Do you structure your life around good soul-care?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Do you structure your life around good soul-care?

In yesterday’s devotional we thought about the importance of soul-care as a means of selfcare. We also came to understand that the soul serves as an interface between our physical body and our spirit. The soul is the seat of our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and even our subconscious mind, and it has a direct and powerful impact on both our body and our spirit. If it is well with your soul everything else about you will be better too because your soul is healthy.

Taking good care of the soul is a matter of good discipleship. It’s a matter of developing a close relationship with Jesus and then caring for and nurturing that relationship every day. This is not about following a bunch of religious rules, or going through the motions of religious rituals, or saying lots of religious-sounding things. That’s religion not relationship. Discipleship is about developing a close relationship with Jesus. It’s about knowing Him well, following Him closely, and becoming progressively more-and-more like Him.

John Eldredge once wrote, “You might recall the old proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The same holds true here. Teach a man a rule and you help him solve a problem; teach a man to walk with God and you help him solve the rest of his life… Only by walking with God can you hope to find the path that leads to life. That is what it means to be a disciple.”

Soul-care is not something most people structure their lives around. If they pay attention to it at all, it’s mostly hit-or-miss. Maybe semi-regular attendance at a worship service; perhaps a quick prayer sent in the direction of heaven as you’re running out the door in the morning; maybe even a quick dip into your Bible from time-to-time. If a healthy soul is your desire then hit-or-miss discipleship won’t suffice. You need your soul to be healthy and strong not weak and weary, but you will have to be intentional about making it healthy.

What things feed your soul? Certainly prayer, deep Bible study, worship, fellowship with other Christians, and the other basic disciplines of practicing the Christian faith. For me it’s those things as well as good music, nature, beauty, sufficient sleep, exercise, a good book. Things that don’t help (and actually hurt your soul) are negative people, too much news, social media, worrying about things I can’t control, and anything that drains you emotionally.

Remember the rule of thumb, “Reject that which drains you; embrace that which gives life.” Apply that principle to an intentional routine of good soul-care and it will make everything else in your life better.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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