My, Devotion to Him #66
VERSE PASSAGE: Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” – NIV
Mary makes a very clear distinction between her soul magnifying the Lord and her spirit rejoicing. Our soul is the part of us that is considered to be our personality. It is our intellect, emotions and will. Now our spirit is the part that gets changed at salvation and it is always operating in the fruits of the spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22-23. It’s true and complete whether our souls (feelings and emotions) “feel” it or not.
Many believers sadly wait until their emotions feel like praising the Lord before they enter into worship. They think it’s hypocritical to act like they are rejoicing in the Lord if they don’t “feel” it. But our spirits are always rejoicing in the Lord. It’s actually hypocritical to go by our feelings and not magnify the Lord with our souls when our born again spirits are already rejoicing.
Our born again spirits are always in tune with the Lord and walking in the joy of the Lord. Our flesh is often dominated by what it sees and feels. Many people are governed by their flesh and not their spirit. Our flesh doesn’t feel like praising the Lord, our flesh doesn’t want to praise the Lord. The choice rests with our spirit and soul. If we choose to praise the Lord, our emotions will follow. We need to make them submit to God. The Bible calls for us to constantly renew in the Word and in His presence.
As we chose to force ourselves and force our flesh, mind, soul, body, everything that is in us to worship and praise the Lord we will start to see change. We will be able to get to a place where our soul will glorify God and our spirit will rejoice in Him.
Many people hardly worship God truly or freely because they allow their minds and flesh to restrain them during worship. They feel uneasy so they assume it shouldn’t be. Do not let your mind or flesh restrain your walk with God! Do not let your flesh restrain you from glorifying God and rejoicing in Him.
Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 