Joshua 22:5

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and

the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged

you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all

his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to

cleave unto him; and to serve him with all your

heart and with all your soul.

Meditation:

What associations do I have with the idea of soulful service?

Affirmation:

I give heart service to God today.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that you desire the service of your people.

Deuteronomy 13:6

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son,

or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy

friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee

secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods,

which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers...

thou shalt not consent unto him...

Meditation:

What pressures have I experienced from and family and/or friends

to involve myself in unwholesome activities?

Affirmation:

I serve only the LORD in every way.

Prayer:

Lord God, please keep me steady in my service to you this day and always.

Psalms 3:2,3

Many there be which say of my soul,

There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Meditation:

When recently have I experienced God as a shield? Can this

imagery be helpful for me today?

Affirmation:

My defender is God.

Prayer:

I am in awe, Lord, of the glory that you share with all people,

no matter what their circumstances.

Job 31:28-30

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge:

for I should have denied the God that is above, If I

rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me or lift

up myself when evil found him: Neither have I

suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse on his soul.

Meditation:

What is my usual reaction to the person who does me harm?

Affirmation:

I cherish God and wish no harm.

Prayer:

O Holy One, please calm my soul and hold me close when I am tempted

to curse my enemy.

Job 30:25

Did I not weep for him that was in trouble?

Was not my soul grieved for the poor?

Meditation:

Who created the compassion in Job's heart?

Affirmation:

I take time to feel the troubles of others.

Meditation:

Thank you, God, for your servant Job's concern for the troubled and

the poor. Thank you for all souls who respond with feeling to those who are in trouble.

Job 12:9,10

Who knoweth not in all these (creatures) that

the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In

whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

and the breath of all mankind.

Meditation:

How do I respond to the thought that every living thing has a soul,

a soul which is in the care of God?

Affirmation:

My God is large enough to care about every living thing on the earth.

Prayer:

I praise You and wonder about You, Creator God, for all your involvement

in your Creation.

Job 9:20,21

If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me:

if I say, I am perfect, yet would I not know my soul:

I would despise my life.

Meditation:

How does perfectionism keep me from knowing my own soul?

Affirmation:

I enjoy freedom from self-justification.

Prayer:

Father God, please forgive my arrogance in having thought that I

could judge or justify my own soul.

1 Kings 17:21-22

And he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child

three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O my God,

I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul

of the child came into him again, and he revived.

Meditation:

How could the man of God bring the child's soul back into his body?

Affirmation:

God has all the power over life and death.

Prayer:

I am completely in awe of your power, Lord God; and I praise

you for your supreme will in every situation.

1 Samuel 25:29

Yet a man is risen to pursue (you David)

and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my

lord shall be bound in a bundle of life

with the Lord thy God...

Meditation:

When recently have I felt very close to God?

Affirmation:

Life with God is my reality.

Prayer:

In closeness to you my Lord is the experience of living; and I give

you thanks for every breath.

1 Samuel 26:21

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son

David: for I will no more do thee harm, because

my soul was precious in thine eyes this day...

Meditation:

Is there anything more precious than a soul to me?

Affirmation:

I see the precious souls of my friends and of my enemies.

Prayer:

God, please save me from fearful, divisive thoughts in relationship

with the people who are precious to me and to You.

2 Samuel 4:9

And David answered... As the Lord liveth,

who hath redeemed my soul out of all

adversity.

Meditation:

Who shall I thank for arriving safely to this day?

Affirmation:

The living God brings me out of adversity.

Prayer:

Lord God, I offer you praise and worship for the redemptive quality

of our Love as evidenced in the life of King David!

Psalms 13:2a

How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

having sorrow in my heart daily...

Meditation:

What if any sorrow is in my heart every day?

Affirmation:

I give attention to the feelings in my heart.

Prayer:

Thank-you Lord God for all the feelings you have created within the abundant life.

Luke 2:35

Yea (Mary) a sword shall pierce through

thy soul also, that the thoughts of many

hearts may be revealed.

Meditation:

What thoughts and feelings do I have in relation to Mary's suffering at the Cross?

Affirmation:

Today I open my heart in connection to Jesus and Mary.

Prayer:

Lord God, I worship you and praise you for the heartfelt love and devotion of all your followers.

Psalms 11:1

In the Lord I put my trust: how say ye

to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

Meditation:

Might I remember and imagine communing with God in a peaceful

natural setting as part of my prayer time today?

Affirmation:

To God, my soul is as light as a bird.

Prayer:

I praise you my Father God, that King David heard your voice

calling to his soul; and I pray that I too may hear your call today.

Psalms 6:4

Return, O Lord, deliver my soul:

oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

Meditation:

How much freedom can my soul aspire to within the love of Christ Jesus?

Affirmation:

The mercy of the Lord gives my soul new life.

Prayer:

Thank-you God for the Psalms which speak to heart and soul of your

deliverance and mercy.

Psalms 7:1-2

O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust:

save me from all them that persecute me, and

deliver me lest he tear my soul like a lion,

rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

Meditation:

Have I ever felt that my soul was torn? What was the cause?

Affirmation:

I trust the healing of my soul to God.

Prayer:

All powerful God, my Father, I am trusting your Mercy to deliver me from any thought within myself or within my enemies, which could destroy my soul.

Deuteronomy 11:18

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words

in your heart and in your soul, and bind them

a sign upon your hand, that they may be

frontlets between your eyes.

Meditation:

Have I made an effort lately to place the good words of scripture in my soul

and heart through memorization, prayer or study?

Affirmation:

I am able to read the Good News in life today.

Prayer:

May I not be content, Lord God, until my soul's purpose is revealed to me

through your word and through your grace.

Numbers 30:2

If a man vow unto the Lord,

or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond;

he shall not break his word, he shall do

according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Meditation:

Where is my soul bound and why?

Affirmation:

With my word I bind my soul to Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

May my more of my words give you glory, Lord Jesus.

Genesis 30:12

When thou takest the sum of the children

of Israel after their number, then shall they

give every man a ransome for his soul unto the

Lord, when thou numberest them, that there

be no plague among them when thou

numberest them.

Meditation:

What shall I give to the Lord in gratitude for my soul?

Affirmation:

My soul has value to God.

Prayer:

I praise you and thank you Creator God, for the vast numbers of people who

have wanted to give back to you in exchange for the value of their souls.

Genesis 42:21

And they (Jacob's brothers) said one to another,

we are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that

we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us,

and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come

upon us.

Meditation:

When recently have I seen a soul in anguish? How did I respond

and why did I respond that way?

Affirmation:

I am ready with God's help to respond to the pain of others.

Prayer:

Lord God, I pray that you will forgive me for all the times I have refused to hear with

empathy the needs of other people. Please help me to listen with your love.

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust

of the ground, and breathed into his

nostrils the breath of life: and man

became a living soul.

Meditation:

In what circumstances do I most often experience myself as a soul, and not

just a personality?

Affirmation:

My breath is from God.

Prayer:

Lord God, I rely on you for inspiration. May I humbly regard your presence

in all souls.

Genesis 27:4,5a

And make me savoury meat, such as I love,

and bring it to me, that I may eat: that my

soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah

heard Isaac spake to Esau his son.

Meditation:

How are blessing and eating related in my life?

Affirmation:

Today I seek to bless and to notice how I am blessed.

Prayer:

Creator God, thank you for your plan which works its way out in the

intimacy of families and food.

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one

of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous...

Meditation:

Will I choose thoughts today that inspire me to courtesy and compassion?

Affirmation:

I surrender my thinking to Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

I praise and adore you God for the love that unifies minds and leads to service.

1 Peter 1:13

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober, and hope to the end for the grace

that is to be brought unto you at the

revelation of Christ Jesus.

Meditation:

How will I strengthen my mind today?

Affirmation:

The strength of my mind is grace and hope.

Prayer:

God, Father of my mind, may I be confirmed today in hope and in grace.

James 5:8

Be ye also patient: stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Meditation:

Is my heart steady towards the Lord today, or is there some particular

worry that is crowding Him out?

Affirmation:

I steady my heart for the coming of the Lord.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I cherish the promise of your return in Christ Jesus.