“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” Ps 19.7
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul…” Ps 23.2-3a
“I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” Ps 31.7
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Ps 94.18, 19
“Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For You, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” Ps 116.7-8
Charles Wesley’s famous hymn called Jesus the “Lover of my soul,” and painting a picture of raging waters and a “storm of life” asks, even pleads with Jesus to be his refuge, his hiding place.
But this morning I am singing an older hymn – my current favorite “oldie” written sometime in the 1700’s: Be Still, My Soul. Amy Grant has an a m a z i n g rendition of it!
The soul, they say say, is the mind, the will and the emotions part of us. It is the center of the human personality and at times we think if we could just get past that part of ourselves, we could really serve God, be faithful, be holy. But I really think Jesus is the Lover of our souls. I think that is the part of us He created that brings Him a lot of joy. For even though that is where the anguish and battle of self-rule try to rage, the soul is also the part of us that makes the decision to repent.
Does He love me? All of me? Does He love the mind He created in me? Does He love my emotions? Does He love my very personality? Does some of it need a workover? Oh, yes, at times. But we are spirit, soul and body – and He made all of that – on purpose. He is the lover of my soul.
Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side Bear patienty the cross of grief or pain Leave to thy God to order and provide In every change He faithful will remain Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Be still my soul the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt here below…
Found before him imperfect and unfinished
Whether now or then or before time
He knew me every wit
And still, he let me be, undiminished
Oh, what a love sublime.
Your reference to the great hymn “Be Still, My Soul,” caught my eye. Today is the 312th anniversary of the birth of the author, Katharina von Schlegal. Haven’t heard Amy Grant’s version, but if you’d like to hear another, a hauntingly beautiful rendition by Libra, check out my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns, for today. God bless.