It’s hard to overestimate just how valuable a soul friend can be to helping us realize a more disciplined life for the Lord. Today’s excerpt from The Disciplined Life can be found on pages 24 and 25:
“Our work at disciplining our bodies to serve Christ by true words and good works will proceed much more effectively if we have some friends who know what we’re seeking, share with us in the struggle, support us by their prayers and encouragement, and provide an example to whom we can look in our walk with the Lord.
“So, where can we find a person to be such a soul friend?
“If you’re married, your spouse is the place to start. Focusing together on your walk with and work for the Lord Jesus can provide a strong bond and foundation for building a lasting, loving marriage.
“Beyond that, you might need another person or two in your life to fulfill this high and holy calling. Look for someone with similar interests, someone who is as serious as you about disciplining your body for good works. Make sure your prospective soul friend understands the commitment of time and devotion that will be required, and that you are agreed on some working protocol for growing in your relationship together.
“Just make sure that you keep your soul relationships above reproach and beyond suspicion. You don’t want your good works to be looked at or talked about by others as potentially a context for evil. It’s best, therefore, that such relationships involve men with men and women with women.”
For reflection or discussion
1. How might soul friends exercise care and encouragement of one another’s soul? What would you do?
2. What are some Biblical examples of soul friends that might guide you in being one?
A soul friend is just that, someone who cares about what’s going on in your soul. Unless we are growing in the inner person—in our mind, heart, and conscience—we won’t be able to bring our bodies into submission to Jesus. A soul friend can be a great help in developing and maintaining a disciplined life. Share today’s podcast with some friends. See if any of them are interested in becoming soul friends. Get together and discuss what that will require. You can download a free copy of The Disciplined Life by going to The Ailbe Bookstore. Get yours, then share it with all your friends.
T. M. Moore
