Oprah’s advice on reaching your soul…

Do you have a spiritual practice?

Recently Oprah told a group of graduating students at a commencement speech that the key to her success was that she was confident and self aware. She also said to be successful they had to have a Spiritual Practice. She went on further, this practice did not have to be a religion. It could be an exercise regime, dancing, listening to music etc. Whatever it might be, they needed to touch their soul through a spiritual practice to be successful. Her exact quote was: “[That’s] not necessarily religion. … Maybe it’s music, or dancing or just time for yourself to feed and nurture your own spirit.” She also said to them to go ahead and make an impact on their world; they should engage in conversations out of where they have come from; out of their truth. She encouraged them to be women of compassion and substance. She heralded them to focus on substance. Success will come when you focus on substance. She re-enforced the notion that success is good; she loves it. However they should let failure become their friend, because there is much to learn from a place of failure also.

You can imagine how these young graduates received her advice. This is Oprah! She is very successful and very wealthy. Well known and enjoys immense following. Believe her of course, like the goddess of well-being. Yes, I agree, we must be confident people. We must be sure of the good work the Lord has done in us.

Oprah went on to tell these graduates that they should not get hung up on material objects. She said: “The biggest reward is not financial benefits — though it’s really good, you can get a lot of great shoes. Nothing wrong with great shoes. But those of you who have a lot of shoes know that having great shoes — and a closet full of shoes, or cars, or houses or square footage — doesn’t fill up your life. Living a life of substance can.”

This is great advice. I love it; most especially since a lot of us Christians are so hung up on material things. These things have become gods in many churches; unfortunately these things have led to many ‘a lost way’ among Christians. Indeed, material things do not sustain you; and a Spiritual Practice certainly does not sustain us either.

My question is what does a spiritual practice mean? What does spirituality mean? In often terms, people connote touching your soul during such a spiritual practice. Yes, reaching within and touching your core; reaching in and touching what makes you you. I guess the goal of a spiritual practice would be to enter a restful place. I suppose you can reach your soul through listening to music, dancing, doing some yoga etc. And when you touch your soul, what happens next? What happens when you touch a broken soul? What happens when your soul is tortured by the past mistakes you have made? And yoga does not heal; lyrics do not calm; exercise does not give a way out? Can these practices really give your soul rest?

What can give your soul rest?

Hebrews 4 answers this question. Verse 9 says There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
I understand from this scripture that a rest has already being guaranteed. And yet this promise can be elusive if we do not believe and trust in God. And so regardless of how many spiritual practices we might engage in as a vehicle to get us to a restful place, we will ultimately never be able to enter the rest we so covet – until we believe in God through His Son, and we obey Him. May God help us in this quest for peace.

Just a thought…
 

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.