Oh MY Soul!

Greetings!

Diane Nix

OH MY SOUL!!!! I had done it again! I slipped from living in the Spirit to reacting from my soul! You know....The soul - Your mind, Your will, and your emotions. The place where you act out. My mom used to say, "Don't be ugly." Well, I had been "ugly". I knew it. I hated it. I loathed it but there it was and there was nothing I could do to take it back. The thing was, it didn't take but a second to slip. One momentary lapse of Spirit control and there it was.

It seems that since the Lord has been speaking about returning to the "former things". I have been tested.....tested to the very limit of my flesh and yet there is no excuse....for IF HE is the One calling to return - I must return by His way and not my own.

There it is. My will. My iron justifying will. Left to its own - manipulates my emotions and my thoughts. I can proclaim," I want to live life from the inside out." But do I really? Do I want to die to my own will and surrender that stubbornness to be bridled and tamed by the Master of this universe? To return to the "former things" - I must remember .....

remember and return...

to times of prayer and meditation - spent in praise and intercession. Times of unhurried stillness. Times of quietness before the throne. Times of listening and then acting. Times of reading, pondering and meditating. Times of deep conviction and death to my flesh. HONEST Times with a gracious, merciful God!

So what do I do from here?

Remember! Stop. Bend the Knee. Cry out to God and tell Him the reasons I haven't lived as I ought. Be still. Be honest. Be transparent BE. The soul is the very place where inner battles are won or lost. The soul is the place where the enemy loves to set up camp in areas of unforgiveness, anger, rage, woundings of all sorts. You and I need to REMEMBER WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE!

OH that HE would hear my cry! I will return HIS way. I will remember and return. I will submit my will. I will die to gain. I will...

remember, kneel, submit. I will.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen for He who calls you is faithful" I Thessalonians 5:23-24

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Galatians. 2:20

I know most of us have been "living the life" for a long time. Have you ever been in the emotional place written about today? How did you deal with it? What steps did you take? Do you need to take?

You can post a comment in our Devotional area or Forums and discuss your thoughts on living life from the inside out!

Praying for you Sisters!

Love,

Diane

New Things Coming

In the coming weeks we are going to be introducing an exciting new writer and pilates instructor. Kristianne Stewart will be joining us for "Fit & Spiritual" On this page we will load video routines just for your home use.

We are also adding a nutrition guru - Kendra Perkins. Kendra has a passion for organic foods and recipes. Her passion flows to that Christians knowing the foods that will help them feel well and live well the life that Christ has given them. Can't wait for her to begin to show us how to eat healthier and more natural - budget friendly - of course!

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Soul Polish

Anita Onarecker Wood

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Cor. 5:17

Often we review our life, thinking of the joys and demands of ministry... We may be like the church in Corinth as the Apostle Paul reminded them of their value and purpose. Chapter 5 is full of the word "therefore", a word of purpose. We too have a great and Godly purpose for our life, and perhaps it's time for a little reflection. Do you need a shine-up?

God provides everything for our eternal soul, giving us the Holy Spirit as His down-payment for all that is to come!

Recall times when you felt so very intimate with Him, then magnify that. His Spirit is closer to us than the very air we inhale... He gives us courage to live by faith in Him...

My earthly house gets dusty and dirty, needs repairs and upkeep. Just today, I had to call the septic company to come and do repairs. Things have gotten stinky! Has life gotten a bit stinky? Maybe your soul is needy!

Do you feed your soul? Nourish your soul? Guard your soul?

This IS the fresh life granted every new believer. I have the great privilege of walking with a brand new Christian, a woman in her 50's. Music you and I take for granted is new and meaningful to her. It is astonishing to see her new life, so fresh and different. Some of us have walked with Christ a long time now, and the newness has faded. We l.o.v.e. our precious children and grandchildren, and delight seeing life fresh through their eyes: this is what it is like for my new Christian friend. I want her to guard her soul. It is fresh and unused right now, unworn and uncommon.

Paul didn't write to new baby believers only-he admonished everyone to acknowledge and cherish the new life Christ gives us. When we feel used up and worn out, remember your new life in Christ-unused, unworn and uncommon!

Ask the Lord to take you back to that new time. Go back to the place where the old passed away and everything became new. God never says our soul becomes old and used up! Ask Him today to remove the dullness that robs the newness... Ask Him for a fresh shiny soul today. - Need One? Need a private chat?

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