Refresh Your Soul - Part 1

Hello everyone,

When worrying thoughts bombard your mind and threaten to pull you down into despair, you have a powerful weapon that will abruptly interrupt their course and declare the perfect will of God directly into the situation that is overwhelming you.  That weapon is praying in the Holy Ghost and as you use it, God’s Spirit prays through your spirit and redeems your soul out of all distress.

1 Corinthians 14:4 says that when we pray in unknown tongues we edify and improve ourselves. That means we build up and improve the current state of our souls.  Now the soul is made of three distinct parts: The part of the mind where we think and reason; the part that acts as our will and the part where our emotions operate from.  All these areas are positively affected when we pray in the Holy Ghost.

Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;”.

Why would a born again believer need to have their souls built up and encouraged?  Well, the Word of God teaches us that we have an enemy, the devil, who has made it his business to steal, kill and destroy every bit of faith, hope, peace and joy we have in this life (John 10:10).  

Now we know the finished work of the cross has disarmed him and prevented him from harming us - take a look at Colossians 2:15, “[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].”  

The fact is, even though the devil has been defeated, he has a deceptive and criminal nature, and will not stop trying to destroy the life and victory we have in Christ Jesus.  While he can distract our minds with negative, worrisome thoughts, he can keep our souls in a place of troubled anguish and defeat.

But the devil isn’t the only cause of our souls being troubled.  When we make wrong choices in life or react incorrectly to circumstances through shock or hurt, or disappointment, we can cause a ripple of events that lead to our minds being trapped in turmoil, resentment and bitterness.

So how do we pull our souls out of this downward, destructive spiral and into refreshing peace?  The answer is simple - we must get them into a place where the truth of God’s Word is more dominant than any other voice we are hearing.  We have to choose to cast out all thoughts that bring anxiety and panic before fear has a chance to neutralise our faith.  

As impossible as this may seem, we really can do it. Jesus said He has already overcome every opposing force or stressful trial we will ever face in this life, regardless of its source.  Take a look at  John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

In order to rescue our troubled souls and bring them into a place of refreshing and victory, we must have the Word of God dominate them.  And not just any word, the most appropriate word for our situation is what will give our minds victory over distress.  Take a look at what Psalms 119:81 says, “My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.”  

Psalms 94:19 says, “In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!”

You may wonder what this has to do with praying in the Holy Spirit. Well, understand that praying in the Holy Spirit stops our prayers from being influenced by our own limited intellect, that has certainly been negatively affected by our anxious emotions.  

Instead, we are having the Spirit of God speak His perfect will, peace and power over us and into our situations.  It’s perfect because it has no trace of fear or doubt, only creative power to speak into existence what His Word has promised us.  What’s more, our own spirits are in complete harmony and agreement with God’s, which energises and stirs up a mighty inner strength inside us.

That’s what Ephesians 1:19 & 20 speaks about, “And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,...Now to Him Who, by the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]...”

Until next week, spend time praying in the Holy Spirit and let His Presence which is at work within you refresh and restore your soul. 

Much love,

Jenny