September 2025
Issue 234

How to feed your soul

It's true we Christians have the Holy Spirit living inside us, but we also can help ourselves by doing a few simple tasks. Just as God doesn't stuff food into our faces, he doesn't jam the Bible into our ear either. We have some responsibilities, but the good news is the dividend they pay in peace of mind.

Here's a bit of insight from a guy who was around long before the Internet. Our current way of life, with a firehose of information blasting at us every second, is not normal. Each of us has let devices take over and rule our life.

And it's not healthy, either for your body or your soul. Over time it erodes the life out of you.

You wouldn't starve your body and expect to stay well. The same is true for your invisible soul. See how to avoid spiritual malnutrition at how to feed your soul.

That's who

I saw a patient man today
who had to wait for me.
His calmness was a healing balm
that set my sad heart free.

I saw a hopeful boy today,
his young eyes full of dreams.
And I remembered my own plans
not long ago, it seems.

Then I saw a lonely cross
on a steeple high above.
And I thought about my Savior
and his sacrificial love.

I saw an image of myself
reflected in my mirror.
And when I thought of Jesus,
He took away my fear.

I want to be like He is,
and help the souls I see.
I want to love like Jesus.
That's who I want to be.

~ Jack Zavada, www.inspiration-for-singles.com, 2025 ~

Where did we get this idea?

Certainly not from the Bible. In the OT, David and the other psalmists did their share of complaining about being down in the dumps. And while the apostle Paul was full of joy in lousy circumstances, even he was disappointed by friends who deserted him.

Happiness is like fun: It's a temporary thing. Just as you can't have fun all the time, happiness is a state that comes and goes.

What is realistic for the Christian is peace and joy. We have those to the degree we trust God. More trust, more peace. More trust, more joy. And those feelings are deep and satisfying.

Here's how to explode the myth that you can be happy all the time.

The book nobody's talking about!

Yet every month you read my articles in this newsletter and think, "Hmmm, that makes sense."

If you can't judge a book by its cover, you can judge it by what you've learned here and on www.inspiration-for-singles.com:

First, Hope for Hurting Singles. was written by a single person with more than 45 years in the single life, not some popular (but married) TV evangelist.

Second, you'll not only learn what to do in difficult life situations but what not to do, based on real world trial-and-error. These principles will save you years of frustration.

Third, you'll appreciate that everything in Hope for Hurting Singles is biblical. No crackpot theories here.

What this book is NOT about is how to find a mate. If I had a surefire answer for that, this book would be on the bestseller lists! Instead, it's practical advice on how to deal with everyday problems like loneliness, anger, anxiety, bitterness, low self-esteem, shyness, and depression.

If you're a single Christian, Hope for Hurting Singles' $10.99 cover price will be a wise decision. You'll be saying, "Everybody should be talking about this book!"

September QOTM: The effective life

We singles can easily get caught up. We're all looking for approval, and it's natural to pursue the things that bring it. If you're a Christian, you have the approval that matters most: God's.

God appreciates your obedience, but he's not a mean schoolmaster standing over you with a yardstick, ready to whack you whenever you mess up. And we all mess up. Every day, in fact.

Knowing you're right with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ gives you peace of soul. You don't have to strive for something you already have. Care for your soul. See to its health even more than you do your body. Pray. Thank God for his love that flows through you and out to others.

If you want to hear from God, be still

Then why would we think we could show that kind of disrespect to God? Maybe it's because we think whatever we're doing is more important than him.

Think about it. Your phone is not more important than God. Neither is your music. Neither is whatever you're binge-watching on TV. C'mon. They're not.

You have to make time for God by shutting off your devices once in a while. He won't compete with them.

If you've ever complained that you never hear from God, take a guess at why. You have to be still so you can listen to him.

Here are some tips to help you open yourself to God.

Hey fellow single! Stop doom scrolling; start hope scrolling

A better idea is hope scrolling, which is defined as: "the act of deliberately searching for and consuming positive content that may feature acts of kindness, uplifting stories, art, humor, coziness, self or community improvement, the beauty of nature, etc."

One way to hope scroll is go through the Bible, available f/ree online at bible.com, King James Bible online study Bible, or New International Version.

Another way to read encouraging stuff is to go to the Inspire-O-Gram back issue archives at: Inspire-O-Gram back issues index.

Much, much better for your soul than doom scrolling!

The best fre/ebie you'll find all month!

It's 56 pages long and there are no catches. You don't have to leave your email address. All you have to do is download it and read it! The Bible says Jesus was like us in every way except sin. And he is like you and me because he was single during his time on earth. Read how he responded to temptations and the human problems single people face. This is biblical wisdom you can put to use in your own life.

Go to this page to get your F*REE copy of Jesus for Singles.

That concludes the September Inspire-O-Gram, fellow singlebopper. It's a privilege for me to visit you every month. I hope you found something helpful in this issue.

To comment on this newsletter or any aspect of the single life, our secure contact form will forward your message directly to my personal inbox, and I'll reply to you within a couple days.

We'll be heading into that holiday season soon, when time goes so fast you feel like a snail at a jackrabbit convention. Ha! Can't wait for that.

Until October, then,

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.