Our soul which consists of the mind (which includes our conscience), the will and the emotions is naturally bent towards the things we can see, taste, and feel, and it’s this part of us that once we have made Jesus a part of our life that needs to be brought into agreement with the new life we have in our Spirit. However if our mind, will and emotions are pulling one way and our “born again” Spirit is pulling the opposite way we won’t go anywhere except around in circles.
The Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit reveals things to our Spirit, which then speaks to our soul. As a follower of Jesus we want to follow the leading of our Spirit, and not our soul.
The bible says a lot on this subject and the battle that goes on when our souls – (our mind, will and emotions) and our Spirit’s aren’t in unity.
We wouldn’t intentionally eat or drink poison, as we know it has the potential to cause harm to our bodies. Yet we often consume poison to our souls, which then battles against our Spirit without even realising it. We then wonder why we are struggling to do the things we know we ought to do.
Toxic attitudes, behaviours, and cultural influences that we “pick up on” simply by the choices we make on a day-to-day basis put our souls in danger. We can’t avoid contact with everything that is harmful, unless we are all going to become hermits, but we don’t have to immerse ourselves in these things either.
We have to realise that everything counts. What we allow into our minds and hearts has the potential to impact our lives and how we grow or don’t grow in our relationship with God. It’s the little choices we make everyday that quickly add up to having a significant effect on our souls. The bible cautions us to “catch the little foxes that spoil the vine.” (Song of Solomon 2:15) It’s about our choices to watch this, read that, listen to a conversation, allow our thought life to go to particular places that aren’t beneficial, miss meeting with others who encourage us in our walk with God, neglect our quiet times with God, not deal with offence, harbour unforgiveness, etc etc etc.
Our everyday decisions need to be taken seriously because the devil is a sneak and he and his demons roam around looking for ways to take us out. They are quite happy to bide their time, setting up traps and opportune ways to snare us. The key is to be wised up to the devil’s thieving, stealing wicked schemes and choose consistently to shut the door in his face.
“Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Jesus demonstrated the importance of making time to pray at the beginning of the day, so that we have set our mind, will and emotions on the right course, and are tuned to listen to the Holy Spirit leading us in our day. (Mark 1:35)
We allow Him to reveal any parts of our life that may be toxic, and understand that it’s our decision what we think about, speak, hang around, and allow into our lives. God won’t cross our wills, because He chose to give us authority over them. We are not robots, and it’s our choice whether we listen to His promptings and the wisdom found in His Word, or choose to ignore Him.
If we mess up and let toxins in, He says we just need to wash our “feet,” just as Jesus washed the disciples feet. We are already cleansed and made Holy before Him if we have received the forgiveness Jesus offers us through the work of the Cross. We just need our “feet” washed.
Jesus said, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean… (John 13:1-17)
Choose wisely today and fix your attention on God and let Him lead you. If you get “muddy feet,” come to God and confess where you have messed up and be cleansed and filled with His love so that you can keep walking boldly and confidently with Him.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
The bible encourages not to, “become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity. God bring the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 Message Bible)
“But I say to you, walk in the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit. and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” (Galatians 5:16-17)
Prayer: Lord would you please help me to see any areas of my life that may be toxic. Forgive me where I have messed around with things that are not healthy for me. Help me to see where I have been tricked by the lying schemes of the devil, so I don’t fall for his tactics again. In Jesus Name Amen.