FOLLOWING THE LEADER

For the last several weeks I've been doing a lot of study on the balance of body, soul and spirit. Why is it we always hear those three words in that order? Body. Soul. Spirit.

In truth, God's pattern is: Spirit - Soul - Body; in that order, not the other way around.

May God himself, the God of peace,

sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul and body

be kept blameless at the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 5:23

Yet people often misquote that verse as "body, soul and spirit." Do you think we are so indoctrinated with saying those words in reverse order because that's how we have most often lived our lives, leading from our bodily appetites and soul satisfactions? I do!

Our great and awesome Creator God made us a living spirit. Our spirit is the part of us created "in His image." Our spirit is the very essence of who we are. We are a spirit being. A SPIRIT BEING!!

"We are a living essence from God (spirit), that He gave an expression (soul) in a tangible physical package (the body). We are a living spirit who has a soul housed in an earthly body."[Sylvia Gunter, You Are Blessed In the Names of God, p.2] Meditate on those two sentences for awhile, girlfriends.

God's plan is that we respond to Him and to our daily lives out of our spirit as it is led by His Spirit. Our spirit should lead our soul and body to glorify Jesus in every decision we make. In Jesus' time on earth He consistently let His Father be seen in all His glory. Look in the Gospel of John and note how many times Jesus refers to himself as "showing, glorifying, revealing or pleasing" the Father. It's out of our spirit as it is led by His Spirit that we too can show, glorify, reveal or please the Father. It's in and through our spirit that we let Him be seen. We have to choose every day to let the Jesus in us respond out of our spirits. Sadly, too often we react out of our souls and bodies instead of responding out of our spirit.

The relationship of our spirit to our soul has often been compared to a marriage. It is a beautiful partnership, but there are times when someone has to lead and someone has to follow.

"The relationship of the spirit, soul, and body is similar. The spirit has the responsibility to lead under the direction of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the benefit of the soul and body. My soul will become healthier and more whole as it takes its proper place in God's design. It is a matter of function. The spirit initiates change and leads in God's transformation, and the soul responds and adds its own unique God-designed contributions. The harmony of the whole is truly beautiful." [Sylvia Gunter]

That girlfriends is balancing spirit, soul and body!

In the picture at the top of this post the children are playing "follow the leader" with their mother. Will you today choose to let your soul fall in behind your spirit as the leader and let your body join in so that you can live a life of balance and freedom?

Since we live by the Spirit,

let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

I particularly loved the symbolism in this picture with the changes I have been implementing in my body recently regarding healthy eating and exercise. I envision the mother as my spirit leading the way. The little girl who is so carefully mimicking her mother's steps and even arm movements is my soul. The little boy lagging behind and not quite in sync is my body. Gives me a bit of a chuckle. But I'm grateful. At least my body is coming along and doing its best to keep in step! I'm in the game and I'm going to follow the LEADER!