If I were to ask, what are three foods you love to eat? For almost everyone the answer comes easy. Chocolate, pizza, ribs, grilled salmon or trout, calzone or some other amazing dishes come to mind. When it comes to feeding our bodies, at least in this country, we do not have much difficulty discerning what we love. If I were to ask, who are some people you love to hang out with? The answer usually comes just as easy, because we know how to feed our social lives as well. If I were to ask, where three places are you like to go. Once again those answers are not difficult to come by simply because we know how to spend time with people, eat and feed important parts of our lives.

Often I ask people what feeds your soul. What do you do to make sure your soul is refreshed and healthy? Most people cannot answer this question, even after several minutes of thinking the idea of “soul food” is foreign to them. Yet feeding our soul is key to being healthy spiritually, emotionally and to some degree even physically. What follows is more of a testimony than a “how to” but my hope and prayer is that it will serve as helpful. I have found several ways in which my soul is fed.

I feed my soul through prayer. A specific time set aside for talking to Jesus feeds my soul. This can be corporate or personal, but I find that faithful, heart to heart talks with Christ help my soul be restored.

I feed my soul through the word of God. No brainier so far, but it is interesting that even though we know this, we struggle. I found that the bible gives me several commands about the bible. For example:

I am supposed to memorize scripture
I am supposed to meditate on scripture
I am supposed to obey scripture
I am supposed to share scripture
I am supposed to study scripture
I am supposed to read scripture

Most devotionals are only focused on one aspect of this, possibly two. Yet if I understand the bible right, I must do all of these to keep my soul fresh. Here is what I do that helps me. I will choose a portion of scripture and cut and paste it into a word document. I will print it and then read it every day for about 30 days. This portion of scripture is usually about 4-6 chapters. What I find is that by the end of 30 days I have memorized, meditated, read and even studied these words. I usually pray before and answer this question: “What would it look like if I did something from these verses today? By copying and pasting the scriptures I have something I can take with me everywhere. I can write on it and not mark up my bible with questions or comments. I can underline, highlight and even adjust my translations from time to time. This has been very helpful for me.

I also try to keep a rhythm of scripture in my life. By that I mean I will read a day or two a week, I will meditate on a few verses each week, I will try to memorize some verses each month and I will study a couple days a week too. This rhythm allows me to comply with God’s instructions about His word and not feel guilty because I did not do the traditional 15 minute devotional each day. Finally I listen to scripture. I listen to it at night when I am falling asleep, sometimes when I am driving, some times in my office as I am praying.

I feed my soul by pursuing healthy relationships. The bible instructs me to do my best to live at peace with all people. This means I have a responsibility to pursue peace with others. I find that very few things hurt my soul more than bad relationships.

I feed my soul by keeping short accounts of my sin. I have never been able to free myself from sinning, no matter how hard I try but I do find comfort in the word when I am told that when I sin I have an advocate, Jesus the Righteous One. I must confess, repent and turn to Him quickly if I am to keep my soul healthy.

I feed my soul through worship of God. Over the years worship of God corporately and privately has become essential to feeding my soul. It places the emphasis of life where it should be and aligns my heart with God’s majesty.

I feed my soul through a healthy balance of hobbies and activities. Sometimes I just have to stop. Someone once said, I’d rather burn out than rust out, to which came the wise reply. What’s the difference, your still out.

I feed my soul through healthy faith community relationships. I am in a small group because the small group of people helps care for and feed my soul. I love and pray for these people and am loved and prayed for by these people. I am in church faithfully. (it helps that I am the preacher) I need to be in a larger community where I can serve others, be encouraged by others, pray with and for others and where the mission is bigger than my life.

I feed my soul through designed service. I find that when I do what I was made to do my soul is fed. I was made to serve others; this is one of my gifts. When I do it feeds my soul. I was made to preach and teach; this is how God gifted me. When I do it feeds my soul. I was made to lead; this is one of my gifts from God and when I do it feeds my soul. I was not made to create flyers and organize offices, when I do it drains my soul.

I would love to hear from any of you that have other things that feed your soul.

In the Pen. No not the penitentiary but sheep pen. This blog is about life in the pen, God's sheep pen. Feel free to check back from time to time and you are welcome to comment.