The Point of Purity Podcast
The Point of Purity Podcast
Just as You Are
In this episode we discover how to daily, repeatedly, consistently choose to lift up our soul—the core of who we are, all of our life, every part of it—to the almighty, most holy, sovereign creator and God of the universe.
Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at http://www.thepuritycoach.com
We must daily, repeatedly, consistently choose to lift up our soul—the core of who we are, all of our life, every part of it—to the almighty, most holy, sovereign creator and God of the universe. You are who you are (a child of God) because God is who He is (the Savior of your soul).
Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #202 entitled “Just as You Are.”
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1) Just take a moment and think about those words. Let them sink in and meditate on them. “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
All too often we tend to skip over this rather simple but profound phrase, looking for something else that we feel has more depth, more “meat” to it. But let’s pause long enough here to seriously consider what David is saying.
OK. So, I have a question for you. First, before I ask my question, let me repeat Psalm 25:1. Listen closely. “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1) Now here’s my question: What is David doing in this verse? If you answered, “he’s praying to God,” you would definitely be correct, but take it a step further. Go a little deeper. What is David actually doing in this prayer? There is more going on here than just talking with God. What is the action he is taking? What is the position he is assuming?
If you answered something like, “He’s lifting up his soul to God,” you would be spot-on. But what do you think that means? Why is he doing this “soul-lifting” thing? What is his purpose, his goal? What should we be learning from all this?
Here’s my point. David was choosing to surrender his soul / his life to God. It is important to understand this was a deliberate, intentional choice he was making. This wasn’t being forced upon him. No one was holding a knife to his throat saying, “Do this, or else!” He willfully chose to surrender every aspect of his life over to God. Everything. He recognized that who he was is only because of who God is. He owed God everything. “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
Are you making that same choice? Notice what I did not ask. I did not ask “have you made” or “will you make,” as if it is a one-and-done kind of thing. This is a daily, moment-by-moment decision you must continuously make. Are you making the willful choice to lift your soul up to God each and every day?
We must daily, repeatedly, consistently choose to lift up our soul—the core of who we are, all of our life, every part of it—to the almighty, most holy, sovereign creator and God of the universe. You are who you are (a child of God) because God is who He is (the Savior of your soul).
Think for a moment about the word “soul.” David prays, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” What is your “soul,” and why is it so important to daily lift it up to God?
Simply put, your “soul” is the real you. It is your personhood. It is the seat of your will, emotions, and passions. It is the core of all you are. It is the real you. It’s what makes you You. Your soul is what will go either to heaven or hell for eternity when your body dies.
When you look in the mirror, you aren’t seeing the real you. Yes, I know you’re seeing a reflection – but that’s not what I’m talking about. Your body is only the container for your soul. It’s the vehicle God gave you to drive through life with and your soul is what’s sitting behind the wheel.
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Notice the command of Matthew 22:37. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Now let me ask you this question: According to this verse, how much of your heart, soul, and mind is to be totally surrendered to God? All. When God says “all,” what does He mean? “All” means all and that’s all “all” means. So, here is a follow-up question: When is all of your heart, soul, and mind to be totally surrendered to God? Always.
When you are choosing to give up and give in to your sinful temptations, at that moment are you walking in obedience to Christ’s command of Matthew 22:37? Are you choosing to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind? The answer is a definitive “No.” You are either all in or not in at all; there is no in-between.
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1). Understanding that your “soul” refers to the real you; “lifting up your soul” to God means you are totally and completely surrendering everything you are and everything you have to God. Everything. We need to “lift up”—totally and completely surrender—all of our King Me desires, passions, whims and wishes to God.
Totally surrendering your heart and life to God is not as hard as the enemy wants you to think it is. Victory over a sinful habit typically begins long before the actual temptation. The victory starts the moment you choose to “set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19). Hours, even days, before the temptation hits you must daily (moment-by-moment) choose to “seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)
When King Me is on the throne of your heart, you will always choose to seek out what will make yourself happy, happy, happy. King Me will never voluntarily decide to step off the throne in favor of God’s reign and rule of your life. King Me is convinced God’s way will be less than fulfilling. God’s way is boring. God’s way won’t satisfy. So, the King says no way to God’s way.
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)
According to God’s Word, what percentage of your day can be about seeking your own desires, passions, and pleasures? Why did you choose that percentage? What’s wrong with seeking out a little forbidden pleasure from time to time, especially if you are not hurting anyone in the process?
It is all about the motivation of your heart (your focus / your worship): why are you seeking your own desires? I guarantee you it has nothing to do with honoring God but everything to do with pleasing King Me. So, I challenge you to make an honest assessment—what percentage of your day is typically about seeking your own desires, passions, and pleasures versus God’s?
According to Deuteronomy 4:29, the result of only half-heartedly searching for God while King Me is sitting on the throne of your heart is this: You will not find him. He will not respond to you. You will continue in your sin and experience the ramifications of your sinful choices. You cannot worship both King Me and God at the same time (Matthew 6:24).
“It’s your [sinful King Me choices] that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:2)
When you are worshipping King Me, you have automatically chosen to turn your back on God in favor of your own sinful passions and desires. As a result, until you confess and forsake that sinful choice, you will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer; he will hide his face at that time, because you have made your deeds evil. (Micah 3:4).
Notice in Deuteronomy 4:29 the words “from there you will seek the Lord.” From where? From right where you are. You do not have to shape up before you can seek the Lord. You do not have to stop giving in to temptation and be sinless before reaching out to God. Come to Him just as you are—sinful, dirty, wretched, and worn. Just come.
“Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.’” (John 7:37) Let’s face it; you are spiritually thirsty. The problem is that you have been running to the wrong well to be satisfied. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) King me will never quench your thirst simply because King Me is not (nor ever will be) God.
“And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)
“For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” (Psalm 107:9)
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
Listen to God’s call. Do you hear it? God is bidding you to come to Him just as you are. No fluff. No pretense. Just you. Your soul. Choose daily to lift it up to Him. Choose moment by moment to surrender your heart to Him. Lift up your soul right now to God. Even though your sins are many, even though you have been worshiping a false god—just come and let Him cleanse you. Let Him fill you. Let Him truly satisfy you.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus is inviting you to come to Him as you are. Come to Him with your heavy burdens, your pressing problems, your recurring sinful habits. Let Him give you the rest you are seeking. You do not have to change anything before crying out to Him. Just come as you are.
OK, we’re going to hit the pause button here until next week’s episode as we look forward to continuing this study.
In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about today’s study, or if you’re interested in learning more about The Pure Man Ministry (what we do to help men across the globe find freedom and victory over sexual sin), be sure to visit our website to see the multitude of resources we’ve made available to you – you can find our website at ThePurityCoach.com
One of those resources I would like to highlight for you here is the recently updated, 2nd edition of my book entitled “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to transform sinful thoughts and habits into patterns of life pleasing to God.” This newly released 2nd edition is rich with hundreds of Scripture references, scores of practical illustrations, and each chapter now ends with a study guide full of questions and discussion points.
“Extreme Mind Makeover” takes you on a journey through the Bible to examine what God has to say about how your thoughts, words, and actions influence and impact your heart.
If you’ve followed this Point of Purity Podcast for any length of time, then you’ve heard me emphasize the fact that what you think becomes what you do. When you train your mind to think godly thoughts, the things you say and do day in and day out will be godly. On the flip side, when you allow your mind to think sinful, fleshly, ungodly, King Me centered thoughts, the result (your daily attitudes and actions) will be ungodly. So, how do I change the way I think? How do I change the things I do? How do I successfully and effectively guard my heart? This book, “Extreme Mind Makeover” takes you into God’s Word to help you answer those questions.
So, head on over to Amazon.com and purchase your copy of “Extreme Mind Makeover” today.
And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes!
So, until next time this is Author, Speaker, and Purity Coach Steve Etner reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.