when you received feedback that was difficult to hear. How did you react, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you felt judged or criticized. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience?
Write about a time when you felt truly authentic and true to yourself. What did that feel like, and how can you cultivate that feeling in your daily life?
What is one thing that you want to prioritize in your life moving forward, and why is it important to you? How can you take steps to make that priority a reality?
And, that’s all! I hope you really enjoy journaling with these prompts. You deserve to care for yourself. I wish you a wonderful time with your thoughts and inner self. Take care!
Gratitude Newsletter
Your free weekly dose of gratefulness 💫Hey grateful people! Happy to see you again 🤗
Hope that you’re all doing very well and living life gratefully.
Here’s your gratitude newsletter:
Affirmations
70 Daily Mantras for Peace and Wisdom
For the first time on this blog, I am making a post on mantras. As an Indian, they are nothing new for me. We’ve chanted mantras since we were children and studied Sanskrit in school.It makes me grateful that the beautiful parts of our culture are leaping beyond oceans and enriching lives all over. In this post, I will share daily mantras that include the Sanskrit mantras and affirmations, as they are mantras too. Let me talk more about this.
What are mantras?
Mantras are ancient spiritual tools that have been used for centuries as a way of focusing the mind and cultivating a positive mindset.The word “mantra” originates from Sanskrit, where “man” means “mind” and “tra” means “instrument” or “tool.”
Mantras are powerful phrases, words, or sounds repeated either silently or aloud to aid in meditation, self-reflection, and personal growth. Mantras distinctly have a strong vibration sound that resonates through the whole body, creating a peaceful and lasting effect…
Learn more about how to practice mantras and find 70 examples here:
70 Daily Mantras for Peace and Wisdom
Wisdom & Self-help Tips
60+ Writing Prompts to Write About Yourself
Writing about yourself can be a very fruitful exercise to help you learn more about yourself. Although it can be difficult sometimes to turn the lens on yourself, it gives us the skill to understand our feelings and reasons.Self-reflection helps us really know what we want, why we want it, and hold our choices firmly because we did the work in building solid ground for them.
Benefits of writing about yourself
Self-awareness: When we write about ourselves, we explore our thoughts outside of the chatter in our minds. It makes them more organized and easier to analyze. It also helps us discover more aspects of our personality.
Stress relief: Being honest about how you feel and your opinions without the fear of judgment from others gives you the space to let loose. Often, I have scribbled my racing thoughts and uncomfortable feelings on paper to then feel more centered and capable.
Clarity: By putting your thoughts into words, you can gain insights, identify patterns, and make connections that might otherwise remain hidden. This clarity can be invaluable when making important decisions or navigating through complex situations.
Choosing your goals: Writing about yourself is also super helpful in finding and cementing what you want. If you keep seeing that there are patterns in your wants in life, it becomes quite certain what you need.
Room for creativity: When you write freely about yourself, it gives you the space to explore ideas and think outside of the box.
Memories of your life: Lastly, I find it really beautiful that I have journal entries written by a younger me that I can read anytime. It helps me reconnect to my childhood and also see how much I have grown. It truly is beautiful.
Find tips for writing and 60+ prompts here:60+ Writing Prompts to Write About Yourself
Inspirational Stories of Gratitude
Lipika’s Story – Miracles do happen
“Hi everyone. My name is Lipika, and I have been struggling with my own thoughts, relationship issues, misunderstandings, and an inability to balance my work and personal life.I was in a long-distance relationship for eight long years, and we barely spoke to each other. However, I was unable to break up with him because I believed that relationships should be repaired, not broken…”
Read Lipika’s full story here:
Lipika’s Story – Miracles do happen
I’ll see you next Monday!With Gratitude,
AarushiI hope you find beautiful moments in life every day 🙂
This collection of W.E. Vine works, by the same author that wrote the famous and best-selling Vine’s Expository Dictionary, brings together other important works that Vine wrote or co-wrote during his lifetime.
W. E. Vine received his BA and MA in Ancient Classics at the University of London in 1906, although the beginning of his writing career is traced to a 1905 correspondence course that he wrote in conjunction with C.F. Hogg, on Galatians and Thessalonians. F. F. Bruce would comment ”These two teachers made an ideal combination. They were basically agreed in their interpretation of the great biblical doctrines, and when Mr. Hogg’s theological penetration and command of felicitous and forceful English were united with Mr. Vine’s special gifts, the result was hard to match. For the student of the English New Testament, these two commentaries will long remain standard works.” Other Vine commentaries are also included in this special collection, including volumes on Hebrews, Isaiah, and Romans & 1 Corinthians.
In addition to the commentaries, this collection contains a number of Vine works that focus on doctrine, issues important to local leaders and missionaries, teaching, and eschatology.
Go Get It!
Learn more about the Bible with this unique collection by clicking the link below!
W.E. Vine Collection (11 Vols.)
Food for the Soul 