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Soul Control

Posted on 06.26.2013

The past couple of weeks in my world have been challenging on all levels—spiritually, physically and emotionally. I don’t know about you, but when the daily grace bestowed upon me has worn thin, all I can say is “Jesus, Jesus.” I don’t speak our Lord’s name in vain as an expression of frustration, but rather, as a crying out to the Lord to come to my rescue! What do you do or say when you are spent?

I often turn to the Word to give me strength. This turning to God’s Word is often after the day is gone and I am searching for that morning enthusiasm and zest that I had when I first woke up. For me, so many things happen in one day to the point where I often feel like what happened that morning happened a whole day ago! Life is full, even when we work hard at not overfilling it!

Last week, I needed to encourage myself through my hectic days. So, I read a passage of scripture that I have meditated on since then. These verses first reminded me of an important truth about my flesh: The flesh, or the soul,  is where my will, emotions, intellect and personality reside. It is where I experience anger, frustration, cravings and happiness.

My flesh is incapable of overcoming life’s difficult moments and circumstances, but my spirit—filled with the Spirit of Christ—can overcome any situation. My spirit has to talk some sense into my soul when the going gets rough. My spirit has to slap my flesh back in line when it wants to get ugly or wants to whine itself into a pit!

This is what I rediscovered: I know the Truth and the Truth will set me free to bask in God’s light and strength. As I read this passage last week, my spirit told my flesh what to do:

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—

Who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)

As I read and re-read this, I am reminded that I must praise the Lord and even thank Him for healing me from every physical or emotional infirmity I sustain during the course of any day. He compassionately forgives my mistakes and loves me inspite of my sins. The Lord renews and refreshes me. It doesn’t matter how I feel. What matters is the Truth, soul.