Soul Work
This month we started working on the soccer field. It was a patch of desert land with heaps of dirt on it.
The start of the process was measuring out the dimensions and working on the perimeter of the field. We then found we needed to build the outer fence first so we needed to dig the wholes for poles.
Over the course of the next week we hand dug 42 holes!!! The crazy thing is they were all 3.5 feet deep! That is 147 feet total! Not to mention each hole was probably 3.5 feet in diameter. Many times the thought went through me head, “If we had the right machine we could have all these wholes dug in a couple of hours.” I guess we are in Africa.
After digging one day, Nathan – my teammate – mention how God was speaking to him on the field. Nathan explained that every shovel full of dirt is what it takes to get a score field. If we don’t shovel whole after whole and do the work than we don’t get the end result. Nathan continued, its the same in our spiritual lives, if we don’t do the daily soul work that we receive the blessings or the places God has for us.
Soul work is something I have been learning a lot about on the Race. Why do I act and react how I do to certain situations? Well it all goes back to what I believe. When we are kids as we go throughout life we experience hurt, pain, and wounds. From those woundings we formulate beliefs based on our experiences. Soul work really involved finding those woundings and going deep to get the root of the hurt and the pain. Our squad mentor Ben always says, “Often times we view pain as a problem instead of pain as a symptom for a deeper issue.”
Pain leads to the problem. When I was little and would get hurt the first question I was asked by my parents was, “Where does it hurt?” Often times I have to do the same thing with God as I experience pain in situations.
I ask God the series of questions, “God where is this pain coming from?”, “What memory is that attached to?”, “What lie was I believing in that situation?”, “What is the truth that you want me to replace that lie with?” God I invite you into that place to heal me, get the root, and allow me to walk in freedom from it.
If you have never done this before I would highly encourage you to do with someone who has done it. If you can’t find anyone who has then I would recommend talking to me more and I can refer you to someone who can. From putting in the day to day work in being with the Lord to praying and asking God into the wounds of our lives, its all part of picking up the shovel daily and doing the soul work.
Soul work for me has been spending time with God – reading, listening, asking questions and seeking answers. It has been working physically training my body for health and well being. It is relationally and asking questions and having quality conversations with people. Its depending on the Lord for healing and entering the places of hurt and pain.
If we are desiring big things from God in our lives, then we see them through by taking up our shovel and digging deep into our soul one day at a time with the Lord.
Some verses that come to mind when talking about Soul Work
Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp onto my feet and a light onto my path.”
Proverbs 16:20
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.”
Philippians 2:1-3
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
1 Corinthians 3:11- 17
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one we already have- Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials- gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or star. But on the judgement day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be save, but like someone nearly escaping through the wall of flames. Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys the temple for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Quick Update:
We just flew out of Egypt and stayed up for 24 hours. I am in Tbilisi, Georgia sitting at a cafe finishing the massive string of blog posts before I have a week of intense travel.
We will get on an overnight train tonight to Baku, Azerbaijan. Catch a cargo ship and cross the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan. My team got assigned Almaty, Kazakhstan for the month so after we cross the Caspian we will have another 50+ hours of train and ground transportation. Please be praying for our health, energy, and positivity as a team in this season of travel.
Thank you!
P.S. Shout out to my little brother Micah on his 18th birthday! Love you brother and thank you or following my journey so closely.
