Discovering Soul Care Mindy Caliguire How to Use This Tool This Conference Classics process tool is designed to accompany an audio recording of a Willow Creek Association conference session. You can refer to the tool while listening to the session and use it afterward to dig deeper into the content, or you can use the tool to get the highlights without even listening to the session. This tool consists of three parts: The PREVIEW section lists the problem that the session addresses and the recommendation that the speaker makes. The KEY CONCEPTS section breaks the session down into the core ideas most important for you to understand. The REFLECT section includes questions to help you practice, apply, and implement what you ve learned. Although the questions are geared primarily to individuals, groups can use them as a discussion guide. Adapted from Discovering Soul Care (SCR) by Mindy Caliguire. Copyright 2007 by Mindy Caliguire. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press. This resource may be printed, photocopied and electronically mailed as needed for use in the purchaser s church so long as no fee of any kind is charged and the resource is not used, in whole or in part, for internet viewing or posting, conferences, fund-raising or commercial purposes.
Discovering Soul Care 1 Preview Problem: Recommendation: Many leaders have never considered the well-being of their soul or intentionally cared for it. Identify practical ways to restore and maintain health and life in the soul. Key Concepts Running on Empty? People in ministry sometimes suffer most deeply. God is the One who restores our souls. We need to know how our souls connect to God for restoration. Symptoms of Soul Neglect Depressive thoughts (which, if untreated, can lead to a chemical depression) Fatigue Cynicism Anger (not the normal human emotion, but when we become angry or bitter people) Judgmentalism Disillusionment Apathy Martyr complex Being numb or on auto-pilot Lack of focus Feeling empty Doubts Escapism obsession, addiction Inability to pray Anxiety, lack of peace Isolation Fear Symptoms of Soul Health Willing to share authentically Aware of brokenness Surrendered Faithful Blessed Giving Clarity of purpose Scared, but trusting (not fearful) Contentedness How Our Souls Become Healthy Our souls become healthy by being connected to God. The biggest challenge in caring for our souls is assuming responsibility for putting
Discovering Soul Care 2 ourselves into that place where we can receive soul care from God. There are many ways to experience soul care from God. Our souls are alive and need nourishment, but we don t often focus on our souls after salvation. All aspects of our emotional, mental, and thought lives, as well as our relational realm, flow from our souls. A soul s well-being drives everything that matters to a person. Our life and power are derivative from God s life and power. Dallas Willard indicates that when our souls are rooted in God and His Kingdom, all else within us is directed and enlivened by that inner strength. Soul Care and Spiritual Formation Spiritual formation is a fact of the human soul; your soul changes and grows over time. When we enter a relationship with God, our soul s growth takes on a specific purpose: Christ being formed in us (Galatians 4:19) or spiritual formation. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our soul, and God is at work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, transforming us into the image of Christ (Philippians 1:6). Effort is required on our part as well. God is always at work, but our receptivity fluctuates. Requirements for Soul Health God s presence and power is required for soul health. An openness in our souls is also essential. Spiritual practices are for the purpose of achieving this openness. God is a respecter of persons and does not move into a soul uninvited. Spiritual practices are something we intentionally do to carve out time and space to pay attention to and be responsive to this ongoing work. Three Helpful Spiritual Practices Silent prayer a wordless way of resting in the presence of God with an attitude of openness, contrition, and longing (Psalm 131). Spiritual friendships letting other people know your innermost self with all its flaws and allowing them to breathe life into you. Simplicity a soul finding a way to run the race marked out specifically for him or her, not someone else s race, and casting off whatever entangles (Hebrews 12:1). Reflect 1. What s the current state of your own soul? Review the symptoms of soul neglect and of soul health that Mindy outlined, and use the space on the following page to write down those that are true of you lately.
Discovering Soul Care 3 My Symptoms of Soul Neglect My Symptoms of Soul Health 2. Based on what you have assessed about your current state of soul health, what is one action step large or small that you would like to take? Write it below.
Discovering Soul Care 4 3. Set aside 20 minutes to practice a time of silent prayer one of the three helpful spiritual practices that Mindy described. I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with its mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2 (NIV) Think of a prayer word that describes your relationship with God at this particular time. Enter this time of silent prayer by acknowledging your desire to be attentive to God. Sit quietly, resting in the reality of God s presence. When distracting thoughts come, gently let them go. Use your prayer word to bring your attention back to God. At the end of your time, thank God for His presence and ease back into the activities of your day.