Most of us grow up not knowing how to care for ourselves in healthy ways. In addition to the gaps and deficits we bring to the table, our souls were not created to live and move at the pace of life which those in the modernized world view as normal.
Let Your Soul Catch Up
I read an account of a Western woman on a mission to get from point A to point B at the typical, frenzied pace – in Africa. Her African attendants who carried the luggage stopped somewhere along the trail, though she remained anxious to continue speedily to the destination. When queried why they stopped, they responded, “To let our souls catch up.”
Heavenly Father is concerned not only about our spiritual state, but also about the state of our soul.
Watching Over Your Soul
Jesus perfectly showcased who Father is. In His time on earth, Jesus made it a priority to leave the people and pressure, and personally refill in private with Heavenly Father. Further, Jesus watched over the souls of His team. On more than one occasion, noting that the demands of ministry were high and their cups were running low, Jesus took His team to private places to refuel their souls.
Our souls move at a slower pace than what modernized life permits. It does not stop. So, we have to stop.
It needs to be noted here that often children are given medicines to “fit” them into classroom or activity settings. Yes, they may have nutrition or focus gaps that need to be addressed. However, by Heavenly Father’s design, children’s souls are meant to explore and move and have curiosity – it is part of their healthy growth. Most classrooms do not facilitate this. Recognizing the God-given design of your soul and your children’s helps make good decisions for their education.
Purposefully Fill Your Soul
Our souls are meant to be filled. They need love and attention, and to be filled with goodness. If they are not cared for in healthy ways, they are at risk of filling in ways that are harmful or sinful.
News flash: Ministry is not soul care. Ministry fills you up, but not in the way that replenishes your soul. Jesus even modeled that by taking His team away from ministry in order to care for the needs of their souls.
In some life seasons, caring for your soul is easier.
Other life seasons (such as raising young children or caring for elderly parents or health or financial trying times) make it more difficult to care for your soul. Intentional investment is needed, even here.
Fill your soul with goodness. What is goodness to you? Baking something new? Painting? Building? Hiking? Photography?
Depending on the season of life you’re in, that may be to lie down or sit in a comfy place and look at a beautiful picture — and remember the experience of it, and thank Heavenly Father. Acknowledging Father’s presence and investment in the goodness you experienced (every good gift is from Father, James 1:17) elevates your soul care into spiritual communion with Father – which is His design and hope for you. Soul care with Father increases exponentially the health and replenishment of your soul!
If you have more energy resources, do something outside in nature. Listen to birds. Plant some veggies or flowers. Walk. Breathe. Engage in Creation with Heavenly Father!
What would we have done if David had not “remembered” his moments with Father? We would not have the Psalms, and we’d be missing lots of assurance and comfort and vindication and instruction from Heavenly Father. And so will you, if you do not take the time to “remember” – the goodness that He graciously gave you to be filled with!
Find what is good, what replenishes your soul, and allow yourself some time weekly to do it!
Then. . .remember it – with thanks!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Hope Streams
Featured Image by Fa Barboza on Unsplash
The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.
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