A Weekly Soul Planner
Many people struggle these days because of the pressures placed upon them from work, family, commitments, and even church. Folks are often running on empty and depleted spiritually. They don’t do this on purpose, it’s just that the 21st century is making impossible demands and personal urgencies on all of us. Most people that I know wish that they could ‘get it together’ – faith, family, finances, and friendships. Unfortunately, the self-imposed pressures that we lay upon ourselves lead to more stress, more isolation, and more dissatisfaction with life in general.
With this in mind, here’s a simple way to try to rediscover and recapture a solid spiritual life which will refresh our weary souls and calm our restless spirits. It’s a basic mnemonic created from the names that we give each day. :)
Sunday – S is for Sacred Day. Make time to meet other Christians and worship God. This does replenish the soul, gives you a good feeling, and makes a great start to the week.
Monday – M is for Meditation Day. Read over the passages from scripture from yesterday’s worship service, or start a new book of the Bible, reading a new chapter sequentially each week. Look at each verse and think about what it means for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you guidance.
Tuesday – T is for Teaching Day. Choose a character from the Old or New Testament and do some research on the internet. Read about the person and ask how her or his faith affects your own. You could also choose the name of a Biblical city or a book of the Bible.
Wednesday – W is for Witness Day. Think about someone in your family, circle of friends, colleague at work, or member at church who is undergoing a personal crisis, illness, or tough time. Send an encouraging card, email, Facebook message, or text to let them know that you’re thinking about them, praying for them, and are ready to support them. Supportive love and sincere compassion are great ways to faithfully witness to others.
Thursday – Th is for Thanksgiving Day. Take time to thank God for the blessings you have experienced this week. Make a short list of the good things, good people, and good times. Delight in God’s gladness for you and receive a renewed sense of purpose, meaning, and satisfaction.
Friday – F is for Family or Friendship Day. Call a friend or family member today; skype with a loved one who is far away. Life is too short to neglect those who mean so much to us. Make TGIF real by communicating and celebrating with a loved one.
Saturday – Sa is for the Sabbath Day. Rest, be thankful, chill out and relax. You are a wonderful creation and a child of God’s grace. Enjoy this day as a gift from God. Be happy. Don’t worry. :)
Experiencing each week like this may help you to draw closer to God, as well as friends and family. Try it for a month. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how meaningful each day will become.
God bless!
© John Stuart 2014
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has written sixteen devotional e-books, exclusively available on Amazon. He is also a creative artist whose religious drawings have been used by many churches around the world, as well as on the front covers of religious magazines.
He writes regularly online at his Heaven’s Highway blog. His drawings can also be seen on his art page at Stushie’s Art.
