Happy New Year! I know. New Year’s Day was a couple of weeks ago, and you may be thinking that I’m a little behind in my greetings. But honestly, don’t you agree that ringing in a New Year requires an entire month? I mean, how in the world is it possible to reflect on the old, think on the new, and set goals and resolutions in a single day?
This time of year, with all its reflecting, pondering, and giving intentional thought to what lies ahead, very naturally brings us face-to-face with yet another of the Spiritual Disciplines – self-reflection.
The Spiritual Discipline of self-reflection goes by many names self-examination, soul searching, searching the soul and more. For our purposes, we will go with searching the soul in a small and simple effort to help keep our focus on Christ and not on ourselves.
A Reminder
Before we explore this powerful discipline, let’s recall a couple of things we previously determined about the spiritual disciplines.
First, there is no comprehensive list of the Disciplines. Since one complete and standardized list does not exist, we may or may not find searching the soul (self-reflection) on any given list.
Second, since it is possible for anything to be called a Spiritual Discipline, we have chosen to test each proposed Discipline before including it on our list of Disciplines. Our test is simple. Is the Discipline found in the pages of Scripture? If so, we will choose, with great intentionality and purpose, to learn to use the Discipline in our pursuit of spiritual transformation.
Self-reflection (Searching the Soul) Defined
Self-reflection, or searching the soul, is an intentional and deliberate time set aside to slow down and look back on a period of time in your life with the purpose of learning from your experiences, desires, and feelings. It is the spiritual practice of paying attention in order that we might grow in our love for God and others. It’s taking the time to identify and acknowledge our stuff.
What is our stuff? It might be fear, anger, bitterness, or a judgmental attitude. It can be things such as worry, selfishness, or pride. Our stuff can be any number of things, but whatever it is, the Bible calls it sin.
Paying attention to our stuff (sin) is very important to our growth in Christlikeness. This Discipline of self-reflection helps to reveal those things that draw us away from God.
Engaging in this Discipline helps us to learn more about ourselves – deep things, sometimes hard things – things that we wish we didn’t know or do not want to admit. Things, difficult as they are, that need to be acknowledged and dealt with.
Searching the soul is not an easy task. It is, in fact, a very difficult and humbling experience. One that causes us to realize that we are not as wonderful as we think we are, and that life is simply not all about us. Soul searching can even be an extremely painful experience.
The Spiritual Discipline of self-reflection butts up against our culture. It requires us to shut out the noise and set aside the busy. It demands that we set specific time aside to be quiet, still, and alone. For it is only from this place that we can begin to process what is in our hearts and then take it to the Lord.
This space for soul searching and communion with God is absolutely necessary for our growth in Christlikeness. Without it, we tend to operate on autopilot. In the noise and busyness of everyday life, we move along influenced by the people around us, driven by the values of this worldly culture. Intentional self-reflection helps us create space for quieting the noise, sitting with God, asking meaningful questions, and deepening our relationship with Him.
In Scripture
Some Christians choose to denounce or steer clear of the discipline of self-reflection stating that it too closely mirrors the concept of Eastern mysticism. But recall that the New Testament provides us with ample proof that wonderful things can be twisted. Think Pharisees!
Eastern mysticism calls for an emptying of the mind. Biblical meditation calls for a filling of the mind with God’s Word. Self-reflection as a Spiritual Discipline, calls for a searching of the heart with our focus on God. And just as the Discipline of biblical meditation is found in the pages of Scripture, so it is with self-reflection. Let’s examine two instances.
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28
Here, in Paul’s teaching on communion, he directs his listeners to “examine” themselves, or self-reflect, before taking part. The reason he mentions it is because there were many divisions and conflicts in the community of these believers, and Paul knew these believers were doing nothing to heal the divisions and the conflicts. Indeed, they were going on with life and the status quo.
In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul is calling them out and exhorting them to check their hearts. He knew that neither individuals nor the church should persist in unresolved conflict and sin.
This truth holds for us today. We simply cannot grow in Christlikeness while sin abounds in our lives. Yes, there will be conflict. There will be struggle. But we cannot stay there, persisting in it.
Searching the soul regularly allows us to deal with our sin so that it does not interfere with our relationships with others or with God.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
Here is David. His eyes on God not on himself, willing to be searched. For what purpose?
Not knowing the depths of his sin nor his needfulness, he asks the Lord to search out those depths so that he can process what he learns and grow in spiritual maturity.
Another example that is true for believers today. It is difficult to know the depths of our own sin or needfulness. Clarity requires God’s involvement, and self-reflection is a powerful tool in the process.
A Final Thought
Our Spiritual Formation will not happen overnight. It is a process – a lifelong journey of growing to become more and more like Christ.
A very necessary part of this process is the Discipline of searching the soul – the deliberate and regular taking of an honest inventory of our stuff. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for our growth.
In this culture it won’t happen naturally, but it is certainly a Discipline worth fighting the noise and the busyness for!
