Soul Care

Soul Care: Knowing Who You Are [Part I]
I’ve been a victim of identity theft several times in my life. Each time varied from petty theft of stolen checks and debit card information to a former tenant taking my name for her financial gain. At the time these incidents were stressful but in the bigger scheme they were nuisances—we lost some money and spent time in court. But the real identity theft occurred by abusers who stole my innocence, messed with my mind, beat me and raped my soul. I will spare the details but I became a repeat victim unable to stand up for myself.
Soul Care is vital for us to live a good life. There are tough dark times when we seem to barely survive. Then the good times come and we thrive. But there are so many ups and downs with variations of good and bad in our relationships. It hurts to love and it hurts not to love. We are created to love and be loved…but sometimes it is hard to trust.
1. Soul Care begins with knowing you are loved.
God pursues us…this is the good news. We love because He first loved us. I had a very hard time believing this…in my victim mind I couldn’t reconcile a loving God with abusive relationships. I couldn’t trust anymore yet I was still willing to risk loving. Thankfully God didn’t stop pursuing me and I was finally able to embrace His love.
Soul care is really listening to God as He repeatedly tells us to love ourselves. * Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments. He also said the greatest commandment is to love God and then to love others as you love yourselves—with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
Clearly the essence of God’s character is love. Obedience is the best response to God‘s love. Let’s agree it is good for your soul to love. It is totally great to be loved.
The Bible is filled with examples of God’s far reaching love for us. God is active in His pursuit. He will never let go, never leave you nor forsake you. He will heal our broken hearts and crushed spirits.
One of the worst consequences of being abused was the deep inner soul damage. I could heal physically. I sought help but the scars remain. I failed miserably at caring for myself. I had no boundaries. I became highly sensitive and didn’t stand up for myself. To avoid conflict I became a people pleaser and strived to keep peace at any cost.
I determined there are people you can never trust. First I found real love, inner peace and joy in Jesus. I know I can trust my soul with God. God pursued me and restored my ability to trust and love. I learned through trials, suffering and grief but my love is fuller and richer.
When I opened myself to really receive God I got to know Him. We share a deep abiding relationship. God’s Word teaches me how to love.
I now know that soul care is not … selfish; it is not about being self-absorbed or self-indulgent.
Soul care is compassionate intelligence. When we care for ourselves we make better choices for healthy living and wellness. When you truly love and nurture yourself you can be your best.
2. Soul Care is cherishing who you are— You are His special treasure.
 We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and formed by God’s hands and breath (Genesis 2:7),
 We are accepted and loved. We are redeemed by His one and only Son (Matthew 26:28)
We are adopted into His family…precious daughters of the KING.
 We are secure in His love and our relationship with Jesus Christ.
 We can trust that God will work all things for our good. (Romans 8:28)
 We are free from condemnation. (Romans 8:31-39)
 We are God’s Masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Soul Care is about fully recognizing our value and His special calling.
Think with me of all that God has done to bring you to this very moment in your life. God, in eternity past, chose you…He loves you!
The Bible says that long ago, before the very foundation of the world, God thought you up and chose you for his very own (Eph 1:4).
Long ago, before you were even born, God formed and numbered the days of your life (Ps 139:16).
Long ago God planned the path for your very own personal journey in life (Heb 12:1).
Long ago God decided and prepared good works that you would walk in (Eph 2:10).
 You are chosen and very significant in God’s creation. (John 15)
 You are God’s workmanship—His masterpiece created for good works. (Ephesians 3:12)
 You can be confident that God will complete the good work He started in you. (Philippians 1:6)
 You are complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
He brought you forth into His world and set you on this life journey toward heaven.
Stay focused on the big picture of God’s eternal purposes.
Your calling as a woman–deeply involved in ministry
is a vital part of God’s eternal plan.

I am thankful God pursued me and drew me close to His heart. I am grateful God healed my wounded heart. God gave me a new identity. I am free to love and it is worth any risks. Only God’s love can complete us. Only God’s grace can change us.
May you experience the depth of His love
& truly love yourself as God loves you!
***
“And you shall LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
With all your HEART,
And with all your SOUL,
And with all your MIND,
And with all your STRENGTH.’

The second is this, ‘You shall LOVE your neighbor as you LOVE yourself.”

There is no other commandment greater than these.“

Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:28 & John 13-14-15; 1 John
Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:13; 13:2; Joshua 22:5

OVERCOME by Renewing Your Mind

Romans 12:2

I need victory over my thoughts every day…I wake up and know immediately I am empty. Sometimes I get a great start and then boom! I am bombarded with bad news or stressors. I fight the battle of allowing circumstances or people to drain my energy and take away my power. I don’t want to let fears or worries entangle me. Most of the time, it isn’t even about me—it is about precious people I love—their pain and struggles. Or it is broken people behaving immaturely or spewing their emotional trash.

Do you have problems controlling your thoughts? Perhaps you struggle with negative, ungodly thoughts. It is vital not to carry the burdens, nor to give in to the suffering in this world. What you think determines where you end up in life, so it’s vital that you learn to master your mind. But how do you overcome the hurts in this life?

Time after time, I have to learn to be content by allowing God to “transform my focus.” I know I need “to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 If I give in to my troubles then I am even weaker. If I choose to focus on God’s mercy and power then I gain strength. If I ask for wisdom He is more than willing to give it to me generously.

So I pray with my gut-wrenching cries…Lord help me—God have mercy on us! Especially when we feel abandoned and the difficulties seem to multiply. Father I know you are present…let my dear friend experience your love, your compassion and your love. Give us wisdom to make the best choices.

Oh Lord grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
the courage to change the things we can and your wisdom to know the difference.

Hear our prayers and more importantly open our minds that we may hear your answers.

How many times have I patiently listened, counseled or coached someone who needed to vent but who really needed to receive God’s gracious favor. What can you say or do when someone is unable to experience God? All I know to do is to intercede and pray for them. All I know is to remember WHO God is and what He has done for all of us.

There is great power in listening to God through His WORD. When the hidden scripts of the past or the insidious lies creep in it is time to stop and transform your focus. First you have to come to an awareness of what you are proclaiming. Is it truth? Or is it an accusation, condemnation or a lie? Do you know the truth? Can you change the circumstances? Possibly or maybe not; but you can change your thought patterns. If it is a conviction from God’s Spirit then pay attention. Admit your weakness, confess your bad attitude or your transgression. Do you need to forgive or be forgiven? Do you need to release you anger and guard your reactions? Do you need to let go of your self-pity and loathing? Stop blaming and take personal responsibility in God’s strength.

If you’ve done something wrong, the key is to turn away from the temptation and by God’s grace do whatever it takes to make it right. Let us turn to the Bible which clearly reveals the vital importance of allowing God to control our thoughts and to transform our focus.

This is a spiritual exercise that I have used to renew my mind:

1.  “Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-10

2. Be aware of your “Mistaken Thinking”: deceptions, lies, hidden messages, life scripts

“You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

3. Search God’s Word for TRUTH: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17

4. Identify the Stronghold: What is keeping you from trusting God, confess the lie, repent and turn away from whatever it is…

5. The TRUTH: what does God’s Word say regarding this…what is the truth?
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.  We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Example: Why should I fear days of adversity or times of trouble?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1-3

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. Psalm 145:18-20

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:9-11

Your turn: What “stinkin thinkin” is holding you captive?
Let God renew your mind with His truth…

As the Holy Spirit empowers us… we can set our minds on the things above, not on the things of this earth. Colossians 3:1-3 To have the mind of Christ means that we share His values and begin to think like Him 2 Corinthians 2:16 We can be renewed in the likeness of God as we hold our mind captive to His Word and surrender our will over to God.

We must prepare by being alert

“Sow a thought, reap an action;

 Sow an action, reap a habit;

Sow a habit, reap a destiny.”

1 Peter 1:13

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