Soul Care

“What could you ever trade your soul for?” (Matthew 16:28 MSG)

A friend of mine routinely packed her child’s lunches with nutritious food. Little did she know that her daughter often traded her yogurt and fruits for cookies and candy. This little girl just wanted what tasted good. She didn’t have the wisdom or willpower to care for herself properly. Similarly, God provides us with opportunities for true nourishment, but we often trade it in for junk. We chase after things that make us feel good, because we are unable to discern what our soul really needs.

The soul is nourished by acceptance, authenticity, personal responsibility, autonomy, spiritual discipline, emotional boundaries, healthy relationships, rest, solitude, and self-awareness. However, most of us pursue leisure, entertainment, pleasure, distraction, excitement, or adventure in the hope that these will revive our souls. We conflate relaxation with restoration.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3 ESV)

Lord, lead us to peace and fulfillment. Grant us the wisdom and discipline to care for our souls.  

My Sanctuary

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7 NIV)

The other night, I was having trouble sleeping.  I was anxious about a lot of things. I woke up to some unknown sound around 3 am. My husband was working the overnight shift, so I was alone in bed. I lay awake for hours, with my eyes closed, willing myself to fall back asleep. Wave after wave of negative, fearful, worrisome, pessimistic thoughts filled my head. Finally, around 5 am, I heard the following old hymn in my head:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

The song washed over me like a lullaby. I remembered the story behind this old hymn--how it was written by a man who had faced the death of his children and the loss of his fortune. I realized that whatever happened, even if I lost everything in this world, my essential self is hidden in Christ. I am safely tucked away in His sanctuary where He sings songs of peace over me. God is my guardian, my guide, my healer, and my provider. He has always been there for me. He will continue to be there for me. I can relax. It is well with my soul.

What's Your Major

"They paid no attention to what I said and went about their own business, refusing to be guided or instructed by me." (Jeremiah. 17:23 MSG)

“What’s your major?”

Most college students are used to getting this question from older adults. Many students are unsure of what they are meant to do. They explore various interests and change their majors frequently. They spend a great deal of their energy pursuing current passions and having fun.

What’s your purpose? Who are you meant to be? Why are you here on this earth?

The majority of grown-ups, even in their 40’s and 50’s can’t answer these questions. We act like undergraduates in college, spending our lives chasing after pleasures and distractions. We strive for wealth, power, admiration, and enjoyment. And, because we are consumed by these lesser pursuits,  we have very little time and energy left for our ‘major’--the primary purpose for which we are here.

When we walk away from God’s intended path for us, when we go about our own business, we end up having nothing meaningful to show for our lives. We can spend our years dabbling and wandering, or we can meet with our Advisor and seek His guidance. We have access to the Spirit of Truth who will counsel us if we are willing to pay attention. Only by listening and following God’s directions can we live a life of purpose according to His will.

Lord, call us back when we wander off from Your Purposes. Help us to pay attention to Your guidance and instruction.

Protection from Evil

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV)

When we got a dog, we decided to get a real fence rather than an electric fence. We didn’t want our dog to wander off; neither did we want other dogs to come into our yard and bother her. This high fence has kept her secure from external temptations, but she still gets in plenty of trouble inside the fence. She digs holes, chews on things she shouldn’t, and chases any rabbit that enters through the small gaps.

The prophet Isaiah described God as a barbed wire fence preventing trespass.  God can provide a hedge of protection from external evil. He can also hold us back from wandering off into danger. Yet, what about the evil within us--the false beliefs and crooked impulses? We must rely on God to keep us safe from these too. When we are made aware of our foibles, we have to be willing to change. When we submit to God’s instructions and yield to His discipline, we are protected from wickedness.

Lord, strengthen and protect us against internal and external evil.

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Denial

“Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure.” (John 3:20 MSG)

When I was in college, I bought myself a leather miniskirt. It was perfect for late-night events, and I felt fabulous in it. Over the next decade, I graduated from college, started a career, got married, and had a kid. I also gained and lost 50 pounds.  With all the changes in my life, I had to replace most of my clothes. But, I couldn’t part with the leather skirt. Every so often, I would try it on. It sorta, kinda fit. (I couldn’t snap the top button, but if I wore a long, loose blouse with it, no one would notice.) Plus, who knew? I might need it someday in the future if leather miniskirts came back in style. There was a part of me that knew I was in denial. Even so, I kept it. It stayed on the top shelf of my closet, covered in dust, for about fifteen years. Then one day, as I was cleaning out my closet, I tried the skirt on and looked at myself in a full-length mirror under a bright light. It was time to get real: I was no longer the same person as I was in college. I had grown. My lifestyle had changed. I did not go to places where leather miniskirts were appropriate. The skirt no longer fit either my body or my life. It had to go. I packed it up and took it to Goodwill before I changed my mind.

It is difficult to let go of what was once true but is no longer. When we refuse to recognize or acknowledge that things have changed, when we continue to hang on to relationships that no longer fit, or attempt to belong to social groups that are meaningless--we are in denial. When we cling to old habits that are unproductive just because they are familiar and comfortable, we are just deluding ourselves. It is a good idea to periodically assess your beliefs and see if they are still appropriate. Letting go is always painful, but sometimes necessary. Getting rid of that which no longer fits allows you to make space for new relationships, attitudes, and behavior that can enhance your life.

Lord, may we evaluate ourselves under Your light, relinquish our addiction to denial and illusion, and embrace new truths as You make them evident.

Flattery vs. True Admiration

“A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you.” (Proverbs 29:5 MSG)

Flattery preys upon the vanity of the recipient. It lays a beguiling trap and wheedles people into believing falsities and doing things they would normally not do. Flattery is not benign politeness. It is often a subtle form of manipulation employed by those who consider themselves shrewd.

Flattery is shallow and disingenuous. Deep down, it shows contempt for the intelligence of others. Flatterers have an agenda. They are attempting to influence others by their words. On the other hand, when you hold someone in high regard, you want to be influenced by them; you try to emulate them. True admiration takes devotion and dedication, which neither the charmer nor the sycophant is willing to commit.

“Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.” (Minna Antrim)

Protect Me

“Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.” (Psalm 140:4 NIV)

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, safety is one of the most basic human requirements. We all want to feel physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually safe. When we feel threatened in any of these areas, it becomes difficult to focus our energy on higher levels of development. Thus, we attempt to meet these basic needs by any means necessary. Eventually we figure out how powerless we really are. Life is full of circumstances beyond our control. We can do our part, but the bulk of it is up to God.

Since ancient times, we humans have been praying to God to provide us with our basic, physiological needs of food, water, and shelter. We have also prayed for protection against danger, oppression, diseases, neediness, loneliness, anxiety, and fear. Once we recognize the prevalence and potency of evil, we can’t go on pretending that we can take care of everything on our own. We can see some of the obstacles in our way, but we also realize that there are just as many stumbling blocks that are invisible. We ask God to keep us safe, because we know we can’t. We pray against internal and external evil. We learn to trust God. We find security by hanging on to His promises:

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me.” (Psalm 91:14 MSG)