Soul

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:16-17

Another example from the Bible describing the importance of the inner being – a call for me to be strengthened in my “inner being” - with power through his Spirit. The reason for this points to us being “rooted and grounded” in love. Another strong indication that this cultivation of the inner life will help me to understand just what love is – who God is – to understand being a love with God and others.

….and that Christ may dwell IN me. The following section of text is from “The Inner Castle” which I am currently reading. The writer describes our souls like a castle full of chambers or mansions, as the soul travels into itself, towards the centre chamber, it gets closer to where God dwells and the light gets brighter (see last post)….


“Some say the soul enters into itself; others, that it rises above itself. I can say nothing about these terms, but had better speak of the subject as I understand it. You will probably grasp my meaning, although, perhaps, I may be the only person who understands it.


Let us imagine that the senses and powers of the soul have fled and joined the enemy outside. After long days and years of absence, perceiving how great has been their loss, they return to the neighborhood of the castle, but cannot manage to re-enter it, for their evil habits are hard to break off; still, they are no longer traitors, and they wander about outside.


The King, Who holds His court within it, sees their good will, and out of His great mercy desires them to return to Him. Like a good Shepherd, He plays so sweetly on His pipe, that although scarcely hearing it they recognise His call and no longer wander, but return, like lost sheep, to the mansions. So strong is this Pastor’s power over His flock, that they abandon the worldly cares which misled them and re-enter the castle.”

This image of the King calling us inwards is a wonderful one – and something worth meditating on. It gives me a sense of the “riches of His glory” and portrays that yearning God has for us to be reconciled to Him – that sweet song – ever so quiet. This passage of text also reminds me of the story of the prodigal son.

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and ,length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of god. Ephesians 3: 18-19