Soul Care
Have you ever found yourself caring for the needs of others and in turn neglecting your soul? Before long, you end up weary and burned out. There is a you that exists beyond any role, any relationship, any job, any success, and any failure. You are a unique creation, made in the image of God and He created you for a soul-to-soul connection.
You’re a soul made by God, made for God, and made to need God, which means you were not made to be self-sufficient.
Dallas Willard
In the Greek, the word for “soul” is “psyche”, which encompasses the mind, will, and emotions. In some English Bible translations, the word “soul” can be referred to as “my whole being”.
What is Soul Care?
Soul care: Cultivating healthy thought patterns and taking inventory of emotions so that you can live freely with God and form meaningful relationships with others.
Angela Howard
Accordingly, if your soul is not healthy, your mental, emotional, and relational health will suffer. Your soul is a reflection of the image of God, as He has thoughts, emotions, and a will. Your soul can also relate, interact, and connect with other souls. Without a healthy soul, none of us can function well.
A Healthy Soul
At the same time, soul care is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to produce holiness—your sanctification—so that you live a holistic and healthy lifestyle that brings glory to God. If your soul is not well taken care of, you will experience the opposite of life. If you do not have a healthy soul, then you will also struggle in your relationship with God. Your soul is what communicates with God.
5 Ways to Care for Your Soul
1. Love The Lord
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
The greatest commandment includes the three aspects of a person:
The Heart (part of the spirit)
The Soul (mind, will and emotions)
Your Might (strength of the body)
It is vital to take care of each part so that you can love the Lord with your whole being.
In reality, there are times where loving God can be hard, especially if you have experienced trauma that has caused you to distrust not only people but God. There’s no shame in that. God promises that He heals the brokenhearted and bind up our wounds.
This may happen all at once—miraculously. I prefer this option, don’t you? From time-to-time healing happens as you change the way you think, through counseling, meditating on God’s word, and walking in community with others.
2. Obey God
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Although you will never be perfect, soul care is also done through obedience to God’s word. As you surrender your life to God, you start seeing that His ways are above your ways. That doesn’t mean that you deny your feelings of frustration, anger, and fear. As you read through the Psalms you will find that David makes it obvious that it’s okay, not to be okay. It’s okay to express your feelings to God, and still choose to obey.
3. Rest in His Presence
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Psalm 19:7a
Resting in the Lord brings restoration and refreshment to your soul. Dallas Willard wrote that:
Taking a nap may be the most spiritual thing you can do.
Dallas Willard
You can’t rest if you are constantly in a hurry, yet the world around you clamors for your attention. Be busy. Be productive. Be accomplished. The focus seems to be on what you do, rather than who you become. Remember, you take your soul into eternity. It matters more than you realize.
4. Prayer
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 25:1
What does it mean to lift up my soul? It sounds so poetic, and maybe a little removed from the idea of prayer. At the same time, it can be very simple. It’s turning toward God, and embracing your need of Him. It’s acknowledging His never-changing character. It’s lifting your worries and fears to God, knowing that He cares deeply for your pain.
Reflection Questions:
- How are you loving God with your whole being?
- What are you doing today to obey the Lord with your soul?
- What brings rest to your soul?
- How are you connecting soul-to-soul with God?
Recommended Reading and Resources
About the Author: angelahoward
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