One way to cultivate your soul is to make time for solitude and quietude.
I love this quote from Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions:
“Mothers, carve out a private time for yourself, at least half an hour in the early morning to collect your thoughts over a cup of tea or coffee, to pray or meditate, to read a page from an inspirational book and to plan you day.
It is of inestimable worth for a mother to begin her day before the rest of the family. This time alone can become a treasured retreat of serenity that can prepare you to handle whatever the day might hold in store. It is far better for a mother to create a morning retreat than for her to beat a hasty one at day’s end.”
It is essential for mothers to find some uninterrupted time each day, not only for prayer, Bible study and to plan your day, but also time to just be.
This time for solitude and quietude doesn’t just have to be in the early mornings (though that’s when I prefer mine), grab snatches of “alone time” whenever you can.
When you are alone, you are able to think, feel, dream, commune with the Father, and receive His wisdom and guidance. You are able to shut out all other voices and hone in on the voice of your own spirit. If you will learn to do this, you will tap into the inner well of riches that God has placed within you.
This is especially true after you have spent time in the Word and/or prayer. Psalm 119:130 (GWT) says, “Your word is a doorway that lets in light…” Do you need light in a certain area of your life? Allow God’s Word to enlighten the darkness!
Quietude simply means calm, peacefulness, rest and tranquility. These things are often hard to find in the busy world we live in. However, they are indispensable in the cultivation of the soul.
Getting alone with the Lord will not only enrich your spirit, it will also renew your mind (Romans 12:2) and refresh your soul.
In Matthew 11:28 (AMP) Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.”
When your mind is renewed and your soul is refreshed, your creative juices can begin to flow. Ideas will rise up from within your spirit and illuminate your mind. You can learn things more readily and grow more easily.
Another reason (and really, this is the most important reason) we must learn to quiet the soul is so that we can clearly discern the leading of the Lord.
Remember that you are a spirit (the real you, the hidden man of the heart); you have a soul (your mind, intellect, reasoning, will, emotions, creative center, etc.); you live in a body (this one’s obvious).
Your spirit and soul are closely connected, but they are not the same. Many times people will have trouble recognizing what the Lord is leading them to do because they are depending too much on their soul (reasoning, emotions, their own human will), rather than quieting their minds and listening for the still, small voice or inward witness of their spirit.
The only thing that can help you separate spirit from soul is the Word of God:
Hebrews 4:12 (CEB) says, “God’s Word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions.”
Your soul can have a very strong pull on your spirit. If you do not learn to quiet it – to shut up the feelings and emotions that are constantly screaming at you, or to silence the “reasonings” of your mind, then you will have a difficult road as a Christian.
In order to quiet your soul, you will have to submit to the Word of God on a daily (sometimes moment by moment) basis. And you will have to continue developing an intimate relationship with Him.
Take time for solitude and quietude each and every day. Get in the presence of the Lord and get quiet. It will recharge your spirit and make it so much easier to cultivate your soul!
This post is excerpted from my book, A Life That Flourishes. Click on image below to purchase.
