Soul Care Articles We have hundreds of articles to help you connect with Jesus Christ, the Soul Shepherd.
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 By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
“It’s no sweat!” we say when something is easy for us. What if we lived life without sweating? Without straining, hurrying, or worrying?
That’s how Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden—till they separated themselves from God. Ever since people have been working by the sweat of their brow. But we misunderstand this and think that work is the curse. No! We were created by God to rule and reign with him (Genesis 1:28). Work is not the curse—sweat work is the curse.
How do you do your Work?
I talk with a lot of pastors and many other kinds of ministry leaders from [...]
Continue reading “No Sweat!”
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
Negative emotions. We all have them. We all have struggled with how to deal with emotions like worry, anger, depression, shame, ambition, lust, and jealousy—even a psychologist like me who has devoted 24 years to helping people overcome emotional problems.
Of course, having an emotion isn’t a problem—it’s normal. But how do we respond to troubling emotions? That’s the issue.
Emotions become “negative” when they are internalized or acted on in ways that harm yourself or others. Many of the ministry leaders and other Christ followers that we talk to struggle with negative emotions.
Learn from the Psalmist
“Do not worry… Do [...]
Continue reading Negative Emotions
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
On the cross Jesus let go of everything and abandoned all outcomes to the Father. To help him do this he prayed a line from Psalm 31:5 to his Abba: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
This is a prayer of submission to God that expresses how Jesus lived everyday of his life (John 5:19). We can apply this little prayer to any situation in our lives with powerful effects.
For instance, Jesus’ prayer has helped me and many people that I counsel and teach to overcome anxiety. Instead of worrying or trying to control how events turn out or what people [...]
Continue reading Put it in the Father’s Hands
Usually its better to slow down!
By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
I was coming down the stairs this morning with my arms full and heading out to an appointment that I was going to be late for when I spilled my cup full of cereal all down the stairs and across the entry! This is a parable…
Most pastors and leaders that my wife Kristi and I minister to have the same problem I had this morning – they’re carrying too much and they’re moving too fast. They’re under tremendous stress and have difficulty making time for the intimacy with Jesus that they crave and that [...]
Continue reading Hurry to Spill Mercy
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
Most every day I talk to someone who is afraid or anxious (which is generalized fear). Maybe you fear what people think of you… Not having enough money… Public speaking, flying, being far from home, or spiders… Failure or rejection… Losing a loved one… Disease or pain… Death…
We all long for more of God’s peace in the midst of the stresses of our lives!
How Many “Fear Nots” are There in the Bible?
It’s been said that there are 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible, one “Fear not” for every day of the year—actually there are more than 365 “Fear nots” in the [...]
Continue reading “Fear Not!” 365 days a year
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
Are you free – really free? Are you at peace being the person God created you to be and enjoying your life with him?
Many people we talk to are wearing a heavy yoke. They’re working all the time. Or they’re worried about money or their health or their kids. Or they’re tired of trying to please an impossible to please spouse. Or they’re depending on alcohol to relax.
How Did Jesus Stay Relaxed Under Pressure?
Jesus shows us a life of freedom. No one has had more pressure than Jesus. No one has had more responsibility, expectations, temptations, stress, or pain than Jesus. [...]
Continue reading Be Free! Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke!
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2010, 2011
Your identity, worth, meaning, and joy are in Christ alone – not in your performance or what people think of you. This is why the Apostle Paul urges us to place ourselves “in Christ” 110 times in his New Testament letters.
In Christ. What does it mean to be in Christ? Simply put, it is to enter the sabbath rest of the Lord Jesus’ Christ’s embrace.
Jesus’ arms are open to you – now and always! Perhaps the best way to appreciate this to take a “Selah.” (“Selah” is used 71 times by the Psalmist to invite us to pause and reflect as part of our [...]
Continue reading In Christ Alone
 By Bill Gaultiere © 1992
As a young man and a new psychologist I spent years in my own psychotherapy, getting help with anxiety and depression.
Being in therapy was the best training I could’ve received to be a therapist for others — but that’s not why I did it.
I went in therapy because I was overwhelmed with pressures to achieve, be ideal, and make other people happy. I was afraid of failure because my self-esteem was always on the line. I felt guilty if I said no to people and opportunities so I kept trying to do more and more.
I Needed a Christ’s Ambassador
Through my [...]
Continue reading Becoming “I”
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2010
I’ve heard it said: “I pray when I’m in trouble. I pray all the time!”
I relate! I’m in trouble all the time! Realizing this is the secret to a great prayer life.
When our circumstances are pleasant it’s easy to forget that we’re in trouble: the world is vain, demons are near, temptations abound, trials are coming, people are starving, we will die.
We have to remind ourselves: “I am in trouble!” Then we will pray!
“I am in Trouble”, inspired by Psalm 34:15-22, is just the prayer prompt that we need. Pray it for yourself. Pray it for the people the Lord puts [...]
Continue reading I am in Trouble
 By Bill Gaultiere © 2008, 2010
I was thinking of Jesus’ words: “Don’t worry. Look at the birds… Your Heavenly Father cares for them. Aren’t you much more valuable than them?” (Matthew 6:25-26, PAR). (The Psalmist had a similar meditation that Jesus may have drawn from, Psalm 104:12, 17, 27-30).
And they inspired me to sit down and do some bird watching while I prayed today as I was alone with Jesus in the quiet for a few hours. As I watched and listened to what was going on above my head Jesus spoke to my heart.
Don’t misunderstand me. The Lord’s voice didn’t come to me like lightening [...]
Continue reading Don’t Worry – Listen to the Birds
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By Bill Gaultiere © 2011
