Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

It isn’t possible to formulate one-size-fits-all way of dealing with stress in our lives. We are uniquely and wonderfully made and we need to recognize our own soul’s way of dealing with stress. As we learn to face it and cope we are caring for our soul and honoring the way God made us. It is good to find someone with whom we can share our doubts, fears, and disappointments with.  The church should be a place that is safe for all of us to share and listen and bear one another’s burdens and stresses.  As we listen to one another, it is not to judge but to welcome what each has to share. “When we listen well, we give our hearts to receive, our minds to process, and our souls to share the journey with a friend in need. “  As we extend care to others we offer them a place to be cared for –simply by being present, paying attention, and listening to their story. Often they will find the stress melting and flowing out of them just by being listened to. Let us help one another, and let us help ourselves to find the peace that God desires for us.

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

When we are experiencing stress it is good to have a sustainable rhythm for our souls. When everything around us seems to move too fast and we feel ourselves giving out we need a rhythm of rest. That means taking time for breaks, enjoying meals, and getting sleep so we can be replenished.  We know that our body and our soul cannot thrive when the soul is empty.  Rhythm allows us to engage, then disengage; to be involved, then withdraw; work and contribute, then rest and recover. To live according to God’s rhythm will nourish us but we must be intentional and not ignore.  Adele Calhoun said, “We can get so busy doing urgent things and so preoccupied with what comes next that we don’t experience the now. Afraid of being late, we rush from the past to the future. The present moment becomes a crack between what we did and what we have yet to do. It is virtually lost to us. We don’t get to our futures any faster if we hurry. And we certainly don’t become better people in haste. More likely than not, the faster we go the less we become.” Let us eradicate hurry from our lives and live according to God’s rhythm!

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul’s custody

The demands of our roles in life affect our souls.  When we are squeezed too tightly, stress consumes our physical, emotional, and mental energy.  Stress is both residual and cumulative.  When we have prolonged stress it can lead to burnout and there are no reserves. Lingering effects on our soul might be physical exhaustion, inability to sleep, nightmares, depression, eating problems, irritability, anger, withdrawing, feeling of emptiness etc. It can also cause high  blood pressure, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, heart disease, cancer, etc.  When we are under a lot of stress we may become spiritually dry and our energy and vitality is zapped.  We must remember to take our stress to God for He understands and knows what to do about it. Like David, let us take our concerns to God. Why not read the Psalms that are full of prayers for relief from stressful situations?

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

To live simply is to live with our souls in tact, our hearts undivided, and our destination sure.  We might ask ourselves if our heart is not beating for God, what is our heart beating for? Maybe that first love we had for Him gets sucked away by the world’s pull on our lives.   Jesus wants us to return to the simplicity that is in Him which means having a passionate love for Him and learning to rest in what matters in this life. We can let go of the rest. Two important words are, “Follow me” and as we choose Him everything changes for us.  Another way to have simple faith in Jesus is to draw close to Him. ( James 4) We create space for Him as we open ourselves up and listen to Him, and as we become aware of His love for us. He wants us to put Him first and not get pre-occupied with things.  Then He moves us from worry to trust, from anxiety to faith, from apprehension to peace.  It isn’t easy to keep our soul simple. Cluttered lives makes our spiritual journey cumbersome.  We need to detach from things and our souls will be set free. All of life is a continual exercise in letting go. Let us desire less stuff, but more of Jesus.

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book,  Soul Custody

“Solitude is a deliberate choice we make –like listening to the quiet and getting rested up-that enables us to be still before God.” We all need times of solitude or we lose our way.  Our soul requires nourishment that silence and solitude provide.  There is a rhythm of together time and alone time, even if you are a high extrovert.  Jesus took time from the crowd to go away alone with God. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that solitude is the same as loneliness. But we can be lonely even in a crowd if we think that no one really knows us or cares about us. In solitude we purposely distance ourselves from people temporarily, so we can be present with ourselves and God. There we can know a closeness with Him that would not be possible to experience in the busyness of our days with so many people around.  ALONE is made up of two words: all and one. We can become more one with God and ourselves when we embrace solitude with undivided hearts at peace. We will also find that our hearts begin to move from being lonely to being alone with Him.  So let us be still and quiet in our souls to gain back what we have lost

Devotions from Stephen’s book, Soul Custody

Our world is so noisy and so are our hearts. Some fear the quiet because it is scary to be alone with their thoughts. But God often speaks in whispers, and we will not hear Him if we are not quiet.   Like Moses found out, God didn’t speak in the wind and earthquake but in a gentle whisper. When he was fleeing for his life and discouraged, he spent a couple days just sleeping and being fed by the Lord.  WE too may need rest to care for our souls.  When we have expended lots of energy, we need to take time off to give our souls time to replenish and renew with rest and good food. Jesus wants our lives to be free and light. ( Matt. 11:28-30) Our pace often leaves us so busy and empty that we don’t have anything left to give to others.  Let us not cruise on autopilot and run empty but embrace the way Jesus lived and taught.  No one is an Energize Bunny that can go on and on without rest. The soul must stop, learn to be still and rest.

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

Abundant living is a choice that requires a beginning step and more after that. If we want to change, we will need to let desire show us the way. God puts His desires in us and we need to get in touch with the longings of our hearts. “When desire meets the soul, we find the place where motivation is unleashed and action is taken.”   What do we really want in life? What is He stirring in us?   “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart.” Ps. 37:4  As we grow closer to Him, we actually want what He has wanted for us all along- a life that is deep, full, and satisfying. As we get in touch with our longings we will make choices because it is something we long for, or desire to do.  So caring for our soul is paying attention to what we want in life.  By facing our desires, we will find a deeper way to live from our hearts and be fulfilled. In Matt 11 from the message it says, “ 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.”

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

How important it is to make space in our lives for what really matters. We can choose soul care that will, over time, bring healing, strength, and spiritual well-being. In fact, our small choices lead to larger choices and impact for a long time. Each day we choose how we will live: we can choose life or death, blessings or curses. We can choose if soul care is a priority in our life  and if we want to live the life God intends for us. Our souls get impoverished because we assume that we can live our life on automatic pilot. The truth is that our souls need ongoing attention and choices are a gift from God.  We need to wake up to live before we die!  Life here and now is a part of God’s will for us-not just the one in heaven.  Let us choose to live now, to find new meaning, new purpose, new reason to live –and then to protect and guard this life. It is our one and only life!  We get out of life what we put into it.

Devotions from Stephen Smith’s book, Soul Custody

Caring for our soul is never selfish or egotistical. It is the opposite for it is really an act of stewardship. Caring for our souls is an act through which God can replenish our hearts, restore our souls, and revive our day so we can meet the challenges of life, work, and relationships. It says in Prov. 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart. For it is the wellspring of life.” And in Deut. 4:9 “Only  take care, and keep your soul diligently.”

When we love ourselves in a healthy way, we move away from self-centeredness and selfishness. And as we do this it is life giving and honoring to God, having a ripple affect on others too.
We are soulful beings. Our soul is the real person—our heart, mind, emotions, desires, longings- everything that makes up our soul.  It is the truest part of us and will live on after we die. Our body is just the outerwear while we live on earth.

Our soul is God given, God shaped, God sustained.  WE are loved deeply and a reflection of God’s image.  As we care for our souls we will enjoy peace, even in the midst of hard times. We will have exuberance about life and make connections with friends. We will grow in awareness of God and intimate fellowship with Him.  Also, we will find fulfillment in our work He has called us to do. Let us take custody of our souls that we may honor God so He is glorified.