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Having reviewed the basic model of SoulCare, what concepts do you find the most helpful? Why?
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It was good to review and see that I had forgotten to be thinking about the mood of celebration because of God’s grace when someone shares their journeying reality. I think that’s important because it offers the person hope. They see me hoping and are encouraged to hope in God’s grace as well.
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The thorough review reminds me that I don’t really think all of this well very often at all. I do see in the pattern that Larry described that the pressure is off me to give an expert answer. I do have more hope that God is up to great good in the souls of those I am with. To help another notice the tension between the way they manage life with their flesh’s efforts and the desire that is alive within them because of the work fo the Spirit and for that tension to lead to brokenness, repentance and abandonment is (would be) such a delight.
I also notice how much of the process involves my listening and my hearing the Spirit and NOT talking.
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All the concepts are very helpful and weave together, but the ones that touch my heart most are: facing my interior world, directing our mind to spiritual dynamics, and reframing the story of the person’s soul. In a sense if I can remember those three when I am in a SoulCare, the others will fall into place.
I must Face My Interior World to be a purer conduit of the Holy Spirit. SoulCare doesn’t amount to much without the Holy Spirit’s intervention. Being aware of my interior world reminds me that me and the person I am providing SoulCare for, are on a level playing field so to speak, so there won’t be any power games as I will automatically be listening with Biblical categories of understanding.
Directing my mind to Spiritual Dynamics means that I see the person with me, but also past them to who they are in Christ. Thinking like this I am discovering automatically stimulates vision for the person.
Thirdly, Reframing the Story of Their Soul. This emerges from looking at the spiritual dynamics and the growing vision for the person. If the person truly wants change in their life, I think reframing could be such a gift to them. If they catch the vision as a friend did when I shared with them just a week ago, it is empowering. The person then begins a cycle of Spiritual Growth.
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For me it’s the second element, facing my own interior world. This concept was totally new to me. I was aware of inner feeling as other shared their journey with me. I did not know how I felt was important and that how I feel could impact the way I interact with someone during SoulCare.
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In asking reframing questions and using categories of understanding to reveal the story of the soul. No matter the story, the sin nature within us is trying to make life work without God, prefering some pleasure more than knowing God. I would have found this counter intuitive in the case of bad things being done to someone and the insight that it is the sin nature reacting to that is not what I have thought up to now