Soul Care to Save Your LifeSample

There’s a summer I’ll never forget because it contains a moment that changed my life. My September birthday was inching closer, so I had begun praying for God to reveal what He might want for me in the coming year. I have never experienced God’s audible voice, but in one swift moment I heard the Spirit of God say space, and it was undeniable. It stopped me in my tracks: I was supposed to pursue space.

I ran home and told Eric about the divine moment I’d just experienced. I began taking the pursuit of space seriously, the way a woman does when she believes God is truly encouraging something for her best interest. Slowly I was converted from being an overextended and stressed-out person to someone who had a full life yet didn’t feel frantic or busy. I was composed, not from trying but rather as a natural consequence of living a life with space.

All of the years prior, I had listened to my mind, which told me, Keep going. Push. Hustle. You’ve got this. This led to sleepless nights, workaholism, and stress. My pastor at the time once looked me in the eye and said, “Manda, your mind lies, but your body tells the truth. This is one of God’s greatest gifts to us and is worth paying attention to.”

What is your body trying to tell you? Is your eye twitching? Do you have abnormal bowel movements? Are you constantly fatigued? Are there any signals telling you that you need to give it more sleep and rest, or perhaps exercise and movement? Pay attention to your thoughts. Grab a journal and spend a moment freewriting.

The pursuit of space is rooted in the belief that we are human beings, not human doings. Take inventory of how you choose to spend your time and then create a pocket of space—even just five minutes—to start being with God every day, what might it look like?

Our outer world can also be a good indication of our inner world. Consider your physical space, both the body and home you live in. What does your body need? What about your living space? What would help you cultivate a thriving environment?

Despite what you may have heard, God is delighted in His children feeling joyful.

How often do you have space for spontaneity in your day? Do you experience God’s presence in your life, or is your life so full that there’s no space for interruption?