Soul Care 101 Series

Soul Care: 101

Thesis: The care of the soul is as important as taking care of our bodies physically. Our success spiritually this year is directly related to the health of our souls. Your soul is your inner life which manages your will, mind and body and impacts your spirit because it is linked to it.

Quote: John Orberg states this about our souls: “If your soul is healthy, no external circumstance can destroy your life. If your soul is unhealthy, no external circumstance can redeem your life (Pg 40, Soul Keeping).

Scriptures:

Jesus said in Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37: “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Introduction:

Jesus emphasized the importance of your soul not just in eternity but it’s health in the here and now! Your success spiritually this year depends on the condition of your soul! Your soul is linked to your spirit and will impact your spirit if the soul is unhealthy. Yes, there is a link a connection between your spirit and your soul.

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart!”

The Word of God – by the way the Bible says Jesus is the “Word” – is active in your life and it knows the condition of your soul and it’s healthy or unhealthy connection to the spiritual realm of your life.

Definition of the Soul:

You could ask the question: "What is the soul?" How does the Bible describe our souls? What does the Bible say about our souls?

John Ortberg describes it this way, “We each have an outer life and an inner one. My outer self is the public, visible me. My accomplishments, my work, and my reputation lie there. But inside is my soul that part of me that speaks in silence to others but yells at me. It's the inside stuff of real life - what is your soul saying to you - how is your soul? (Is it connected to the breath of life the spirit or is it deflated by the things of this world and self?)… My inner life is where my secret thoughts and hopes and wishes live. Because my inner life is invisible, it is easy to neglect. No one has direct access to it, so it wins no applause (John Ortberg – Soul Keeping page 37-38).”

The Soul is also defined this way – “The soul is the immaterial part of a human being that can respond to other people. In Greek the word for “soul” is psyche from which we get the word psychology. The soul involves the mind and emotions. It gives us the capacity to relate to others and to form bonds (both physical and spiritually). It is our souls that respond to beauty and high ideals (spiritual concepts). People with healthy souls are capable of forming meaningful relationships, and people with unhealthy souls find it more difficult. Soul care is the attention given to healing a wounded soul or maintaining a healthy soul. In a Christian context, soul care is often linked to finding help to overcome temptations, fight addictions, and have peace (and a connection) with God. From What is soul care? What is care of the soul? | GotQuestions.org

Hebrews or the OT look at the soul this way: “In the Hebrew mind we are composed of multiple parts. The body is the flesh and bones, the vessel. The organs are viewed as the seats of thought (the heart), emotion (the kidneys), intuition (gut), etc. The breath is one’s character, what makes a person who they are. The soul is the whole of the person, the unity of the body, organs and breath (spirit). It is not some immaterial spiritual entity, it is you, all of you, your whole being or self.” Hebrew Word Definition: Soul | AHRC (ancient-hebrew.org)

How is that inner soul of yours doing – is it thriving and growing today or wilting and dying? Are you feeding your soul or starving it? Will you soul thrive this year or die more this year? Do you have soul fatigue?

John Ortberg highlights the indicators of soul-fatigue:

1. Things seem to bother you more than they should. Your spouse’s gum chewing suddenly reveals to your massive character flaw.

2. It’s hard to make up your mind about even a simple decision.

3. Impulses to eat or drink or spend or crave are harder to resist than they otherwise would be.