Soul Care 101 - Don't go at it alone

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”   Galatians 6:1-3

These next few posts I have called Soul Care 101.  I chose this title not because I am an expert, but because I have seen the damage first hand, that can happen if you do not take care of your soul.  Doing maintenance and check-up on your soul is just as important, if not more so, that doing it on your personal vehicle.  Our vehicles have many different warning lights that can alert you when there is a problem with your engine.  Unfortunately we do not have warning lights for our souls when they are need of help.

When there are mechanical issues with a vehicle, its important to seek out a mechanic.  (Unless you have been blessed with the skills, knowledge and tools for car repair.)  The same is true when we need soul care.  However too many have fallen for the enemy’s greatest lie – that we can make it on our own.  One of the greatest aspects of soul care is realizing we cannot go at it alone. 

When we read 1 Peter 5:8, we get a better understanding of the devil and his intentions.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”   1 Peter 5:8

Ever notice on the discovery channel that the lion only goes after the lone wildebeest and not the herd?  The longer you stay isolated there is a greater possibility that you will not within the attack of the enemy. 

There are three areas I want to challenge you to consider.  All three of these have played an enormous role in my own soul care.   

• Seek out a mentor.  I’ve come to realize that age doesn’t matter and that everyone needs a mentor.  Someone who can be praying for you regularly, as well as be your sounding board.  I am thankful for the mentors that the Lord has given me throughout the years.  Their role in my spiritual development has been huge.

• Get an accountability partner.  We all struggle with sin in our lives, especially hidden ones that we don’t want anyone else to know about. Unfortunately pride keeps us from gaining victory over these areas.  It is through mutual confession, praying for and encouraging one another that the Lord uses to help us gain victory in these areas.  We are called to confess our sins to one another and to carry each other’s burdens.  I believe this is the greatest lacking area of the Church today!  So many believers struggle through life and have no victory over sin, because of not being willing to bare themselves to another believer.  The greatest victory over sin and growth in my walk, with the Lord, has been when I’ve had an accountability partner in my corner.  I am so thankful for the man and brother in Christ that God has placed in my life.  I look forward to our regular times together where we pray for and encourage one another.  Just know this kind of relationship takes time to develop.

• Lastly, you may need to seek out professional counseling.  There have been times in my life that I have needed a professional counselor.  For over 17 years I have struggled greatly with anxiety.  However my time spent with a godly counselor has given me the tools to work through the anxious moments in my life.      

Soul care is critical!  I pray that you are taking steps and to take care of your soul.  Realizing you can’t do it by yourself is the most crucial step.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to talk.  My email is pastorjabo@gmail.com.

What do you do in the wilderness?

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”   Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”    Matthew 4:1-11

As I continue to share about my wilderness experience, this passage came to mind.  It reminds me that God has a purpose in the wilderness experiences.  Did you catch that Jesus was led into the desert?  He was there for forty days.  Unfortunately we do not get to know what He did each day.  However God taught me several things while I was in the wilderness. 

•             Get rest – We live in a society that runs at full speed.  During this time it is crucial to get rest.  Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.  Make sure to take some time, get out of the rat race and enjoy the cheese.  Busyness is one of the enemies of our soul and relationship with the Lord.

•        Soul care – like regular maintenance on a car, you better take care of it.  If you ignore that “service engine soon” warning light too long, it can have long term damage to your vehicle.  The same is true of taking care of your soul.  Unfortunately we do not have a built-in warning light, that tells us we need to service our soul.  This is part of you that lives forever, so you need to take care of it.  Periodically your car needs a tune-up, as does your soul.  My next few blogs will talk about doing that tune-up.

•       Take time to remember.  While I was in the wilderness, I had forgotten how good the Lord had been and His faithfulness.  Forgetting about the Lord’s blessings only caused me to become bitter and feeling left alone.  So I took some intentional time to reflect how the Lord had been faithful.  Make a list of the Lord’s blessings, no matter how small or big and you will see how good the Lord has been.

God led the Israelites, as well as, Jesus through the desert.  He had a specific purpose for each.  As I look back through my own wilderness, I realized that He had a purpose for me as well.  Although I struggled greatly through the wilderness, He was always faithful.  Those 3 steps helped me immensely to better navigate that time.  Over the next few posts I will be sharing more specifically about taking care of your soul.   As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions or struggles that you do not want to post about.  My email is pastorjabo@gmail.com.  

Entering into the desert

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.  Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.  By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.      Exodus 13:17-22

So why the desert??? 

This was my #1 question during my own time of wandering.  God could have chosen any other route, but specifically and purposely chose this for me.  God could have led the Israelites more quickly to the Promise Land.  However He allowed them to spend 40 years there.  Whereas He could have just spent a few months and traveled directly to their final destination.  Looking from the outside in, this can seem so haphazard.  In this passage we get to understand why God chose the route He did.  God is sovereign and knew what the Israelites would need.  As God allows our life to go down a different path than we expect, we may not always know or understand why.  However we can trust that God is sovereign and working in greater ways than we could ever know about.  As I walked through the desert, I didn’t understand why God was allowing this in my life.  However as I look back, I can see His hand of protection through the whole process.

God gave the Israelites a huge visual sign of His presence while leading them through the desert.  Just imagine what that would have been like during the journey.  Everyday, you wake up and see this pillar of cloud in front of you and reminded of God’s presence and direction.  Then each night, there is this pillar of fire in front of the group.  These pillars would have been enormous for all of the Israelites to see. Some estimate at least 500,000 men, plus women and children had left Egypt. 

Don’t you wish that God still used huge visual signs in guiding us?  It would seem to be so much easier.  However the Israelites had these visual cues and still struggled greatly to follow the Lord.   Although He does not provide visual cues for direction, He does guide by His spirit.  Thankfully as I look back through my time of wandering through the desert, I can distinctively see God’s hand guiding and protecting me.

Although my wandering through the desert was painful and hard, I would not trade that time.  God taught me so much, which I will be sharing over the next few posts.  If you are going through that desert time now, please know the Lord cares deeply for you.  You may never know or understand the reason for the desert, but you can rest knowing that He is in control.  

Wandering through the desert

 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.  Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.  Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.  Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.  For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills;  a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;  a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.      Deuteronomy 8:1-9

After wandering through the desert for forty years, the Lord reminded the Israelites of His Faithfulness, as well as, He charged them to not forget Him.  The Lord knew we all have a natural tendency to forget the Him, His blessings and His Word. 

A few years ago, I started going through a dry spell in my walk, although my ministry was doing very well.  Deep down I felt like the Israelites as they were wandering through the desert.  Unfortunately, during this time, I too became forgetful.  Throughout the Old Testament God constantly reminded His people to not forget.   Through my wandering desert experience, I didn’t forget the Lord in as much as I forgot who I was in Him.  Through this time, I lost my identity as a child of the King and got wrapped up in what I did – youth ministry.  I had forgotten that I was loved because I was His child and not because of my own efforts.  I began to rely on my own abilities and strength, which eventually took its toll.  I began to see less fruit and less of God’s Hand on my ministry.  This drove me to work harder, longer and eventually become burned out.

My burnout led to bitterness, as I had lost the wonder of God’s grace and mercy.   So I stepped away from the church and ministry vowing to never go back. 

Thankfully, God in His mercy saw this coming and brought us to be able to be a part of Passion City Church.   It is where God has continued to work to bring healing in my life, to break bitterness and melt my rebellious heart.

Again, thank you for taking time to read this blog.  As I continue to share about my journey and God’s faithfulness, I know the Lord will use it mightily.  Always feel free to leave questions about anything I have shared.  If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a personal question, please feel free to contact me at my email at pastorjabo@gmail.com. 

Why I chose to start a blog...

Thank you for visiting my blog! 

I am humbled that you would take the time to read what God has laid on my heart.  Also know that God has allowed you to come across my blog and nothing happens by accident.  I pray that God will use my journey, my lessons taught and my weaknesses for His glory, as well as to encourage you in your own journey.

As I have been churning over the idea of blogging, I came up with 3 main reasons why I chose to start.

1       1. Each of our journeys are meant to reflect or be used for God’s glory.  Everything that happens to us, whether good or bad is for God’s glory.  So through this blog, you will hear some about my journey, my weaknesses, my failures, as well as my victories.  The victories and blessings are nothing short of God’s grace and mercy.  It is through our weaknesses and failures that God can show His strength, grace and mercy.

2     2. Another reason I chose to blog was to brag on God’s faithfulness, even while I was in midst of my struggle and rebelliousness.  I am so thankful that God never gives up chasing us.  In Luke 15, we are reminded in 3 of Jesus’ parables where God chases after the lost.  There is the parable of the lost sheep, where the good Shepherd leaves the 99 to go after the 1.  Then there is the parable of the lost coin, where there is celebration over finding the one lost coin.  Lastly, in Luke 15, there is the parable of the lost son, where the Father runs to his wayward son who has chosen to return.  God has exemplified all three of these in my life and so I want to brag on Him.

3       3. Lastly, we can learn so much from other’s story.  Many times we tend to believe the lie that we are the only one who struggles.  My desire to encourage others and let them know they are not alone in their struggles and that there is hope.  Unfortunately, too many struggle and live in despair.  My hope and prayer is that you see what God has done in my life and realize that victory is possible.  I truly understand what Paul meant in Philippians 3:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Again, thank you for taking time to read this blog.  As I continue to share about my journey and God’s faithfulness, I know the Lord will use it mightily.  Always feel free to leave questions about anything I have shared.  If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a personal question, please feel free to contact me at my email at pastorjabo@gmail.com.