Most of us are double minded, and in order to walk in both authenticity and integrity, we must understand why. In order to steward the desires of your heart, you need to understand the geography of your heart. For the last 8 years or so, I’ve been working with this model:
We, as people, can be thought of in three parts.
- The Spirit is the part of a person that is immediately restored at the acceptance of Christ. This is what the Bible refers to as “the new man”. The Spirit has already been redeemed and is under the authority of Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 7:17
- The Soul, also called the heart, is comprised of the mind, will, and emotions. The Soul is being redeemed. See how the circles move outward? Our soul is under the authority of the Spirit. Some areas of the Soul are not yet under Christ’s authority, while other areas of the Soul are under Christ’s authority.
- “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Romans 7:19-20
- Mind…”We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Will…”And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17 and “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
- Emotions…”Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 43:5
- The body, in this model, will be redeemed. This is speaking of the last days, when the dead will rise. Caveat: I think that the body and the soul are far more interconnected than we like to admit (hangry, anyone?). I’m not sure they should get their own, separate circles…but for the sake of stewarding desire, we’ll stick with the model.
Raindrops in the Ocean 