Have you ever heard of the brownie analogy? It’s the one used to shock youth group attendees by passing out brownies, then, only after everyone has taken a bite, admitting that you cleaned up your dog’s “business” just before mixing the batter and forgot to wash your hands. While you were stirring you noticed a plop into the batter and realized it had come off the side of your soiled hands. You tried to find it and get it out, but you really couldn’t be sure you got it all. “Don’t worry, though,” you reassure them. “It was only a teeny tiny bit. I’m sure most of the brownies are totally fine.”
Will those teens eat any more of their delicious, gooey brownies? Nope. How about after you tell them it was just a joke, you don’t even have a dog? Still no… except for that boy or two who will eat them just to gross out the girls. But your point is made: there is no such thing as an acceptable amount of sin in your life. By God’s righteous standards, a little plop ruins the whole batch.
How’s that for a start to a series on soul care? (I really hope none of you were eating a brownie while reading this. If you were, I’m so, so sorry! I’ll eat your leftovers.)
We’ve briefly discussed the soul as the vital essence of our life, and its care as the intentional placing of that life in God’s hands. From here on out, we’re going to look at the practical how-tos of soul care, starting today with our need to get cleaned up.
THE SOUL AS A GARDEN
If you’d like, you can continue to imagine your soul as brownie batter, needing the right ingredients; or a car engine, needing regular tune-ups and good fuel; or as a stream, needing debris removed and clean head-waters. For now, however, I’m going to shape our thinking of the soul around a garden.
My mom has had a massive garden for as long as I can remember, and I’d like to highlight a few basic principles I’ve learned from her over the years:
- The gardener needs to know what he is doing.
- The soil needs to be tended with fertilizer and daily water.
- What you plant is what will grow–an onion bulb will not become a watermelon vine.
- The weeds grow, too. No matter what. And they must be removed so they don’t steal nutrients and block sunshine from the good produce.
- The deer, the caterpillars, and the moles all think you planted the garden just for them.
- The more fruit that your garden produces, the more care that is needed.
Can you see the analogy?
God is the capable gardener, as depicted beautifully in John 15, but he invites us to labor alongside Him, especially when it comes to the care of our own souls. He is our source of living water and daily bread. What we allow to take root in our hearts is what will grow, whether love or hatred, gentleness or impatience, forgiveness or bitterness.
But the Word of God will not grow and mature into the fruit of the Spirit in our lives if we let “everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” grow like weeds (Hebrews 12:1). Not only must we ruthlessly eliminate the weeds that choke our souls, but we must also guard our souls against all enemies. This is the aspect of soul care that we will enter into today.
Above all else, guard your heart,
Proverbs 4:23
for everything you do flows from it.
WHAT WEEDS NEED PULLING?
Let me start by saying that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. He is exceedingly patient with us, and it’s His kindness that leads us to repentance. So reject any feelings of doubt or hopelessness that might spring up … those are, in fact, weeds themselves!
If a soul needs connection to God in order to be healthy, then it makes sense that sin–the great disconnector–is the primary hindrance to a flourishing soul.
It’s likely that most of you avoid the big, obvious sins for the big, obvious reasons: murder, adultery, theft… but what about those pesky “little” ones? Subtle lying, ignoring the Sabbath, putting your own desires above others’ needs, foul language, jealousy, gossip, hating someone, unforgiveness, and idolatry (trusting in something besides God) of all kinds…
Ugh. I know. Me, too.
WHAT’S TRYING TO STEAL YOUR FRUIT?
Even if you’re really on your guard against those weeds and pull them out, with the Holy Spirit’s help, as soon as you find one, there are still pests to deal with!
Catch for us the foxes,
Song of Songs 2:15
the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards,
our vineyards that are in bloom.
Confession: this past week I read a friend’s post that led me down a nasty little trail to jealousy and feelings of inadequacy. Was I sinning by reading that post? No, of course not. But did I let Comparison come into my soul to snatch away joy, leaving dissatisfaction behind? Yep.
Here’s where it gets tough for most of us. We know there are certain things we allow into our lives that produce more withered branches than healthy fruit, but we’re kind of fond of those things. It can feel like giving up Coke or coffee in favor of water. You know what the best choice for your body is, but you don’t really want to get rid of that little comfort.
That’s why I started this post with the plop-ridden brownie. If we can see those thieves for what they really are, we’ll recognize that banning their entrance to our souls is actually freeing. You don’t want a defiled brownie, and you don’t want a shriveling soul.
- So, what’s your biggest joy-thief?
- What squashes your creativity?
- What turns your eyes inward in self-deprecation?
- What stirs your jealousy?
- What robs your rest?
- What gives you a momentary jolt of pleasure but leaves you feeling empty later?
- What do you tend to feel you couldn’t live without?
- What distracts you from Bible reading and prayer?
MAKE IT COUNT
Today is a good day for repentance, my friends. What is God saying to you as you ponder these questions? What conviction is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart? His will is our freedom. Ask the Lord if there are any weeds that need pulling or fences that need erected to guard your soul today.
Here is a deeply beautiful prayer of repentance to guide you.
I’d strongly encourage you to write down what He shows you and share it with a friend. Trust me, you’re not likely to actually follow through until you do. Ask me how I know.
One final thought on soul care for today. Don’t get discouraged by your wobbly baby steps forward! Patterns of thinking and behavior that are deeply ingrained often take a loooong time to replace. Keep trying; keep confessing; keep allowing others to pray for your struggle and celebrate your progress. Find a counselor or spiritual director. Remember, God is with you, fighting for you, cheering you on. And so am I.
(For an in-depth guided reflection on the health of your soul, try SoulCare’s “Journey to Soul Health for Leaders.” I haven’t finished yet, but I’m finding the reflections to be very helpful.)
3 Comments
Thank you for giving of your life’s journey and lessons, many are benefited by what the Lord is doing through you.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! It’s absolutely an honor to share my words and trust that the Lord will use them to build his kingdom.
Such helpful words of wisdom to reflect upon.