Speaking Truth To The Soul

Scripture

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!

~Psalm 43:5, NLT

Quote

“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?”

~Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The puritans believed strongly in peaching to yourself or speaking biblical truth to your own soul. The soul is fallen and can become a chatter box of doubt and unbelief. Unless you take authority over your own soul, you will follow your emotions and be governed by circumstances rather than the light and truth of God’s word. So there comes a time when we have to speak to our own soul and say “Be still my soul” or “be quiet” or in more slang terms “shut-up soul.” During the week that Hope departed this world, my soul would not shut up and it kept sounding the same refrain…“I don’t know…I don’t know…I don’t know.” I found it difficult to even pray because the soul would not shut up. Finally, there was a break through and I believe it was the Spirit of God that spoke to me. He said, “Yes Jack, there are many things that you do not know but why are you focusing on what you do not know when you could focus on what you do know?” I took the Spirit’s advice and began thinking on things I knew. I began meditating on biblical truth, especially Exodus 34:6-7 which highlights the attributes of God.

The Puritans believed that every true believer can and most likely will suffer from spiritual depression. Puritans did not view sadness, discouragement, or feelings of distance from God as proof that a person lacked faith. They often pointed to the psalmist’s troubled soul as evidence that genuine believers can endure seasons of darkness. Thomas Goodwin frequently wrote about spiritual discouragement and taught that God’s children may feel abandoned while still being securely loved by God. Psalm 43:3 may be the key, Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. We need something beyond our selves {souls} to guide us. God’s word and Spirit are the light and truth we need. So we read the scripture, mediate on it and preach it to our miserable souls.

The Puritans believed that worship was the remedy for spiritual depression. I don’t know that they are wrong. I am practically convinced that worship is the most enjoyable thing on this earth. In the presence of Jehovah
God Almighty Prince of Peace; Troubles vanish hearts are mended in the presence of the King. I am telling you folks, “I love the thrill that I feel when I get together with God’s wonderful people.” I love the corporate celebration of Jesus and His grace. John Calvin believed that David was primarily discouraged because he was cut off from public worship. David had a legitimate reason for missing church, he was wanted and living in seclusion for his own protection. I can’t imagine how discouraged I would be if I could not meet with the folks at Grace Point and Danville. I am never tempted to forsake the assembly. I absolutely love corporate worship. It is always the highlight of my week. It is what I look forward to most.

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MRI went well. They gave me two pills; don’t know what they were but I was in a good mood. June did the driving and I only had to help her once: she did good. I told her that I might start letting her drive all the time and she said without hesitation, “You want be going much; only to DG and Kroger.” The Reeves compound is a mud hole, especially in the back. We could use some sunshine and James Spann says its on the way with temps near 100 by the weekend. What about sunshine and 80 degrees! If weather permits, John W and I are going bream fishing this evening. I bought me a new rod and reel yesterday at Ollies. Top of the line, a Zipco 1000 that cost me $10. A small one that I can cast left handed.

Have a Terrific Tuesday and thanks for reading the blog.

Don’t forget to pray for president Trump; for protection, wisdom and good help which is hard to find.

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Excuses for laying out of church: I think I have heard them all, but the one that gauls me most is leaving for vacation on Sunday morning. Why not leave Friday evening when you get home from work? Then you have all day Saturday, but no, this family would leave on Sunday morning about 9:00 am. Why not go to church and leave after worship? Another flimsy excuse is “Company came in.” I wonder why that has never happened to me. It may be because company will either come with me to church or they will wait until I get home. Junior said a woman told him once, “I don’t come to church because it is too close to drive and too far to walk.” Another lady told him, “I don’t come because of the weather. If I leave the windows down the house will get stuffy, but if I leave them down it might rain.” Vance Havner tells about the man who told the preacher, “I have not been coming because it has rained every Sunday.” The preacher said, “Well, it is dry at church.” The old man said, “That is another reason I have not been.” Its like the man who asked to borrow his neighbor’s lawn mower; his neighbor said “No, I have to go to town.” The man said, “What does going to town have to do with me borrowing your mower? “Absolutely nothing,” said the neighbor, “but if I don’t want you using my mower, one excuse is as good as another.”