PSALM 62:5-8: “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah”. CSB
OBSERVATION: Do you ever talk to yourself? David did. He frequently spoke to his soul. And, he also answered himself too! Why did David do this?
David knew the weakness of his own flesh. He had experienced great victories in his life and great defeats. He had learned from experience the pitfall of pride and how easy it was for his mind to stray from God’s will. So David would constantly remind himself of the important things in life.
- “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him.”
David speaks to his own soul. He reminds himself that his help comes only from the Lord. He then goes on to affirm his faith in God.
- He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold. I will not be shaken.
- May salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
- My refuge is in God.
How many times do I need to remind myself of these truths? As Jesus said to His disciples, “…the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We are called to renew our minds. We do this by meditating upon the Word of God. We also do this by speaking the truth of God’s Word directly to our own soul.
There is something powerful that happens when we do this. Speaking to our soul is a wonderful cure for double mindedness. The spirit is always willing, but it is the soul (mind, will, and emotions) that is weak. When we are double minded our thoughts are in disagreement with our spirit. In our heart we believe one thing, but our mind begins to dwell on doubts and insecurities. Yet, when we speak to our soul, we engage the mind in agreement with our spirit. And in doing so, we overcome double mindedness through faith.
- “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 CSB
David knew that God was always ready to give him wisdom and help in his time of need. So, when David struggled with doubt and insecurity, with loneliness and despair, with temptation and difficulty – David spoke to his soul!
- “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:5 CSB
David was so convinced of the efficacy of speaking to his own soul that he exhorts God’s people to do the same!
- “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge.”
When we pour out our hearts before God, when we speak to our soul words of faith and promise, we are ushered into the very presence of God by grace through faith. It is in this secret place that we encounter the wonderful provision of His overflowing grace in our lives.
Lord, the next time I am facing overwhelming odds, a great challenge that I cannot overcome, or deep sorrow and despondency – remind me to talk to myself. Remind me to speak to my soul!
- “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.”
In Jesus Name!
