Ladies, last time I wrote I discussed the importance of spiritual discipline and how God had to remind me that everything spiritual begins with His Word.  We must demonstrate discipline in both the reading and the application of His Word if we want to sustain our spiritual growth.  Remember, just as we eat food at least 2-3 times a day we must spiritually eat the Word at least 2-3 times a day.  If you have not already done so, here are a few suggestions to help establish this process; you can set timers on your phone as reminders, you can read the bible while you are actually eating one of your meals, you can have an accountability partner remind you and read with you, etc.  Basically, whatever routine works best for you just incorporate it into your daily routines. 

 Although spiritual discipline begins with the Word of God, reading His Word is not the only thing that needs discipline. One area in particular that has caused me havoc and chaos is having an undisciplined soul.  As you recall, our mind/thoughts, our emotions/feelings and our will/desires are all housed within our soul.  At times in my life the thoughts in my mind have been contrary to God’s Word. Instead of casting those thoughts down I let them take root in my mind.  Most of these thoughts were lies told to me by the enemy that were like seeds planted in the ground of my mind taking root and growing. 

John 8:44 explains that the enemy was a murderer from the beginning not holding any truth and he speaks nothing but lies and he is the father of all lies. You must understand that the enemy has limited power compared to God.  He cannot read our minds or thoughts but he can and does speak lies and we have the free will to choose whether or not we will accept or reject those lies.  For example, as a woman I sometimes battled with the notion that I was not good enough or worthy of my blessings.  The enemy would plant seeds such as, you are not qualified for this, you do not have enough experience, you do not deserve this, you won't make it, you don't have what it takes, you don't have enough money, etc., etc., etc.  All of these thoughts were nothing but lies and many times throughout my life I found myself believing the lies instead of the truth. 

The Bible is the truth and it clearly explains in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that God chooses the foolish over the wise, the weak over the strong and the lowly and despised because He doesn't want us to get it twisted by boasting that our strength or knowledge got us anything.  I now recognize that He chose to bless and empower me and all I have to do is be grateful and bless His name in return.  It doesn't matter what the enemy says nor does it matter what other people think because God chooses who he wants to bless and use.  In the book of Exodus, Moses did not think he was qualified to do the work of the Lord but he soon learned, just as I had to learn and just as many of you have to learn, God does not call the qualified but he qualifies the called.  Even Exodus 33:19 tells us that God told Moses He will have mercy on whomever He chooses and He will have compassion on whomever He chooses.  So, if God is blessing you enjoy it and walk in it with His authority and power no matter who does not like it.  Phillipians 4:13 says we can do ALL things through Christ Jesus that strengthens us.  Tell your haters to go have a seat and a talk with God if they have a problem with you being blessed. 

Another area within the soul that needs discipline is our emotional area.  I don't know about you but sometimes my emotions can be all over the place.  If I am not careful I will react out of my emotions and trouble will surely knock on my door.  No matter what trials or hardships we face, we must display self-control in relation to our emotions.  Proverbs 25:28 tells us that a person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken.  Meaning you have no protection and any and everything can get through to hurt or destroy you.  When you feel your emotions rising call on God, pray and ask Him to help you get your emotions under control.  We are not allowed to just go off and start cussing and hurting others because we are hurt or upset.  Neither are we allowed to just go on a pleasure binge and do whatever we want because it feels good at the time.  We must display self-control over our emotions at all times.  

Lastly, we must align our desires to the Will of the Lord.  Psalms 42:1-2 says, as the deer pants for the water so my soul pants for you my God, my soul thirsts for God. We have to desire God, His Will and His Presence. I pray that this scripture takes root in my spirit because I want to long for God so I can know Him better.  Also, I continually and I request that His Will be done in my life that my tastes and desires are in accordance with His Will.  There was a time when my tastes and desires aligned to my soul and my flesh.  Trust me after a while of living like this I felt like I was in hell on this earth.  Nothing worked and everything was failing not to mention I was miserable.  I had to cry out to Him and ask Him to help me get my life back in order.

Getting my life back in order required discipline within my soul by having my soul fall under the subjection of the spirit.  Here is another friendly reminder, the spirit is the area where God dwells within us as long as we are in His will.  For me, the moment I allowed my undisciplined soul to reign supreme over my spirit was the moment God left His dwelling place within me.  I had to run back to Him and as I cried out he revealed the imbalance in my life.  I had to invite Him back into my spirit and let him clean out the impurities so my spirit could lead my soul so my soul would guide my body to do what was right.  

Ladies, as I close I want to encourage you to not live your life under the authority of your undisciplined soul where you have no control over your thoughts, emotions or desires.  Living such a life will most definitely bring destruction.  If I am totally honest, I had to learn this lesson the hard way because I allowed my soul to lead me down the wrong path.  But, thanks be to God that I acknowledged and accepted the truth that I had to become more disciplined in my soulish area and I had to feed my spirit so it could be healthy enough to lead my soul and body.  I am still a work in progress but at least I am back on the right track because I am reading and applying His Word to help me keep my soul under subjection to the Will of God.  

Lady J