Have you ever had one of those days where you begin the day behind schedule and you never seem to catch up? We have all had those kind of days. To a great extent, our Christian life is about playing catch-up as well.
The Christian life consists of your soul catching up with what has already transpired in your born-again spirit. Your born-again spirit accurately reflects who you are, what you have in Christ, and what you can do through Him. But your mind and heart are in catch-up mode to be “transformed by the renewing your mind” (Rom. 12:2). As you implant the word in your soul, your soul becomes conformed to your God-image—the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The Christian life is an on-going catch-up process.
God’s Word is a spiritual mirror:
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror [God’s Word] the glory of the Lord [reflecting the glory of your born-again spirit], are being transformed [in your soul] into the same image [found in your born-again spirit] from glory to glory. (2 Cor. 3:18) (brackets mine)
Notice this verse is not speaking of our born-again spirit that is being transformed, as our spirit being was completely transformed when we were born again. Rather, this verse is talking about our soul that is being transformed – and catching up.
As you gaze into God’s spiritual mirror, His Word, your soul begins to see with spiritual eyes and become transformed to what is in your born-again spirit. Your soul is catching up with what has already transpired in your born-again spirit. Your soul is what is being transformed.
Paul said to the Galatians:
My little children [Galatian believers], with whom I am again in labor until Christ [in your born-again spirit] is formed in you [your soul and heart]. Gal. 4:19 (brackets mine)
Likewise, Paul said to the Philippians:
Work out [activate into your soul] your salvation [from your born-again spirit] with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12 (brackets mine)
Paul was saying that what is true about your born-again spirit does not automatically become active and operational in your soul; these truths must be implanted or activated. He labored with the Galatians, the Philippians, and all the churches to activate the believers’ identity in Christ so their souls would catch up to their born-again spirit. So be intentional about activating your soul to catch-up to what has already transpired in your born-again spirit.
Activation prayer:
I believe and declare that I am a Christian and have a born-again spirit. My born-again spirit is characterized by the nature of Jesus Christ which is holy, righteous, blameless, and complete. In my soul (mind and heart), I choose to believe and confess that what has already transpired in my born-again spirit is true about me. I declare that my soul is catching up to my born-again spirit. With my soul, I fully accept and embrace that what is true about my born-again spirit is how my heavenly Father sees me! In Jesus Name, Amen!