Out of Control Soul
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A new year means so many different things. For me, it's a chance for a fresh start. A chance to start over in the areas I failed last year. It is a clean slate.
One thing we have adopted in our church is doing a fast together at the beginning of the year. The first year it was the 45 people on our launch team, the second year it was the nearly 80 people on our Dream Team and this year we are inviting the whole church to join us. I love fasting, especially when I am in a season where I have let things get out of control.
Self control is not one of those widely talked about spiritual disciplines but it is one that is so important to our soul and spiritual health. I have learned over the years that the health of my soul is direct reflection of the health of my spirit. For me, an out of control soul looks like spending too much time online, watching hours of Netflix or eating frosted sugar cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (don’t judge me) When I have an out of control soul, by spirit is always hurting and dry. That is why fasting has such a powerful effect on our spirits, it is getting our soul in line and putting things in their proper order. The way we live matters to our spirit and our connection to God.
There is no better time to realign our soul than at the beginning of the year, when we are ready for a fresh season, changes and new starts. Fasting is not at all about getting God’s attention or changing God will towards us. It is all about making God first priority and tuning out the noise of life so that we can hear what He is wanting to say to us and do in and through us.
One of the other things I have decided to do this year is find a scripture and think on it all day. So I am not reading huge chunks of scripture everyday, but rather one verse. I am letting that one verse settle in my spirit until it is clear and using it to build faith into my prayer life. If I am being honest my prayer life has been a struggle lately. It has been a lot of distraction and staring off into space with very little powerful prayer taking place. It has really been a snorefest, I am sure even God thought it was lame.
Today as I began reading my verse God began speaking to me about the importance of prayer. The need for me to get a fresh revelation of prayer. Not to appear to be a good Christian, but to truly have a spirit life that is full of joy and peace. I want to see God answer my prayers, I want to have a list on January 1 and spend the rest of the year checking off the answers to my prayers. It is prayer that moves God on our behalf, but I think there is a trick to how we pray. Romans 8:28 were my verses for today. I cheated a little and went back and read 26 & 27 too...
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
God wants to respond to our prayers. It is God’s will to work things in our lives out for our good according to His plans.
We must pray prayers of faith and when we don’t know how, we let the Spirit lead us in that. It is through our faith in God that He can respond to our prayers. When we pray fearful, timid prayers we take all the power out of our prayers. Prayer must be done boldly in faith!
Fear gives the enemy power and Faith takes it back.
One of the best ways to pray faith filled prayers is by letting the Word of God settle deep in your heart. Whether your read one scripture a day or your goal is to read the whole Bible this year. The important thing is that we just start somewhere. So my encouragement to you today is this, in your list of things to do and change this year, don’t forget about your spirit. Make those resolutions attainable and let God speak to you about your soul.
Follow along with us at
for encouragement during our fast beginning 1.8.17.
