Speak Truth to Your Soul

READ

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5 NIV

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Psalm 103:1-2 NIV

THINK

I hate to admit this, especially as a therapist, but my emotional state can make or break my day. My feelings about a specific situation or person can steer my ship toward wonderful, life-giving places, or straight into negativity, cynicism, and burnout. I like to think I have control over my emotions, but if I'm being totally real, there are days when it feels like they control me!

We experience emotions at the soul level, or "in our soul." Our souls are made up of our mind, will, and emotions. Our souls are what make us human and set us apart from robots. We think real thoughts, feel real things, and will ourselves to do or not do things daily. The soul is a beautiful thing, and having one is more evidence that we are image bearers of God Himself.

But we are not a soul. We have a soul. Let that sink in. If you've been through Freedom, you might remember the section on Spiritual Order. Like God, we are actually spirits. I am a spirit who has a soul and lives in a body. This matters because when things feel out of whack at the soul level, whether that's racing thoughts or an emotional crash, I can stop and remember spiritual order.

David did this in both Psalms above. He stopped and commanded his soul to line up with truth. He noticed the state of his soul (downcast) and didn't deny it. He addressed it by offering his soul a solution: hope in God. Then he commanded his soul to bless God and remember His benefits.

I love this. It reminds me that what I experience in my soul may feel big and real, but it's not everything. It matters and needs to be cared for, but my feelings and thoughts aren't the source of truth. When I take it to the spirit level and address my soul from there, things come back into order. We can speak life to our own souls and bring them back into alignment. Next time you're in a downward spiral or an emotional tailspin, remember: you can speak to your own soul and bring it back into alignment with the help of the Holy Spirit and God's word.

ACT

Keep this simple: Notice and Speak. Take a second to notice the state of your soul. What are you feeling? What are you thinking about? If something feels out of place, open God's word and speak truth to yourself. Tell your soul to line up with what you see in Scripture and hear from the Holy Spirit.

Example: You feel lonely and start believing no one sees you, that you're isolated. Stop and read Matthew 28:20, where Jesus promises to be with His people "until the end of the age." Tell your soul: Jesus is with you. You are not alone. You are surrounded by a God who loves you and walks with you through the darkest valleys.