Work It Out | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

The working out of one's salvation is the process of aligning the soul (mind, will and emotions) with the rulership of Heaven.  It involves a choice to come under the influence of GOD; and in choosing to trust GOD as opposed to ourselves, we must also willingly die to our human (or fleshly) desires.  As we allow the Holy Spirit (who dwells in our spirit man) access to our thoughts, hearts and feelings, that's when we REALLY understand His role as the Governor.  The Holy Spirit is the governing influence of Heaven here in the Earth. When the Holy Spirit takes His place in our lives as the Governor, there will be contention between that which makes us human and that which makes us spiritual.  However, a life steeped in worship desires Heaven's power more than Earth's pleasures.  As a Christian, if worship is not a lifestyle, then that lack of consistent fellowship with GOD in the realm of the spirit fosters an atmosphere of intense inner struggle.

Ultimately, it's the desire of our reborn spirit man for better government that prompts our humanity (ie flesh) to relinquish its control of our minds, will and emotions to the Holy Spirit that we--as new creatures in Christ--can gain control of them.  Since that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit, then our new spiritual identity overrules the former and we are no longer obligated to yield ourselves to the governing influence of the flesh.  (Sidenote: Hence no Christian should use the excuse, "Well I'm just human," because YOU'RE NOT.)  If the desire for better government was strong enough to warrant us becoming citizens of GOD's country, then why despise His governing influence?

By permitting GOD's energy to accomplish in us what brings Him pleasure as our King (Philippians 2:13), we become model citizens as well as stronger, more mature people.  How so, you ask? Choosing to undergo the process of aligning the soul with Heaven's rulership (ie governing influence), thereby adopting it's national culture as one's own. This is the meaning behind working out your soul's salvation.

We must align...
our minds (thoughts) so Heaven's government can influence what we choose to know (understand).
our emotions (feelings) so Heaven's government can influence how we choose to feel about what we know.
our will (hearts) so Heaven's government can influence how we choose to appropriate or implement what we know.

Who wouldn't want to become stronger and more mature in these areas?  When Heaven has free reign in our lives to influence our souls, we are saved from the effects of these areas being influenced by the Kingdom of Darkness.  When Heaven governs our souls, our lives are no longer plagued by the strategies and tactics of the enemy.  When we ascribe to Heaven's culture, we send a clear message to the world system that, although we're physically here, our allegiance is to our home country and we rely completely upon its government to provide for us life and that more abundantly.