Caring for Your Soul

How do you care for your soul? In a conversation with someone last week, we talked about first steps in a more intentional life with God. What kind of practice might be helpful for her to offer herself more regularly to God, for intimacy and transformation by the Spirit? What about remembering God? Bringing him to mind, acknowledging and attending to the God who is here? Noticing when she is not aware of or mindful of the reality of God and his love? All of these are good opportunities to become more attentive to our faithful and available God. 

The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds... This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls. Our part in this practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him. In the early time of our 'practicing' we may well be challenged by our burdensome habits of dwelling on things less than God. But these are habits—not the law of gravity—and can be broken. A new, grace-filled habit will replace the former ones as we take intentional steps toward keeping God before us. Soon our minds will return to God as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north. If God is the great longing of our souls, He will become the pole star of our inward beings.

—Dallas Willard 

 Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation