We are a living soul that requires care. Your overall health has everything to do with your soul. So how does one care for the soul?  What are its basic needs to be healthy?  And how does a person, for example one with Alzheimer’s, other dementia, or brain disorder, who does not have the cognitive ability to effectively communicate or respond to their environment, care for their soul?

To answer these questions, let’s look at nine (9) basic needs of the soul, learned by praying and studying the ‘soul’ in the Word of God.

1. Your soul needs to be protected & watched over—the LORD is the keeper of your soul

In Psalm 121 (WEB), we learn that the LORD (Yahweh) is the help of those who seek Him and He is the keeper of your soul. (Emphases added)

2. Your soul needs salvation and eternal life

The most important thing our soul, our whole being, needs is God’s salvation.  When God saves our soul, He saves us whole.

The peace and love of God is our inheritance through Jesus Christ. God’s greatest gift is the gift of himself to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

When the Word of God speaks, He speaks the words of eternal life and why Jesus calls himself “the bread of life”. He is our source of true food for our soul.

(Emphases added below in Scripture)

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 WEB)

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. (Psalm 35:9 KJV)

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2 NIV) 

For you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower from the enemy.
I will dwell in your tent forever.
I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah. (Psalm 61:3-4 WEB)

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8 KJV)

3. Your soul requires nourishment that comes by feeding on the Word of God

Just like our physical bodies run on foods that convert to energy to fuel our body, our souls run on a kind of energy that converts to spiritual energy to stir and inspire our soul. That energy is hope for the future. (Emphases added below in Scripture)

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB)

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4 HCSB)

Hope energizes the soul and the promises of God feed our soul with hope. The Holy Bible is a book full of God’s promises and stories that illustrate God making and keeping His promises. We humans are designed by God to nourish our soul with the Word of God. It is alive and active:

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 WEB)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NIV)

For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (John 6:33 HCSB)

For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen” is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20 HCSB)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

4. Your soul needs to be centered on God continuously

Love God with all your soul, all that is within you. Bless the LORD, pray, fast, meditate, and pursue Him day and night. Searching the Scriptures and reading the stories in the Bible is the way to learn and experience God’s will, goodness, and faithfulness. (Emphases added below in Scripture)

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits: (Psalm 103:1 NKJV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:2-3 NKJV)

The Lord will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8 HCSB)

Hear His words, learn, and fear Him all the days of your life on earth. Teach your children and others. Give your testimony.

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.' (Deuteronomy 4:9-10 NKJV)

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7 NIV)

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19 NKJV)

Bring joy to the soul of your servant,
    for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
    abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
Hear, Yahweh, my prayer.
    Listen to the voice of my petitions.
In the day of my trouble I will call on you,
    for you will answer me. (Psalm 86:4-7 WEB)

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24 KJV)

5. Your soul was made to rest in the LORD

There are so many benefits derived from our soul waiting (confident expectation and hope) on the LORD. In Christ, we have rich spiritual blessings Apostle Paul writes:

"Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight." (Ephesians 1:3-4 HCSB)

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29 WEB)

My soul, wait in silence for God alone,
    for my expectation is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.
    I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6 WEB)

7 Spiritual Blessings come from waiting on the Lord:  Faith, Hope and Encouragement, Love, Joy, Teaching/Instruction, Peace, and Comfort.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46: 10 NKJV)

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; (Psalm 37:7 NKJV)

6. Your soul wants to be satisfied

God invites us to abundant life. We can experience the compassion of the Lord. Soul satisfaction comes when your soul is thirsty for God and He gives you living water from His well:

(Emphases added to Scripture below)

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:1-2 NIV)

For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:9 NKJV)

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. (Psalm 63:3-5 NKJV)

When your entire being is thirsty for God:

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1 NKJV)

My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips. (Psalm 63:1-5 HCSB)

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1 NKJV)

7. Your soul longs to be free

True freedom is found in Christ. To be totally free you must surrender control to God. (Emphases added to Scripture below)

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.
 I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts. (Psalm 119:41-45 NIV)

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples.  You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 HCSB)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 HCSB)

8. Your soul wants to thank God in everything and praise Him

Being thankful opens the windows of heaven. We praise God for what He has done, for this most beautiful world we live in, but most of all, for His Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to empower God's great plan of salvation, so through Him we might be saved. Thankfulness is the language of love, enabling you to communicate intimately with Jesus. (Emphases added to Scripture below)

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100: 4-5 KJV)

Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB)

God inhabits the praises of His people. When we submit our will to His, He will work in us ways we could never even imagine. Our praise is a primary way that God works His way into our hearts and minds.

But you are holy,
    you who inhabit the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3 WEB)

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. (Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

9. Your soul needs to give & receive blessings

Bless someone. Identify the needs around you and look for ways you can stand in the gap and encourage those who are experiencing sorrow, feel helpless, and suffering with a broken heart. Consider doing works of mercy like visiting prisons and hospitals, feeding the hungry, and standing up for the oppressed. Such works uplift our souls. (Emphases added to Scripture below)

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

Get together with others. Encourage each other and share what God has done in your life. People feed our souls especially when we join others in studying the Word of God, praying, and doing good for others less fortunate.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. (Proverbs 12:25 HCSB)

So then, let’s follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. (Romans 14:19 WEB)

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)

Want to learn more about “Soul Care”?

To learn more about “Soul Care” I have written several blogs entitled "Compassionate Love: Responding to One with a Desperate Cry,” “Soul Care: 3 Key Learning Points,” and "Musical Memories."  More teachings are work-in-process, bringing you real-life experiences and discoveries as we continue to reach out to people with Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders, their caregivers, and facility staff. You can also select the “Soul Care” tab on “The ‘Word’ In and Out of Season to Proclaim” page for related Scripture verses. 

Consider our specially-selected gifts for a variety of therapies:

Shop Robotic Pets Therapy and Music ♫ Reminiscence Therapy.  These gifts have blessed many who are:

• lonely, isolated, agitated, or anxious
• showing signs of depression or discouragement
• experiencing cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's and other dementias
• veterans facing unique factors for Alzheimer's due to service-connected injuries
• spiritually distressed and in need of soul care

Play Familiar Hymns and Recite Bible Verses

For people of faith, practice ‘Soul Care’ by playing CDs or downloading familiar hymns to play for your loved one or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Read familiar Bible verses to them. Inspire the Soul! Shop Music ♫ Reminiscence Therapy and check out the digital download offering of Dementia-Friendly: Lyrics to 20 Favorite Sing-Along Hymns.

Never feel that it is too late to make a difference in a person’s life who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Discover how your soul is inspired as well and see your spiritual relationship with God forever changed.

We encourage you to share your story with us and add comments below.