“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Four activities to care for your soul during this season:
1 Pray (Talk to God)
Tend to the garden of your soul by praying. Participate in prayer as you consider the difficulties you are personally facing, as well as the difficulties others around you are journeying through. Don’t let the needs be bottled up but pour them out before the Lord.
The Bible App, Unite 714, as well as other resources have strategic prayers to pray during this season. Keep a personal journal of prayer needs you are praying. This will help keep the needs of others in front of you.
In my daily prayer liturgy I have a portions of prayer entitled: Family, Intercession (others needs), and Sitting with Jesus (personal problems or obstacles I’m facing). In each instance I’m taking needs to the ultimate Source of life, wisdom, and supernatural power.
2 Silence and Solitude (Listen to God)
Peace partners with stillness. If you want more peace be still more often. Anxieties often shroud themselves in busyness. Productivity can be a great deception for the soul. Don’t believe the lie that busyness = more peace. I often fall into the trap that peace is just on the other side of this or that errand, to do list, project, or ministry proposition. No. The truth is peace is available right here and right now. It is the by product of my stillness and resting before God. It’s in that place that He can whisper to my soul the words of eternal life that transform the world around me.
Just this morning before our house was awake the Lord could find me. I was quiet, reflective and still. He was able to whisper a couple statements that were timely for my heart to hear. Do you have a place and a designated time where you sit still? Don’t let your quiet life before God be overwhelmed with books, posts, Bible plans, or spiritual activity. Enjoy those but also make sure you sit still with no screens, books or ear buds. I can find that instead of stillness I begin consuming material and my mind begins racing in other directions. There is something Holy to quieting oneself entirely and receiving the peace of God.
3 Worship (Sing to God)
There is nothing like pointing our affection, emotion, and voice towards God Almighty. I love worship. Take a couple moments each day to let gratitude rise up. Lift your hands. Kneel down. Sing out loud. Worship is a gift from God. It always reinforces my allegiance to Christ and strengthens my resolve in and through the trials, tribulations, and tests of life.
Paul and Silas began singing hymns while they were in prison in Philippi. They chose worship. They chose joy over their circumstances. Worship is a choice. Chances are, like me in moments, you’ve made circumstances large and the power of God little. Worship reverses our idolatry and leads us back to the Throne of God. He is all powerful, always present, and full knowledgeable of what we are walking through. The right songs lead our hearts to the right perspective. Worship matters. Worship is critical in these days we live. Take a few moments each day to worship.
4 Scripture (Growing in God)
Scripture is the greatest source to grow in our knowledge, experience and love of God. It is the glorious unfolding of God’s Story and reveals to us the Word (Jesus Christ). Take moments each day to spend time in Scripture. Read the Gospels. Discover the revealing of God through the Old Testament. Encourage your soul through the Psalms. Develop a mind of wisdom through the Proverbs. I cannot emphasize more the reading of Scripture.
Be wary of only reading Bible Plans or Devotional Books. Those are wonderful resources! I utilize them. But, also couple those books with your own personal study and reading. Scripture unlocks the doors to a greater knowledge of God. This is a season to discover the goodness and greatness of God.
I had fun writing this and hope it helps lead your soul in four healthy directions today, and in this season.
Sincerely
Paul Deary 