Soul Work

"Follow your heart," is what those who are seeking love are told by those who supposedly have found it.   Those on the journey of faith might hear a similar word as they are told, "Follow your soul."  The soul within us is defined in many ways by both the secular and the sacred culture, but certainly it is that part of us that bears the image of our creator God, reflects the heart of Christ, and provides a kind of dwelling place for the Holy Spirit who abides and dwells in us.  Surely, it must be true that this most intimate and integral part of our inner being is constantly working to move us toward the One who brought us into being, who has delivered us from our sins, and who is empowering us for life.

 

To "Follow your soul" speaks of going home to God and of dwelling in His presence in the here and now of life as well as in the life that is promised beyond the grave.  Three times in the 63rd Psalm the writer speaks of the soul.  "O God, You are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for You...(vs. 1)...my soul is satisfied as with a rich feast...(vs.5)...my soul clings to You...(vs. 8)  While the words of action attached to the activity of the soul might be difficult to understand happening all at once, what is clear is that in each instance the soul is taking the writer of the Psalm toward intimacy with God. 

Is not this what is happening with each one of us?  Is it not true that our soul has been going after God, seeking the nurturing heart of Christ, and desiring more and more for the presence of the Spirit to have complete control of our lives?  Is it not true that our soul is constantly responding to the blessings of God and going after Him with an intensity that is racing ahead making us feel like our soul is often dragging the rest of us along behind it?