Throughout my day, I like to “see” my soul sparkling clean. It happens when I pray for cleansing. 1
Therefore, since we have these
[great and wonderful] promises,
beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves
from everything that contaminates
body and spirit,
completing holiness
[living a consecrated life
—a life set apart
for God’s purpose]
in the fear of God.
– 2 Corinthians 7:1
A “soul” is invisible, of course, so nobody can actually “see” one. But the Bible tells me we all have one. My soul is inside my insides, deep within my being. That is where I run my life, sort of my command center.
And I “see” my soul sparkly clean when I confess my sins and Jesus washes me thoroughly. I was already “right with God”, already born again, assuredly bound for Heaven — but as sin penetrates my defenses, and I sin, it sticks to my soul like gunk, so I need to constantly confess and be cleaned up spiritually – restore my relationship. I fail, but He forgives, and I press on.
and I will be clean.
Wash me,
and I will be
whiter than snow.
– Psalm 51:7
World English Bible (WEB)
See:
Psalm 51. Wash me. Cleanse me and
Psalm 51 type repentance and salvation
From my soul
From deep within my soul I direct my mind, my will, my emotions, my actions, my body – all my thoughts and wishes, hopes and dreams. I stream all that I am from there – to outside myself. I talk to others and interact with them from my soul. I commune with God in prayer there. It’s who I am.
“The [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God”
Like the Apostle Paul did, I make it a point to – forget, reach forward – and press on toward the goal, growing into our natural new life in Christ:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you.
– Philippians 3:13-15
Renewing of your mind
What “think” do you have? (Read | The Rich Mindset of God | Your thinking or God’s Word? | I am a Christian because… |
27 They staggered and trembled like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end [all their wisdom was useless].
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
– Psalm 107:27-28
Read: “Wit’s End Corner” 2
This life is not all there is, but – it is the only life that matters for now. This is it! What ya doin’ with it? Are you fast and free with all ye be, content to be mere mud (Puny humans)? Or are you living with eternity in mind, getting ready for that Judgement Day? Have you made the choice? It’s not too late to repent of that – and choose Jesus.”
– Source: Vile To Jesus
Don’t arrive before The Throne of God
– and discover there
that you are
merely a God–damned mud-man.
Mere men.
(1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
– Source: The Damning God …and The Forgiving God: One God
The Apostle Paul wrote about the importance of a continual “renewing of your mind”, in Romans 12:2, a key verse for those who follow Jesus.
“And do not be conformed
to this world
[any longer
with its superficial values and customs],
but
be [a]transformed
and progressively changed
[as you mature spiritually]
by the renewing of your mind
[focusing on godly values
and ethical attitudes],
so that you may prove
[for yourselves]
what the will of God is,
that which is good
and acceptable
and perfect
[in His plan and purpose for you].”
– Romans 12:2
Paul speaks to us in Greek. I say he “speaks”, present tense — because, although Paul wrote this way long ago, we have his writings still. Since we have his writings (the book of Romans, for example) he is still “saying” them to us in print, in the present.
The Amplified Version takes the original words (in Greek or Hebrew) and dissects them, bringing to us the original meanings and innuendos to our easy-to-understand language. And so Paul “says”:
1. “Do not be conformed to this world”. Don’t allow yourself to pattern yourself after what the world around you thinks, and does, and pressures you into.
2. The world’s “values and customs” are superficial – and no longer worthy of our conformation to them. 3
“…let us cleanse ourselves
from everything that contaminates
body and spirit,
completing holiness
[living a consecrated life
—a life set apart
for God’s purpose]
in the fear of God.”
– 2 Corinthians 7:1
How is
your mental renewal
going for you?
Life will always be a struggle. But the Spirit of God helps us through it all. This was the mind of Paul through it all:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you.
– Philippians 3:13-15
FOR MORE:
Like gold dust streaming from my soul
We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Yes I can – I can stand strong
Growing into our natural new life in Christ
Rely on the Spirit of God within you
The Identity Game – Excerpt:
Excerpt:
“What IF just looking at a person would identify them as LOST or SAVED? Then evangelists would skip-over all the “saved” and only speak to “the lost”, those in need of salvation. But God has deemed that through the foolishness of preaching to everyone —- the not-saved can hear and then accept God’s invitation, or not.
To identify a soul truly yielded to Christ takes more than merely looking at them. Salvation is a thing of our hidden heart – the invisible sincerity factor, the unseeable truthfulness factor.
The true identity of the truly born again believer is full of unknowable factors, especially with all the easy fake facade life one can live these days. Only God Himself can know your heart. So only God can tell if someone is or is not truly born again.”
Who I really really am – Excerpt:
Excerpt: “The problems of my day today – I won’t let them take away my joy in Christ. I will not let troubles crowd-out who I really am.
In Christ – I am more than victorious over everything, because God holds me in His Hands, and promises good to me. And when I’m “down”, I’m not “out”. My troubles do not define who I am. He defines me.
Who I am is not “what I’m going through”. Who I am is a constant: I am a child of the King, an heir to The Throne, and nothing I’m going through can make me less. Nothing can take me away from His love for me. 4
Who I am – Excerpt: 301 things you are in Christ
Excerpt:
“Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant.
You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for.
You are a blessing to the world.”
Cleansing – references in the Bible:
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore, thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah], “If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], You will become My spokesman. Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]— But you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].
Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Footnotes
“Wit’s End Corner”
– Source: May 23…Crosswalk.com
At their wit’s end,
they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out”
(Psalm 107:27-28).
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember–at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is just where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner,”
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy, and dazed, and numb?
Remember–at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”?
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember–at. “Wit’s End Corner”
The Burden-bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”?
Then you’re just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is the “God who is able” proved.
–Antoinette Wilson
“superficial” from: dictionary.cambridge.org:
*appearing to be real or important when this is not true or correct:
*never thinking about things that are serious or important
*A person who is described as superficial does not want to think seriously about anything, even important matters.
Also see OMGjesus.org: Enemies of our soul; A Healthy Soul; We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us; Yes I can – I can stand strong; Growing into our natural new life in Christ; Our Life – As God Sees It; God takes care of sinners; Rely on the Spirit of God within you.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. 38 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8: verses 31-39.
“My hope is not in being saved from it all. My hope is knowing He is my all. He is my confidence and my hope. Read Hebrews 13:5-6.”
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