Dear Heavenly Father
Through the Apostle Paul, You tell us in 2Corinthians 5:17(NLT), “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” You are talking about our human-spirits in this verse. Our human-spirit is the part of us that is most like You, because John 4:24 tells us that You are Spirit, and You have made us what You are. For the longest time, I thought that the soul and spirit were the same, and that both were recreated in our new-birth reality. The human-soul and the human-spirit are not the same. Thank You for helping me learn the truth through your Word. 1Thessalonians 5:23(NLT) states, “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” We are made in Your image; just as You are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are three-part beings, spirit, soul, and body.
Our human-spirit is recreated when we become born again, and this is the “new creature” or “new creation” that is referred to in 2Corinthians 5:17. Before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts and made him the head of our lives, our human-spirits were not alive. Ephesians 2:1-2(NIV) says, “1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Our spirits were dead and our souls followed the ways of satan, the ruler of the kingdom of the air—the prince of darkness. All praises to You, Heavenly Father, for Colossians 1:13 tells us that You rescued us from that miserable state. You transferred us out of the kingdom of darkness and death, and transferred us into the Kingdom of Your Dear Son, our Master Jesus!
Now we are children of the Light—the Light of Christ! You made our human-spirit brand new, and it is where Your Spirit, the Holy Spirit, lives. For You tell us in 1Corinthians 6:19(NLT), “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.” Our souls were not made brand new when we became born again. Our souls are under our free-will agency, and You have commanded us to keep them holy and blameless. You have told us to renew our minds to Your Word, and to put on the mind of Christ. Sometimes, we struggle with this Heavenly Father.
We struggle with bringing our souls under submission to Your Word and Will. Our human-spirit is perfect, but our souls are not. Our souls have a tough time with releasing the weight and baggage of sin. As saved people, we can’t hold on to the things we held so tightly before we accepted Christ. Some of those habits and patterns must be broken, and some of our relationships will need to be left behind as well. One of the greatest spiritual lessons that I have learned is that everyone I have been close to in the past cannot go where I am going. Not because I won’t let them, but because they have refused to live for Christ. When it comes to letting go and surrendering, this aspect can be a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience, but I count it all joy, because I know You are working through me, and taking me higher in Christ through it all. 2Corinthians 4:17(NLT) tells us, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
Thank You for building us up through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we are strong. Thank You for helping us to see that nothing is lost by following Christ, and everything is gained. Please forgive us for holding on to dead things too long—things like toxic relationships, petty attitudes, resentment, addictions, and fears that keep us stuck. Please help us release these old dead things so that we are free to travel light in the Spirit and love of Christ.
You are so awesome and amazing, Most Holy God. Thank You for Jesus Christ, and thank You for the Holy Spirit. Please help us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom, and let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Releasing Dead Things”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.