How does God restore my soul?

Psalm 23

The phrase “He restores my soul” is found in Psalm 23: 3. The Psalmist wrote, “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23 has been variously called The Pearl of Psalms, The Nightingale Psalm, The Shepherd’s Song, etc. For it presents the picture of the tender Shepherd leading His flock to rest and feed “in green pastures” “beside the still waters.” It also gives the picture of the gracious Host, providing superabundance of food and thoughtful care for His guest.

But there is a more magnificent spiritual meaning to Psalm 23:3, and that is, the picture of a character transformed by God’s law. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalms 19:7). For the glory of God is most fully seen in producing a righteous harmonious character.

How Does God Restore My Soul?

In order for God to restore our souls, we need to cooperate with Him and allow Him to do the change of character by taking the following steps:

1. Remove sin from the heart. The Bible states that sin cuts the connection between us and the Lord. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). When we confess our sins and forsake them, the Lord promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
2. Study God’s Word daily to hear His voice. We hear God speak to us through His Spirit. The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
3. Talk continually to the Lord through prayer for prayer is the breath of life. Jesus gives us the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. In addition, the book of Psalms includes many prayers that can be of help in our daily walk with the Lord.
4. Be a part of the body of Christ or the church. The Psalms present many invitations from God to His people to come and fellowship with Him in His sanctuary (Psalm 95:1-2; Hebrews 10:25).
5. Obey the Lord. Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:23). Obedience is the acid test of loyalty to God. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).
6. Witness of God’s amazing love. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9; Acts 1:8). When a person shares his faith with others, his own spiritual experience gets strengthened and blessed.
7. Live in praise. The Bible tells us that God “inhabits the praises of Israel” (Psalms 22:3). Praise and gratitude allows the Lord to live in our hearts and purify our souls for “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

If we take these seven steps toward the Lord, He promises to restore our souls. For He said, “If from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team