Ingredients of a Healthy Soul

June/05/2017 17:07

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You may have seen the illustration before. I first saw Pastor Scott Wilson share it in the mid 90’s. It is basically about priorities. If you put the golf balls in the container first then the rice (or rocks) everything fits in the container. However, if you put the rice in first then try to fit all the balls in, everything won’t fit. It is an incredible illustration about priorities and how putting first things first makes for a more functional life and ensures everything fits in the right place.

We all want a healthy soul. We all want to be stable mentally and emotionally. When leading people through crisis of the soul: discouragement, depression, anxiety, rejection, despair, there is always a question I ask them. “How is your relationship with Jesus, how much time are you spending with Jesus on a daily basis?” I would say 9 out of 10 times the answer is the same. “Not as good as it should be.” Usually it means there is little to no consistency in their devotional life. It’s my view that most of the internal struggles we have in our life can be solved by living well connected to Jesus.

I want to share with you 4 things that if they are prioritized in your life, will keep or get your soul healthy. We hate formulas, and I know its seems like a formula, so look at these as ingredients for a healthy soul. These are the golf balls that need to in place for you to have health in your soul.

4 Ingredients of a Healthy Soul
#1. Daily time in word of God.
The word of God is the foundation of every believer. It is where we learn about God’s character, nature, and desire for us and towards us. Saturating ourself in the word of God renews our mind (Heb 12:1). We will never be able to think the way God desires for us to think unless we develop a devotion to God’s word. The word builds our faith and gives life! It is our guidebook for wisdom and living out the Christian life. A relationship with the word of God is essential in the sustainability of our soul.

#2. A daily prayer life.
The early church was empowered by their prayer life and they saw miracles daily. What would happen if we spent as much time talking to God about the things we are thinking about as we did discussing, complaining or even researching them? Prayer is a conversation and a transaction where we talk to God about the matters of our heart, we receive peace, and find resolve in our heart.

There are some things, even things that are the will of God, that we will not receive simply because we don't pray and ask God for.(Matt 7:7-12)

We can pray prayers of thanks, prayers of worship, prayers of supplication (request). Sometimes prayer is even just a time to sit before our heavenly Father and rest in His presence.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7

#3. Community with other believers.
Sometimes what you need in your life is found in the package of another person. God never intended us to live life alone. In fact, the first thing God said that was not good was that man is alone(Genesis 2:18). We need community! Sometimes our soul is empty simply because we don't have the right relationships in our life. I am not talking about just having friends, but true fellowship with people that are on a similar journey in their pursuit of Jesus. This is one of the reasons faithfulness to a local church is so important.

Acts 2:42-44 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

#4. Christian Service.
As we build our spiritual devotion we will fuel the engine of our heart. If we do not have an exhaust system we can implode. The last thing we need is spiritual constipation. Serve at your church, serve at a community event, a homeless shelter, share the gospel with a friend or a coworker. Invest emotionally, physically, and economically to something bigger than yourself. Sometimes the reason we don't reap emotionally is because we have not invested in the lives of others. This is crucial in having a healthy soul.

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Dear friend,
I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you,
even as your soul is getting along well.
3 John 1:2

Reflections

Ingredients of a Healthy Soul