“…Every choice along the way matters and they have real consequences.”
Katherine Reay
Last Monday I began a three-part series on soul care. Our mind, will and emotions comprise our soul. The previous week I wrote on stewarding our mind. This week’s post is on how to take care of our will. We exercise our will by the choices we make. Our will is the “chooser” portion of our soul which makes decisions.
Scripture tells us we reap what we sow. If we make choices to please our sinful nature, then we will reap destruction. But if we choose to please the Spirit, we will harvest eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). Having self-discipline to make godly choices is good, but love is the best motivator to obey God and His Word.
Obedience boils down to an issue of love. Who do you love more: God or yourself? Whoever or whatever we worship is who we’ll obey and follow. The secret to choosing to obey God more is loving Him more. I periodically pray: “Jesus, help me to fall more madly in love with you.” God delights to answer that prayer! We will choose to sin less when we love God more, because we always desire to please the one we love.
Children want to grow up to be just like their parents and often imitate them. Likewise, sons and daughters of God have the same pursuit. They want to look, act, think and speak like their heavenly Daddy. Jesus Himself said in John 8:28b, “…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” It all begins with our choices. The decisions we make are to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31) and bring Him pleasure (Colossians 1:10).
I choose to forgive those who have hurt me. I also set up boundaries that diminish the things which drain my soul while instilling things that give back to me. Creating space for God is another way I take care of my soul. I choose to sit quietly before the Lord to listen to His voice. When God speaks my soul is strengthened, protected and experiences rest.
We take care of our souls by the choices we make. Our souls remain healthy when we choose to forgive others and obey God’s word. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 7:9).
“There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.”
Frederick William Faber
Relevant Reflections:
What is one choice of the will you need to make today?
Ask the Lord to cause you to fall more in love with Him.