Soul Detox: Guard Your Heart

Soul Detox: Guard Your Heart

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

If you want to be in faith, you have to know God’s will. Faith begins where the will of God is known. Do you know what God’s will is for your life this year? His Word says that above anything else, His will is for you prosper and be in health! Your heavenly Father loves you and wants the best for you! He wants you to prosper and be in health in every area of your life!

God wants you healthy and prosperous for His glory and for His kingdom’s sake, but there is a catch. God's will concerning health and prosperity is directly connected to the prosperity of your soul. Your prosperity is limited by your soul’s prosperity. If you want to step into God’s will and enjoy the prosperity and health He desires for you (and I know you do), you have to make sure your soul is prospering. You may find that is easier said than done.

The truth is that life can be hard on the soul.

Soul is a Bible word, but it’s not one we use often in everyday conversations, at least not in the biblical sense. Your soul is your breath of life. It is your mind, will, emotions, appetites, desires, passions, thoughts, decisions, and feelings. When someone refers to your mind, heart, or thoughts, they are really talking about your soul.

Whether you realize it or not, the events of 2020 have impacted your soul. The coronavirus, the civil unrest, the polarizing political environment, and everything else associated with 2020 affected your desires, your passions, your thoughts, your feelings, and influenced your decision-making. The changes may have been drastic or subtle, but 2020 changed everything, and it changed your soul, too.

If you find yourself thinking, saying, and doing things which are not in line with your character, that is evidence that your soul has been impacted. Think about the past few months. Have you found yourself saying any of these?

I can't believe I just said that!
I don't know where that came from.
I can't believe I did that!
That's not like me.
Why do I feel so blah?

I woke up one morning in December and I heard “Soul Detox.” A detox is the process of cleansing yourself of poisons and toxins. Your soul has been through a lot and it’s time for a detox. If your soul is full of poison, then that poison will cause your soul to be unhealthy. That is NOT God’s will for you. Remember that God wants your soul to prosper so the rest of you can be in good health and prosperity.

If you want to detox your soul and get back to soul prosperity, I have good news for you! God wants to restore your soul! Read this verse out loud.

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul...

Restoration is the process of returning to a state of healthy thoughts and a sound mind. God wants to restore your soul, but you also have a part in this soul detox. You must stop doing some things and start doing other things.

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

You must guard your heart above anything else because the condition of your heart determines the course of your life. A diligent guard is always on duty. A diligent guard monitors what's coming in and what's coming out. Likewise, you must diligently monitor what’s coming into your soul through your eyes, your ears, and your mouth. This is vitally important because what you see, hear, and speak enters into your heart and soul. And everything you allow in has consequences. You must diligently guard your heart.

I’ll talk more about this in next week's blog. In the meantime, let me hear from you. What are some ways you can guard your heart?