There's very little mention about the soul in contemporary Christian contexts, and much less teaching about the soul as an essential part of our lives from the pulpit in churches today. Many Christians today are unaware or unconcerned about the state of their own souls, because we have not been taught to acknowledge our souls. And I am not referring to the salvation of one's soul, or whether one's soul has eternal life for knowing Christ.
The Hebrew word "nephesh" that is translated as "soul" in the Old Testament refers to the inner, living being of a man, and it speaks of the very essence of a person. "Nephesh" is also translated as desire or passion; it is the driving force that motivates one in a specific direction.
I have taught in Christian ministry for years on the topic of "Spirit, Soul and Flesh", and I used to define the Soul merely as one's mind, emotions and volition that somehow need to be silenced when we seek to live the New Covenant life "in the spirit". Moreover, in my missionary circles, the concept of "dying to self" is prevalent, and I too used to think that my own thoughts, emotions and desires need to be diminished if I were to be a Christ-follower.
However, as the Lord brought me on a deeper spiritual journey over the years, I have learned to pay attention to my thoughts, emotions and will, because God often speaks by planting a thought or desire in me. Learning to discern the movement of the Spirit in my daily life has now become my spiritual journey of learning to live each day in Trinitarian fellowship with Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Walking in the spirit does not necessarily mean I dismiss my own thoughts, emotions and desires, but rather that I learn to do life abiding in Christ, and that I live every waking moment practising the presence of God, and being aware of how God is at work in and through my thoughts, feelings and longings.
What is really going on in the depths of my soul, my heart and my being? When we do not acknowledge the soul, we do not hear the cries of the soul. Jesus heard the cries of wearied humanity in Matthew 9:36, and He had compassion on them, because they were harassed, like sheep without a shepherd.
Augustine (early church father, A.D.354 - 430) wrote: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus invites us who are weary to be yoked with Him, and to learn of Him, so we find rest for our souls. Jesus knew that the weariness and restlessness in the human heart were signs of a soul not rooted in God.
How are you doing? How is your soul today? Feeling stressed, burdened or overwhelmed with life? What is God inviting you into today? Consider Psalm 23 (here in the Passion Translation), and ponder how God may be drawing you:
1 Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd.
I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.
He opens before me the right path
and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness
so that I can bring honour to his name.
4 Even when your path takes me through
the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
Your authority is my strength and my peace.
The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
5 You become my delicious feast
even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;
you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows.
6 So why would I fear the future?
Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!
(Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.)
What stirs your heart when you read the words of this psalm? Do you hear the gentle and inviting voice of the Spirit?
I hear several invitations of the Spirit to those of us who love the Lord and long for a deeper spirituality. This psalm calls us to a life of being lovingly led by the Good Shepherd:
a life of security that finds its resting place in the love of God;
a life of restoration and renewal - when life's demands drain us, God restores our well-being;
a life of discernment - being led (not driven) on the right paths and navigating transitions with the Lord in a way that brings Him honour;
a life without fear even when we go through the "valley seasons", because God's presence and authority brings strength and peace;
a life of abundance and anointing when we know we are not alone, but filled with the Holy Spirit, and living out of the overflow of God's presence in our lives;
a life where there is no fear of the future, because we know we live in the goodness and love of God.
Such is the Psalm 23 life that God has called each one of us to live! Hence the importance of soul care in empowering us to journey deeper with the Shepherd of our Souls, and to know our beloved-ness to God. Spiritual direction is a soul care ministry that helps us deepen our spiritual journeys and discern the promptings of the Spirit in our lives.
By learning to acknowledge our souls and paying attention to our souls' cries, longings, stirrings and desires, we learn to live each day in deep awareness of God being present to us, and in response, we bring our fragmented lives into His loving presence, and it is there that we find true rest for our souls.
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