“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I don’t know exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way my mother encouraged me to do things that were good for my soul. Whatever those things might be (these days it’s a good sweat, some time hanging with my dog, and time with either family or chosen family that top my list), she told me, doing them would pay me dividends in my faith, my health and my ministry.

My Mom is seldom wrong and she couldn’t have been more right in this case.

So at this hectic, stressful time of year, I look for things that are good for my soul.

Tonight, I attended the Let There Be Music Choir’s Christmas concert. And it was so very good for my soul. To see this group of elder singers perform both spiritual and ‘secular’ holiday songs, to sit with members of my congregation, to life my voice along with all the others during the congregational songs, was just GOOD FOR MY SOUL.

I am convinced that this is what the scriptures mean when they say – whatever is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things. When we focus on the good, we our encouraged and some of the world-weary, disillusioned, embittered cracks in our souls begin to heal.

This is actually what worship is all about. In worship, we focus on Jesus who is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. And Jesus begins again (every week!) his work of healing our souls.

This Advent, may you lift your voice in song (whether you can sing or not!), may you be surrounded by those you love, may you do what is good for your soul, and may you recognize the One who is working to heal your soul.