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Soul Care


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#1 Peter Burgo

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Posted 27 July 2016 - 02:09 PM

For some, soul care means engaging in the the activities, times, places, and postures that help us experience the ongoing, transformative fruits of God's manifest presence. 

 

For others, it involves the painful business of identifying, confronting, and overcoming the wounds from our past that drive the false beliefs, distorted mindsets, and dysfunctional behaviors that keep us from living out our true identities in Christ. 

 

In most cases, it’s both.

 

What does soul care mean to you?


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#2 radar

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Posted 30 July 2016 - 07:45 AM

Hi Peter!

 

After having a double bypass, and a ongoing battle with PTSD from my time in the service of our country, and Bipolar 1, soul care, is the total participation of the mind soul, spirit and body in Christ. I needed to learn how to maintain the Temple of the Holy Spirit, which will allow me with the right meds and bible centric counsel to focus and study to show my self approved unto God, RIGHTLY dividing the WORD OF TRUTH in my life. This also required right diet, exercise and sleep and to recognize that all things must be done in moderation. I thought I could just study and will myself into lawful obedience. I have since learned to live IN CHRIST, as He is The Vine and I am a branch and my life hidden with Christ is now glowing with the Glory of God's Light for all to see!

 

Thank you for posting this thought provoking question. This forum has been cool too long!


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"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."


#3 ADVRider

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Posted 31 July 2016 - 03:53 PM

I think on one side of the question, "the painful business of identifying, confronting, and overcoming the wounds from our past that drive the false beliefs, distorted mindsets, and dysfunctional behaviors that keep us from living out our true identities in Christ," soul care involves and requires trust. Trusting our souls (lives) to the only One who can truly care for it. I think this often involves the Lord lovingly peeling back the layers to get to the soul. Sometimes if feels the opposite of love, but this is where the trust comes in. When we are afraid to bare our soul or take a hard look inside, sometimes God has to show us what's going on. 

 

Then on the other side of the question, and related to the Holy Spirit's work in revealing our need, trust must then lead to submission to the Spirit's leading. Prayer, hunger and being in His presence, etc. are ways of positioning ourselves to care for our soul and cooperate with the process that the Holy Spirit initiates. Like the old hymn, "Trust and Obey." There can be no true obedience without trusting the One who cares. Do we believe He cares? Sometimes it's difficult because our soul is hurting. 


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#4 Peter Burgo

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Posted 09 August 2016 - 08:52 AM

Radar,

 

You bring out some great points. There's a real diversity of opinion when it comes to the scope of soul care. Some define it narrowly--limiting it to the spiritual disciplines that give us access to the riches of Christ's Kingdom. But your view includes elements of emotional and physical health that can also play roles in our ability to receive all God has for us. I lean that way myself, although you may not always observe it in my daily lifestyle. 

 

Paul King wrote a book (and an article) entitled "God's Healing Arsenal" (www.cmalliance.org/alife/gods-healing-arsenal/). Although he writes primarily about physical healing, his admonishment is to not restrict ourselves to one or two select tools in the toolbox, but to use all available means God provides--divinely and humanly--in our quest for healing and wholeness. 

 

I'm sure there are those who would question your inclusion of medication as a potentially helpful tool in the soul-care toolbox. And I'm sure that some have misapplied meds as a magic bullet panacea for chronic anxiety or depression to avoid the painful work of getting to the heart of the issue. But I also believe that in cases of chemical imbalance or severe emotional trauma, these meds--along with some solid biblical counseling--can help people sort out and clarify issues at the heart of the their emotional dysfunction, better enabling them to invite Jesus into their pain and woundedness to do a work of deep healing and restoration.

 

Thoughts anyone?


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#5 Peter Burgo

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Posted 09 August 2016 - 09:11 AM

ADV Rider,

 

You have articulated what I believe to be at the heart of the vast majority of soul care issues. Our reluctance to fully trust God is the greatest barrier to our healing and wholeness. It's the age-old lie from the Garden--that we know better than God what's best for ourselves--that continues to deceive the generations. Because God has ordained free will, He will never force us to trust Him, despite His eternally proven trustworthiness. But can you imagine what the Church would look like if we all trusted Him to have complete reign of our innermost selves? it would be nothing short of full-on revival. We would no longer be paralyzed by fears, anxieties and insecurities. We would joyously accept any assignment and embrace any opportunity He offers. And the impact on the unbelieving world would be incalculable. 


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#6 ADVRider

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Posted 11 August 2016 - 06:49 AM

Peter,

 

I have found what you have; our reluctance to trust God because of our frailty and our fallen state. Adam sewed fig leaves for him and Eve, because there was now a separation and fear. It's interesting to me how we often try to perform for God's approval instead of trusting Him to be the "fixer" of our brokenness. In my experience, there have been times where the Lord had to lovingly box me into a corner where I had to trust Him and cease from my own laboring.


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#7 Tony Davison

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Posted 12 August 2016 - 03:16 AM

How soon we forget this verse, Php_4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. A lot of Christians want to do things to get right with God. They think that Php_4:13 says I can do all things through Me which strengtheneth God. You can do nothing for God other than believe he took your place on the cross.



#8 Surely goodness

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Posted 09 September 2016 - 06:28 PM

I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I........
MY natural (soul , mind & will) self every day must take up the cross. I deny (by the Grace of God) myself that the Spirit may bring forth Christ (in I/you) the Hope of Glory. May His light shine in His body. AMEN THANK YOU,
THANK YOU Jesus my Lord.

#9 Surely goodness

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Posted 09 September 2016 - 06:29 PM

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#10 Ginger

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Posted 15 October 2016 - 05:10 PM

Renewing my mind is the thought that comes this day for soul care.

 

No matter what I may think inevitably my thoughts need some adjusting and it seems that most of the time becoming aware that whatever my thoughts may be there is a need to know what God's thoughts are about whatever is going on with me mentally.

 

Today as I read over the posts and realize how each helps me to look at soul care and to realize that I lack the ability to care for my soul or anything else and that I have to rely on God's caring for my spirit, mind, emotions and physical body.

 

There are things that are beyond my control even though I may make an effort to change the things I can change.  God KNOWS and I can only suppose, then let go and let God be all in all the best that I'm able to at any given moment.

 

Just being aware of God caring for me in spite of whatever I do or fail to do is a comfort at this current moment.

 

Knowing how to truly come to the cross with genuine sincerity is more than my wee brain can comprehend most of the time.

 

Dear Lord, please help each one of us.... for only you KNOW...

 

A Scripture comes to mind: Colossians1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:



#11 Jesus_Lolly

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Posted 19 November 2016 - 11:51 AM

For me, it means different things at different times. For instance, if I've been busy, soul care would include more rest and contemplation concerning the things of God. At present, it means disengaging from permissable things in exchange for choosing the better part. 

 

The world needs engaged Christians, but Christians can falter when we allow the world to "have" us. Instead, Christ must have all of us as we rest and learn at his Feet. Only then, can we minister without losing our souls.