The following is a devotion from my message series 10 Steps to Freedom. I hope these devotionals help you experience lasting freedom in Jesus!

STEP SEVEN: day 1

Fully engage in worship to strengthen your soul

How do I strengthen my soul? You may not realize it but this is a question vital to the long-term success of your freedom. If you’ve struggled with freedom from something in the past, whether it’s an addiction issue, a traumatic past that won’t stay buried in the past or an emotional cloud that continually hovers, you realize that the issue is much more than physical. It’s not just physical cravings that are keeping you in bondage. In step four we looked at the power of the mind in your freedom. In step seven we’re looking at another critical aspect in your fight for freedom: your soul.

How do I strengthen my soul? It starts by knowing what your soul is. Sometimes referred to as your spirit or your will, it’s that part of you that makes you ‘you.’ It’s your personality, your passions, your drive and determination in life. At the end of the day, as harsh as this sounds, you are in bondage because you choose to be. If you believe in Jesus (step one) you have the power of the Holy Spirit (step two) residing in you, the same power that rose Jesus from the grave. Your lack of freedom isn’t because the Holy Spirit has lost His power. In a divine mystery, the Spirit of God partners with your spirit (or soul) to affect change in your life. So, if you’re not yet free, your soul needs to be strengthened. But how exactly does one go about strengthening one’s soul? That’s the focus of step seven. A powerful tool to strengthen your soul is found in the art and discipline of worship.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What do you know about your soul? How familiar are you with the concept?  Outside of your body and even your mind, do you recognize that there is a component to your life known as your soul or spirit?
2. What do you think of when you think of ‘worship’? What’s been your experience with worship in your religious background and upbringing? At this moment do you see any connection between worship and the strengthening of your soul?

You can read other devotional entries for 10 Steps to Freedom here.