I wanted to go back to Mom's journal today. She made an entry on the soul. I once heard it explained that we, like God are triune. God is Father, Son and Spirit. We are spirit, body, soul. Our soul is the place of our emotions and thoughts. This is the place the Lord works on us to reflect His character and love.
Mom started with Proverbs 10:3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish.
Soul: A life, a living being, souls, self, person, mind, personality, inner desires.
Luke 21:19 By your patience possess you soul.
It is the seat of the affections, will, desire, emotions, mind, reason, understanding.
From me.
Knowing these definitions and descriptions of the soul will lead us to her next entry, which is "Spiritual Growth." I will start with the first three Scripture references she leads off with and then make this a two (or maybe three) part series. Spiritual growth is a big topic! Here are those references.
Galatians 6:6-10 Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith.
James 1:2-12 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
Lord, You've created us to be multi faceted beings. You've created us to reflect Your image, Your holiness, Your love. You have given us new birth, our spirits are reborn from above through our acceptance of the beautiful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are made new! But our souls, the parts that make us us, shaped by living, shaped by experiences....we look to You to redeem and renew that as well. We ask You to help us grow, help us cooperate with You will and Your plan so that every part of us will be a reflection of You. Lord, as we go through the next entry on spiritual growth, open our hearts and give us the desire to learn from You and change anything that You deem not fitting for Your children. Let us live fully the lives You designed for us. We submit to You. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.
Think about these Scriptures and ask God toe reveal any areas that need fixing. What season is it for you?
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