Sometimes I struggle with the practical, I am much more of a daydreamer. So, though to some of you these may seem like common sense, let me assure you, they were not part of my common sense.
It's important first to understand the differences between your spirit and your soul. Here is the easiest way for me to describe it, your spirit is the husband and your soul is the wife. When your spirit, which is the head, is nurtured and charged up, the soul can then come underneath the spirit into a place of rest, fulfilling what needs to be fulfilled under a proper and healthy covering. Sometimes as wives, we tend to want to be in front (oh wait, is that only me?) and then what happens, a hot mess. Everything is out of wack, your husband is frustrated, you're frustrated. Riiiight. But when he is filled up, he encourages you to also fill up and rest, free to express yourself and care for yourself in ways that re-charge you...and vise versa. Both spirit and soul are equally important, it's just that they have different roles. The spirit was meant to take the lead.
So, how do you nurture your spirit? Well, I'm sure there are many ways, and I'm still learning, but here are a few ways that I use to nurture my spirit.
First things first, I call my spirit to the front. It's ok. You can speak to yourself and to your spirit. I promise, it's a good thing. For those who are the sensitive type, you may even feel a shift or butterflies in your stomach. Then, I usually have a small prayer I do that goes something like this: (feel free to pause as you feel things shifting--no need to hurry)
I call my spirit to attention in the Name of Jesus, I now ask my soul to step aside, and I call my spirit to the front. I bless my spirit in the Name of Jesus. I now call my soul to attention. I bless my soul in the Name of Jesus. I ask my soul to come behind my spirit. I now call my body to attention, I bless my body in the Name of Jesus. I ask my body to come behind my soul, which is behind my spirit. I ask for divine alignment between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and my spirit, soul, and body. I ask for fresh infilling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be with me throughout the day.
Whew. I feel better already. It's like a chiropractic adjustment. (I have a longer version of this prayer that is just wonderful. If you want it, just email me!)
Next on the list...
Spirit Blessings: These are amazing and have probably been one of the best ways to change a bad day around quickly. I went through these two books in order, and I was touched the way God lined each blessing up exactly with what was going on in my day. With your spirit already in the front, you are all ready to soak up some blessings through your WHOLE being.
Here are two fantastic resources: Here and also Here.
There is even a sample blessing that you can read through before you possibly choose to purchase one.
Just by doing this, especially in the morning, I can start my day off feeling full and rich and with a lot to give to my hubby, Ella, and Howie. ;)
Some other ways I nurture my spirit throughout the day include:
Participating in some creative medium whether writing, dance, acting, etc. You can choose whatever activity makes you feel nurtured.
Read the Bible with my spirit up front. It's amazing what you'll see that you didn't notice before.
Pray in my prayer language. Paul said he prayed in tongues to edify and build himself up. Yup. So, if you have one, feel the freedom to do so. It works. And quickly. And you can even do it when washing the dishes or scrubbing the kitchen floor.
Make time to hang out with big-spirited people. You know who they are. And when you find a friend who is also nurturing his or her spirit, your relationship goes to a whole different level. I think it's the community and intimacy that we are all looking for in friendships, and in marriage, and in family. Spirit to spirit is much deeper than soul to soul.
Bless someone else's spirit. It is as easy as a simple compliment (that is genuine--not flattery) that validates who they are, or you can read a blessing from one of the books above to another person, or you can bless someone spontaneously with what comes to you in the moment. David and I often take time to read blessings over each other and over Ella from the books mentioned above. It never gets old. Just think of how many times in the Bible people were waiting to be blessed or to receive the inheritance. Jesus died, so we can ALL receive infinite blessings and our inheritances. But so often, people just don't know where to find them. Be blessed!
As far as the kiddo's go, I love to read and write my own blessings over Ella. I also like to include her when I'm doing something that nurtures my spirit. I love to dance, so I bring Ella along to dance with me. Most often our kids will have some interests that are similar to ours, and that brings an opportunity for us to connect on a deeper level. In fact, David's been learning to play the guitar. And when he takes it out to play, even just the beginning chords he's learning, Ella immediately starts to dance. It's so beautiful. It's spirit to spirit.
I also try to be very intentional of blessing Ella directly in the eyes. She is a toddler, so they are often quick ones, but it is so very sweet when our eyes meet, and I say "I just love you!" or "You're so wonderful!" There is something supernatural about eye contact; it opens up our spirits to one another. David and I laugh sometimes because Ella often stares at people...strangers, friends, whoever....right in the eyes. She's always seeking a more intimate place of knowing someone because that's what she knows. People think she's having a staring contest, but really, she's just getting to know them. ;)
I also try to have playdates for Ella with other kids who are big-spirited. Just like we need time with friends who nourish us, so do our kids.
And most importantly, I live out of my nurtured spirit as best as I can as often as I can. When Ella is around me when I am flourishing, she automatically flourishes. She is in the copy cat stage, and she's looking to her parents to know how to live.
And last but not least, be flexible. I don't do all of these everyday. Realistically, some days are better than others, but I try to do at least several things to nurture my spirit and Ella's spirit everyday. And I leave myself open to new things. Sometimes it's driving with the windows down, sometimes it's a movie, sometimes it's new music. It's different every day, but for me, I love the variety because it keeps me constantly searching for something new.
We've been nurturing our spirits intentionally for about four years now, and I have never felt more alive. It's amazing how our perspective shifts and how miracles occur when our spirits are up front.
So, all that to say...I hope your spirit's are nourished and nurtured today!!!
(A picture of Ella helping me choreograph a dance with fun fabrics and one of Ella dancing to Daddy's song)
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