Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Thus says the LORD: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16

Most of us, when driving on a country road, have pulled up to a crossroads only to find ourselves questioning whether we should turn left or right. Now imagine you are at a spiritual crossroads. If you “ask for the ancient paths” you will find yourself on God’s way and by taking this path, you go through both green pastures and dark valleys. However, on this path you are assured of God’s companionship on the journey. The other road might look attractive but you would travel without God’s presence on the journey. It will be a road that takes you where you never intended to go.

Mark Matson invited me to join him last week on the Mid-Day Prayer & Worship to talk about Soul Care. A concept new to some, but one that is as old as the ancient paths. Jesus recognized that all of us will eventually come to the same crossroads where life’s difficulties present us a choice of trying either this or that way. What is Soul Care? The definition I have come to appreciate and relate too is of “an adventure of learning to care for your soul for the sake of others.” Our soul is really who we are as a person, our identity and passions.  David Hansen writes of the soul that, “the soul is more like a river than a street, more like a forest than a city, more like a wild trout than a laboratory rat.” Hansen’s imageries are ones of adventure, freedom and uniqueness as made in God’s image.

So, what is a person worth? In terms of chemicals we are 99% composed of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus – valued at about $100. Worthless unless you remember that the body is simply an address for the soul to reside. Jesus totally redefined the beauty and dignity of the soul to those he encountered.

The dignity of the soul is found in that we are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), valued to the point that every hair is counted (Matthew 10:30) and so loved that he gave up His only Son (John 3:16). “When human beings are devalued, everything in society turns sour. Women are humiliated and children despised. The sick are regarded as a nuisance, and the elderly as a burden. Ethnic minorities are discriminated against. The poor are oppressed and denied social justice…labor is exploited in the mines and factories. There is no freedom, no dignity, no carefree joy. Human life seems not worth living because it is scarcely human any longer…people matter…because every man, woman, and child has worth and significance as a human being made in God’s image and likeness.” (John Stott)

To care for our souls for the sake of others requires time – space – community. Jesus understood well the need for time-space-community. When asked which commandment is the greatest, “He said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37)

Soul care will require time with God where you can be alone and listening. Soul care will require setting aside a place that becomes your sacred place of worship and reflection. Soul care will require community, a group of believers who speak into your life.

Caring for your soul allows you to care for others, nurture someone, become a trusted listener and to pray deeply. Soul care is a rhythm where “as we comfort and teach and encourage, we will be comforted, taught and encouraged in turn.”

Jesus offers the invitation for us to walk the ancient paths to care for our souls for the sake of others. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn