Good God, Good Gifts: Soul Care and Spiritual Development

While part of the way we express love for God is through our connections with other human beings, we can forget that He created us for Himself. We may not always realize it, but our lives are intended to bring joy to the Father. We experience fullness when we delight in Him, choosing to align our lives with His character and His vision through spiritual development.

When we consider our spiritual development from this perspective, we realize that serving God is about relationship, not religious obligation. This may help us to establish priorities that are consistent with God’s highest and best will for our lives.

When we consider what spiritual development might include, it is easy to interpret this as praying longer or reading more scriptures. However, meaningful time in God’s Presence differs from adding boxes to an already lengthy checklist.

Just like we would feel uncomfortable with the people in our lives coming to us only when they want something, God wants us to be in fellowship because of mutual love. Love that is forced or constrained isn’t love, but rather compulsion and control.

Good gifts

The Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Naturally, He desires to give out of His abundant store of goodness. The ultimate gift, however, that surpasses every material good or change in conditions is what He is to us. What makes it worthwhile is bringing all of our hearts, all of our minds, and all of our strength to love and serve Him. That fellowship includes the times when our heart is wounded, our mind is weary, and our strength is waning.

We need to be honest, however. Sometimes, life gets busier than we planned and we carve space for everything else except spiritual development. We become distracted and disenchanted; discouragement settles into the cracks and neglected corners of our hearts. We stop paying attention to our soul needs, denying quality time with the Father.

Instead, we transfer our efforts elsewhere, not realizing that we are slowly draining ourselves of the necessary fuel to thrive. When we operate our lives without the blessing of margin, we don’t only siphon time away from the Father, we also miss us.

Spiritual development, the Savior, and soul care

Denying ourselves the gift of self-care that nourishes and replenishes our souls with much-needed rest is not healthy. This self-care is more than a day off, a planned getaway, or an afternoon siesta. Rest is a lifestyle and a cornerstone of healthy spiritual development.

In it, we continually surrender to Jesus the burdens that are common in life as well as our own unforeseen and unexpected troubles (Matthew 11:28-30). Contrary to false religious thought, we are not impressing God with our stamina when we try to shoulder challenges without Him.

Instead, we honor our Savior by conveying our dependence. It is only in these places where He can meet us, offering times of refreshing amidst what would otherwise feel like dry, wilderness seasons. As the Living Water, He offers not only what our spirit needs, but also provides the mental and emotional wellness that accompanies thriving.

While religious performance emphasizes doing works to obtain a reward, a blossoming relationship with Christ is characterized by being in the Lord’s Presence. In enjoying Him, even through the unique ways that He fashioned us, we recognize that righteousness, or becoming like Jesus, is our greatest reward (Genesis 15:1).

Next steps

Wherever you are in your spiritual development, recognize that you can pivot into a new place. God is willing to meet you. With help, you can develop the tools and gather the support needed to restore the joy that was lost in the bustle of daily life.

Browse our online directory here at Redlands Christian Counseling, select a counselor, and schedule an appointment. Rest is your reality as a believer, and you will find His path to replenish and care for your soul in meaningful ways.