Voices of the Soul

Charles H. Spurgeon said this about the soul: God is “the owner of my inmost passions, the possessor and owner of my secret self.” This book invites you to consider the different aspects of the “secret self,” the soul, and how the soul is transformed and set aflame for the Lord’s glory. As we explore the architecture, motions, energies, and engagements of the soul, each of the voices of these different aspects of the soul will be explained—both how they are formed and how they are authentically transformed. The way these dimensions are interconnected will give us understanding as we partner with the Lord in our own healing and formation. And as each dimension of the soul is transformed in Christlikeness, true spiritual formation happens. We really are changed! King David declared, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps 103:1 NRSV). The soul is simply shorthand for “all that is within me.” It is my whole being, all my inner powers, all my capacities and faculties (such as the rational mind, will, imagination, and conscience), overlapping and working together. Though these parts aren’t fully separate and distinct, it will be helpful to look at them distinctly—an anatomy of the soul and its systems. We can’t grow in the Lord unless we are allowing him to deal with what’s in our soul. Jesus is the One who searches our mind and heart (see Rev 2:23) and knows all that is within us. As we grow and experience real transformation, we become mature and complete. Our God becomes the center of our being, literally indwelling us. He is the living vine from which we take in life. He radiates up through our entire being, granting us holy emotions, holy intuition, holy imagination, holy intellect—transforming everything within. The more we understand and practice this truth, the more we mature. It’s his presence that makes our soul’s formation and transformation possible. We don’t always see what has influence over our thoughts and motives, what lies below the surface of consciousness. But God knows what is unseen, unnoticed, unfinished. Only God knows all the hidden dimensions within us. Only God has the power to change us from the inside. The more we understand where we are disconnected, the more we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s activity within. As we ask, God brings to light the brokenness within our souls. The key to transformation is the fullness of knowing him as he is and receiving his love. We need to start thinking differently and live in the fullness of the goodness of God! In the cross and resurrection, we have been given everything we need for transformation. The wonderful news is that everything wrong about us died on the cross with Christ and our righteousness is imparted by his resurrection life. It’s the mystery of his deep indwelling that enables us to look like him, that calls us to spiritual formation. Our souls, “like a city that is broken into and without walls” (Prv 25:28 NASB), may be fragmented from painful experiences. The pain of unhealed memories may contain messages of rejection, unworthiness, lack, hopelessness, and depression, all of which silence our true voice. But the Lord is able to heal the deepest pains that paralyze our emotional well-being and stifle and stymie our spiritual formation. The Lord enters our sin-marred memories with his light and healing presence so we can be restored. Our souls are complex and within them we have constructed many roads that don’t lead us to health and wholeness. From our early years the soul can be stunted, misshapen, and broken down by pain and evil. As we understand this and lean into the Lord’s ways, we can come out of denial and confusion and begin to build. Then spiritual formation takes place as each organ of our inner being becomes like Christ. The Holy Spirit knows what he is about and keeps our growth moving forward even when it seems confusing or unorganized to us. We may see dimly now, but we are being transformed from “glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18 NASB). As Christ is formed in us, we become our true selves.