Loving God with My Soul

In Psalm 42:1 I read, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (NIV)

Mark 12:30 reminds me “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (NLT).

While all love God in all four of these ways, each of us tends more naturally toward one than the others. God has shaped me primarily to be a talker, a feeler, a thinker, or a doer. Talkers most easily love God with their hearts. Feelers love God with their souls. Thinkers love God with their minds. Doers love God with their strength.

Today I’ll focus on the feelers, those who are strongest at loving God with all their soul.

The world can’t get by just on communication from talkers, consideration from thinkers, and contribution from doers. It also needs the compassion of the feelers who love God best with their souls.

The word “soul” is used many different ways in the Bible. But most of the time, it’s used as a synonym for emotions, as seen in the Psalms.

Psalm 42:1 says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (NIV).

Every emotion known to humanity is in Scripture. The Bible talks about souls that are downcast, disturbed, satisfied, yearning, troubled, forlorn, joyful, bitter, thirsty, hungry, rejoicing, and delighted. Can you hear the passion in those words? Soul people feel their emotions.

God also feels emotions. He gets angry, happy, sad, and everything in-between. I have emotions because I was made in God’s image.

God is passionate, and feelers represent that part of him in the world. They care deeply about issues, about people, and about knowing God. They can empathize with other people’s pain and problems.

They’re great examples of Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (NLT).

Feelers offer God’s compassion to the world. But, just like every other personality, they have their weaknesses. Feelers tend to be manipulated by their moods. Instead, they need to let God lead them.

The Bible says, “Let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature” (Galatians 5:16 NLT).

When feelers are led by God’s Spirit, they still have feelings, but they’re not controlled by them. They let God’s Spirit lead them in deciding which feelings to follow and which to resist.

If I’m a feeler, be a Spirit-led one. Let God guide me to share with the world the passions he’s given me.

In summary, my soul pants for you, my God.” I am to love the Lord your God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.” Each of us tends more naturally toward one of these than the others. God has shaped me primarily to be either a talker, a feeler, a thinker, or a doer. Talkers most easily love God with their hearts. Feelers love God with their souls. Thinkers love God with their minds. Doers love God with their strength. The world can’t get by just on communication from talkers, consideration from thinkers, and contribution from doers. It also needs the compassion of the feelers who love God best with their souls. The word “soul” is used as a synonym for emotions, Soul people feel their emotions. God also feels emotions. I have emotions because I was made in God’s image. God is passionate, and feelers represent that part of him in the world. They care deeply about issues, about people, and about knowing God. They can empathize with other people’s pain and problems. Feelers offer God’s compassion to the world. Feelers tend to be manipulated by their moods. Instead, they need to let God lead them. When feelers are led by God’s Spirit, they still have feelings, but they’re not controlled by them. They let God’s Spirit lead them in deciding which feelings to follow and which to resist. So let God guide me to share with the world the passions he’s given me.

As the life of a deer depends upon water, so my life depends upon God. As I seek and long to understand him, I will find a never-ending life. When I feel lonely or depressed, I can meditate on God's kindness and love.

Father, I need you. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can believe in, have faith and to trust you in everything including being the authority for my life, my self-worth and my future. You have my best interests in mind. Help me to embrace the way you’ve made, gifted and given me a passion for. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. I ask you for wisdom and guidance in this and for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparation for a future job role and for leading a small group. I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Step Three in Crisis: Pour Your Heart Out to God

As I look at Daniel 9:3 this morning I read,  “I poured out my heart, baring my soul to GOD.” (The Message)

Daniel poured out his heart and confessed his own sin. In times of adversity, it's easy to blame others and excuse my own actions. So, instead of looking for others to blame, first examine myself and confess my own sins to God.

Over the last two days, I’ve learned that I must let God speak to me before I speak to him and focus my attention on God and seek him. The next thing is to express my desires with passion.

Many of my prayers are simply cut and dried. I speak without really thinking about what I’m saying. I have the words memorized. There’s no passion or authenticity. The truth is, God cares more about the passionate sincerity of my prayers than the words I use. Think about how the right words with the wrong emotions won’t work with my spouse. That won’t work with God, either.

Daniel described his passionate prayer in Daniel 9:3: “I prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him” (GNT). The word “pleading” in Hebrew means to “ask with emotions.” It’s a serious pursuit. It’s searching with all my heart. It’s begging. That’s a prayer God will listen to and answer.

Perhaps I need to pray like that for my family, my work and my life. I need to pour my heart out and bare my soul to God. I need to do that about the world around me. The whole globe is in crisis. And beyond the coronavirus pandemic, I can see things like the devastation of war, famine, and evil. I need to learn to pour out my heart to God about it.

In summary, Daniel poured out his heart and confessed his own sin. It's easy to blame others and excuse my actions. Instead of looking for others to blame, first I need to examine myself and confess my own sins. Over the last two days, I’ve learned that I must let God speak to me before I speak to him and focus my attention on God and seek him. The next thing is to express my desires with passion. Many of my prayers are simply cut and dried. I speak without really thinking, There’s no passion or authenticity. The truth is, God cares more about the passionate sincerity of my prayers than the words I use. In Daniel’s passionate prayer he prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him. The word “pleading” in Hebrew means to “ask with emotions. Perhaps I need to start praying like that for my family, my work and my life. I need to pour my heart out and bare my soul to God. I need to learn to pour out my heart to God about it.

Father I confess that at times my prayers are cut and dry, without passion. With your Holy Spirit’s help, I want to be more passionate in what I ask. I start this morning with a passionate prayer about a future job for me where I can help, be of assistance and not have as many political issues or lack of concern about myself and my team. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my career, my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. I pray for a good interview this afternoon, where I can be relaxed and just chat naturally about my skills, desires, passions and help how I can be of assistance. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.

Doing Something about What Disturbs Me

In review of Esther 4:4 I read, “When Esther’s servant women and eunuchs told her what Mordecai was doing, she was deeply disturbed.” (GNT)

If I am to discover my destiny, the first step is to figure out how God has gifted me. Then, I have to identify the needs that stir my heart. What is it that upsets me? What causes me to think, “Somebody ought to do something about that”? What bothers me so much that it moves me to action?

Whatever it is, that is the key to my destiny.

Esther’s servants told her that her uncle, Mordecai, was publicly mourning because of Haman’s plot and the king’s decree to kill all the Jews. When she heard what Mordecai was doing, it deeply disturbed her. She probably thought that a lot of people would die unless she did something.

Is there anything that disturbs me, or is my life so insulated that nothing makes me say, “Somebody ought to do something about that”?

Isaiah 58:6-11 gives 10 amazing promises to those who act on injustice. God promises that his favor will shine on me, my wounds will be healed, he will always be with me, he will save and protect me, he will answer my prayers, he will turn darkness to light, he will guide me, he will satisfy me with good things, and he will keep me strong and well.

All of those promises are built on being generous with people less fortunate because God wants us to learn generosity.

In summary when told what Mordecai was doing, Esther was deeply disturbed.To discover my destiny, the first step is to figure out how God has gifted me. Then, identify the needs that stir my heart. What causes me to think, “Somebody ought to do something about that”? What moves me to action? Whatever it is, that is the key to my destiny. Is my life so insulated that nothing makes me say, “Somebody ought to do something about that”? Isaiah 58:6-11 provides 10 amazing promises to those who act on injustice. God promises that his favor will shine on me, my wounds will be healed, he will always be with me, he will save and protect me, he will answer my prayers, he will turn darkness to light, he will guide me, he will satisfy me with good things, and he will keep me strong and well. Those promises are built on being generous with people less fortunate because God wants us to learn generosity.

Perhaps my life so insulated that nothing makes me say, “Somebody ought to do something about that”? I’m not sure I’m ready to think beyond. Father with help from the Holy Spirit, I should spend some time making a list of the needs I see that disturb me. I can then pray and ask you to show me ways I can use my gifts to make a difference. Also help me to determine what are the limitations I perceive about myself that keep me from meeting the needs I see around me? I believe that God wants me to act on injustice so that I can partner with him in accomplishing his mission.

I pray today for wisdom and guidance in looking to see how I can meet needs using my gifts and talents. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, and my interactions with others. May I help to serve others and learn more about you. I’ve adopted a mission statement for my life that says, I want to live with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others. I really want to live this out. I pray these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Clues to Where I Should Be Serving

In review of Proverbs 27:19 this morning, I read “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart” (NIV).

Its what is in my heart that really reflects who I really am. Scripture uses the term “heart” to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections that I have. My heart represents the source of all my motivations. What I love to do and what I care about most. Even today, this word is expressed when one says, “I love you with all my heart.”

The Bible says what is in my heart reveals who I really am. I am not what others think I am or what circumstances force me to be. My heart is the real me. It determines why I say the things I do, why I feel the way I do, and why I act the way I do.

Physically, each of us has a unique heartbeat. Just as we each have unique thumbprints, eye prints, and voiceprints, our hearts beat in slightly different patterns. It’s amazing that out of all the billions of people who’ve ever lived, no one has ever had a heartbeat exactly like mine.

In the same way, God has given me a unique emotional heartbeat that races when I think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest me. I instinctively care about some things and not about others. These are clues to where I should be serving.

Another word for heart is passion. There are certain subjects that you feel deeply passionate about and others that I couldn’t care less about. Some experiences turn you on and capture your attention, while others turn you off or bore you to tears. When you were growing up, you may have discovered that you were intensely interested in some subjects that no one else in your family cared about.

These interests come from God! He gave them to me for a reason, and he wants me to use them to serve others.

In summary, just like water will reflect my face, my life reflects my heart, who I really am. My heart represents the source of all my motivations, what I love to do and what I care about. My heart is the real me. It determines what I say, do and how I act. My heart is unique. Its given to me by God. It will race when I think about certain subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest me. He gave them to me for a reason. These provide clues to where I should be serving. He wants me to use them to serve others.

Bottom Line:

My passions are the real me.

What this means to me:

The real me is unique, created that way by God for a purpose. Those things that I am passionate about are the things where God wants to use me and to serve others.

Today I will consider what subjects, activities and causes that I am passionate about. How am I, or how can I make an investment in those things for God’s glory? I also need to consider the things that consume much of my time and energy. How are they aligning with my emotional heartbeat? 

Father I pray today for some clarity and focus on the things that I’m passionate about. I ask that you send your Spirit to help me consider these today and help shape my thinking, perspective and actions for moving forward. I also pray for my health and healing for my chronic cough, the swelling in my feet and ankles. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, to manage my activities and to do's, to lead my team well, and to interact properly with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, amen.

Learning To Serve Based On My Design, Not Out Of Duty

In summary of Romans 12:3b it says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be honest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you.

Bottom Line:

With humility, be honest in your estimate of yourselves.

What this means to me:

I should not think more highly of myself than I should.  I need to be humble.  I need to be honest in my assessment of myself.  I should do that all by the amount of faith God has given me.  I can get myself into trouble when I’m moving really fast.  When I do, I don’t have time to really listen to the heart God has given me.  He wants me to look at what I’m made to do, and then I’ll know what he wants of me. But in order to know this, I need to slow down.  I need to stop speeding without direction.  Part of Romans 12:3 says, “Be honest in your estimate of yourselves” (NLT).  I need to spend alone time with God and ask, “What do I love to do? What do I dream of doing? What fascinates me? What can I talk about, think about, and study all day and not get bored? Where have I been most effective in my life?”  I need to serve God out of my design and the way he shaped me. I serve God not out of duty but because I love him. When I do what he wired me to do, it will bring glory to him.  I should strive to serve him out of delight and gratitude. I’ll need to make time to do a careful exploration of who I am and the work I’ve been given.  In summary, be humble and slow down.  Evaluate my passions and gifting.  Serve from these.

Don’t Be Lukewarm, Get Enthusiastic About God

In summary of Revelation 3:20 it says, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.”

Bottom Line:

Jesus stands at the door and knocks.  If any hear his voice and open their doors, he will come in to their home and share a meal together as friends.

What this means to me:

Jesus is always there; listen, look, see, behold his presence.  He will never barge his way in.  He simply knocks at my door.  It’s up to me to let him in.  If I do, he’ll enter into my life and make a real difference.  He will share my life together as a friend, a counselor, a helper.  God gave me a heart, and within it he has placed all of my passions, desires, and dreams.  But unless I submit them to his control, I’ll misuse, misapply, misdirect or abuse them; thus letting them just waste away.  All around me are passionate folks with interests, dreams, and ambitions that are being misused and abused.  In spite of their talent and their passion, many are unhappy.  When our passions are misused, it can make one miserable.  When I get plugged into God and fulfil his purpose for me I will become passionate.  As I reflect on my life, I don’t feel passionate in this manner.  I believe this means I’m not fully plugged into God and what he would want.  God wants me to really care about people.  With my busy schedule, I often work towards accomplishing tasks and not really being relational.  Several verse before this passage, Jesus states, 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Rev. 15-16, NLT.)  This appears to be me, neither hot nor cold.  I need to refocus today.  My God is a passionate God. The only reason I have emotions is because I’m made in his image. God is emotional. God gets jealous when he sees me ignoring him for something else. God loves me with an everlasting love. No matter what I’ve done, he will always love me. Now that’s passion!  When I spend time with God on a daily basis and I get plugged in. I need to concentrate on continuing to develop God’s heart for the world.  The closer I get to God, the more energy, vitality, and passion I’ll have in life. The further away I get, the more bored and apathetic I will become with life. I’ve got to open your heart to Jesus.  Jesus Christ is standing at the door of my life.  But he’s a gentleman. He’s not going to bust the door down. I’ve got to open it up.  In summary, I need to focus less on things/tasks and more on people and relationships.  I need to ask God to fill me with his passion.  I do not want to be lukewarm.  I want my life to serve God’s will.