"He restoreth my soul" (Ps. 23:3).
True story! I'll tell it just as it happened. After church on Sunday and before visiting the nursing home, I stopped for a bite to eat at the Wagon Wheel. Sitting down at the counter I asked about the specials. I decided on the fish with baked potato, veggies, roll, and a salad to start. A few minutes into the main course the kind-hearted waitress came over and asked (innocently), "How's your sole?" I indicated that it was very good, but then added, "That's a funny thing to ask a pastor. I'm supposed to ask you that!" We shared a good laugh. It's one of the funniest things to happen to me. And I thanked her for giving me this week's devotion!
How's your soul? What a good question that is! In fact, I can't think of a more important one. And so, having thought about it, I'm glad she "asked." As a pastor I think about other people's souls, but I always need to begin with my own.
How is my soul? Here goes my answer.
My soul, as I understand it, is that spiritual part of me that God has designed to love and trust in Him. To look to and depend on Him. But my soul, I know, has a tendency to want to love and trust in me! So God takes steps in order to correct and restore my soul to fulfill its original purpose. He shows me my sin, leads me to repentance, and then shows me His love and forgiveness through Christ, His Son. I learn from the Bible that my soul has a Shepherd, Jesus, who died for me and then rose from the dead. He lives to guard and take care of my soul through thick and thin. My soul is in good hands, hands marked by scars. Strong but gentle hands. That's my answer.
I think the best answer, though, was given by Horatio Spafford when he wrote in his much-loved hymn the words, "It is well with my soul." It is worth sharing that he wrote the hymn just after the deaths of his four daughters when their ship sank. A testament to God's love in good times and in trial!
The sole was delish! And my soul is well because Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And it makes me want to ask...
How's your soul?
