When the soul lacks a centre - from Soul Keeping by John Ortberg

As I mentioned earlier,  the New Testament book of James uses a fascinating word to describe this condition.  It's often translated "double-minded," but the Greek word is dipsuchos - we might think of it as double souled or split-souled or the un-centred soul. Here are a few of the indicators when a soul lacks a centre.

A soul without a centre has difficulty making a decision.   ....

A soul without a centre feels constantly vulnerable to people or circumstances ....

A soul without a centre lacks patience.....

A soul without a centre is easily thrown......

The soul without a centre finds its identity in externals. My temptation when my soul is not centred in God is to try to control my life. In the Bible this is spoken of in terms of the lifting up of one's soul. The prophet Habakkuk said that the opposite of living in faithful dependence on God is to lift up your soul up in pride.  The psalmist says that the person who can live in God's presence is the one who has not lifted up their soul to an idol.

When my soul is not centred in God, I define myself by my accomplishments, or my physical appearance, or my title, or my important friends. When I lose these, I lose my identity.

(from Soul Keeping pp 99-104)

photo credit: † David Gunter via photopin cc