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Soul Nourishment, the Best Nourishment

Soul Nourishment, the Best Nourishment

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I knew I had to guard my heart on these grey, cold, wintry Indiana days; otherwise, I would sink into a dark place, and that dark place is scary. It paralyzes me.


I knew what to do, but I didn’t do it.


During long, hard winters, I need to exercise, boost my intake of supplements, eat healthy and spend time with Abba. Actually, I need those all the time, but especially in winter. And I especially need time with Abba.


Instead, I numbed myself with television and unhealthy carbs. I isolated. And then I found myself spiraling into that dark place.


We humans are an interesting lot. Oftentimes, we either know what to do and don’t do it because it requires extra effort. Or we aren’t aware of what we need to do, but know we need to do something.


Are you with me on this? What is your “dark place?” As long as our feet of clay walk this earth, we all have those places in our journeys where we feel stressed out, burned out, spiritually empty, tired or even bored. And then we go about trying to fill those dark places with the illusory “light” of possessions, unhealthy relationships, compromising behaviors and more.


But then God, in His kindness, captures our attention and enables us to turn our mess toward Him, His light. It is there—with Him—where we find what we need for our souls.


He is our soul nourishment.

 

In her book, Soul Nourishment, Deborah Haddix writes, “Your soul is a living entity…. It needs to be nurtured, talked to, rested, and fed.” In other words…

  • Only Jesus truly can nurture my soul.
  • Only Jesus can give me the truth I need to hear.
  • Only Jesus can provide the kind of rest I need.
  • Only Jesus can give me living water.

Then, Haddix fills her book with practical ways we can meet with our Father and allow Him to nourish our souls. We can journal in interesting, creative ways. We can study a passage of Scripture, listen to music, sing, pray, walk in His creation and so much more.


Usually, soul care requires solitude, even for extroverts. As Haddix reminds us, time with God enables us to hear His sweet voice telling us He loves us, is for us and that we belong to Him.


Who wouldn’t want to hear those messages from the Sovereign One?


So, again, I asked my Father for help, and He helped me. I let Him help me. He lifted me from that dark, paralyzing place, helped me turn off the television, walk away from the carbs and enjoy His company.


And when I did those things, I found the best soul nourishment I ever could have wanted. I found Abba.


Today, I pray you will find Him too. 




Tammy Tilley

Tammy Tilley has compiled and edited numerous books, has written for dozens of print and digital publications, and even co-founded a lifestyle magazine for the town where she once lived. Currently she lives in Anderson, Indiana where she is an adjunct writing instructor at Anderson University and an editor and writer for Warner Press.