Soul Training

Last Wednesday was Valentine’s Day and also the start of Lenten Season. For weeks leading up to Lent I struggled on what I would “sacrifice”.   Then it came to me as I was tapping my hands on my steering wheel while listening to a local Christian station.  I was tapping and singing and praising God, and then I realized without skipping a beat that I was singing and tapping to some random song.  Just like that, my attention went elsewhere. How long had my attention been so easily distracted? 

Valentine’s day was the perfect day for me to reevaluate my relationship with God.  It was time that I was honest with myself.  God loves me unconditionally but what am I doing to reciprocate his love? What effort am I putting into this relationship? How can I improve my relationship?  I thought about the signs of a healthy relationships and realized that God deserved that plus more.   He deserves my love. He deserves my praise.  He deserves my trust.  He deserves attention. He deserves to be a priority.  He deserves to be respected.

A few years ago I studied the James Bryan Smith’s Apprentice Series.  The series examines false narratives and replaces them with the narratives of Jesus.  My favorite part of the study was the soul training exercises at the end of each chapter.   

  Smith compares soul training to when an athlete trains.

“Athletes understand the necessity of training, they run and lift weights and practice over and over so they can perform naturally, easily and with strength in competition.  In the same way, when we engage in soul training exercises, we are doing so to change how we live."

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Last Wednesday I reprogrammed all of my stations to Christian stations. As I was resetting my stations I realized that it was a good time to reset some of my habits.  I will spend this Lenten Season training my soul and being a more intentional Christian.

Psalm 51:10-12 says

Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Dear Heavenly Father.  Thank you for loving me unconditionally today and every day.  Thank you for your undeserving grace.  I love you and yearn to be closer to you.  Give me the focus and spiritual endurance to continue and strengthen my walk with you. Amen