Perspective
( Luke 9:23-24 ; Rom. 6:11 ; Eph. 4:22-24 ; Heb. 5:14-15 ; James 1:17 ) The presence of the self, the subjective self, the old nature, the false self of unconscious unreality, subsists by feelings, the dust of the earth. This phony self is ever present to substitute for the reality of living by the true self, the self in union with the Holy Spirit. The old self is concerned with its own survival, to feed its ego needs by the externals and experiences of life - a co-dependency hatched by the world, the flesh and the devil.
To practice the death of this egoistic self is to lift the sights of our souls from the horizontal plane of the earth to an otherworldly transcendental one. This is the wisdom from the Spirit of God which comes down to us in the pattern of the Incarnation. Christ came down from above, the Holy Spirit is poured out from above, the new birth is from above: all experiences of God's Presence come down to us from heaven as word and spirit.
Hope
( Ps. 107:20 ; Acts 17:28 ; Gal. 2:20 ; Col. 1:10-11 ; Col. 1:27 ) Healing of the soul is a process to separate the false self from the true self. Christ is with us whether or not we apprehend Him. His Presence is a concrete reality but immaterial, and it takes constant perseverance to practice His Presence in the realities of daily living. To practice His presence is not a 'method' but a 'Person'. We cease to look for signs or sensory proof but rather to delight ourselves in Him. We practice His presence with us as we read Scriptures, as we pray, as we walk, as we do our duties at home, at work, at church, and wherever we breathe and interact with others: to make Him known to others through us.
( Ps. 95:7 ; Acts 17:11-12 ; Matt. 4:4 ; 2 Tim. 3:15 ) As you listen to His words, and you walk according to His word, the healing process becomes a constant. The first principle in listening to God is taking sacred texts into our spirits and souls by prayerful meditation upon them. Thereby, His words 'abide in us' and the word aflames within, making our wills one with His whereby we begin to grasp the depth of His love ( Eph. 3:18-19 ).
Change
( Col. 3:5-15 ; 2 Tim. 2:19-26 ) One must be separated from the 'old man', the sinful, the neurotic, the sickly compulsive, and no longer define ourselves by our sins, our neurosis and our deprivations: but by Him whose healing life cleanses and indwells us.
( Jer. 2:13 ; Rom. 6:12-14 ) Seek no longer to soothe your feelings by looking to others, to possessions or position, to fulfill sense of acceptance and approval. Put all of this at the feet of Jesus: the depravities of rage and lusts, or the deprivations of faithfulness, anxiety, emptiness, compulsions, addictions, and fears. Acknowledge all these sins, accept responsibility for them, then discuss them in prayer, in conversation with God. Listen , and you will receive guidance and the word that breaks the bondages.
( Isa. 10:27 ; Mark 11:22-26 ; Matt. 5:36-37 ; 1 John 1:7 ) We put no trust in our character by vowing, pledging ourselves to do anything. Rather than trusting in our own trust, we must trust in the Lord. We must fling ourselves clean over onto God and wash our hands of the consequences, making ourselves incapable of any self interest. Faith is not the means whereby we take God to ourselves for our own exclusive purposes; faith is the gift of God whereby He expresses His purposes through us. It is faith 'in' God , not in ourselves.
( Matt. 5:48 ; Rom. 12:1-2 ; Rom. 8:1-2 ; 2 Cor. 5:17,21 ; Eph. 4:22-24 ) Circumcision or sanctification which it symbolizes is the decision to cut away all self-idolatry, and abandon to God entirely. The old nature and the new have to be made one. The old has to be turned into a noble nature by the incoming of God. The new disposition is the one in which God is all.
Work Out Your Salvation (Phil. 2:12-13)
BSAF on selected verses from above.
Ask God for help in noting and breaking patterns where you are seeking God to fulfill your purposes (self-idolatry) rather than allowing God to use you for His purposes. It took Abraham over twenty plus years to move from trusting self to making God all in all ( Heb. 5:14 ).
Reference: [7][Chambers1]
Attachment: Meditating on the Ten Commandments
Refine your soul by meditating upon the Ten Commandments, one commandment a day for ten days or for any period of time. List areas in which the world, the flesh, and the devil have taken precedence over the Presence of God in your life. List these offenses, confess and repent and begin life anew in these areas. To assist in this regard, here are some ideas for your consideration:
THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. "Any offense against 'any one' of God's Ten Commandments or any false worship, are deliberate offenses against God and His First Commandment."
THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE. "We are to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 'Unless our imaginations are filled with His Presence, His word, we will default to lesser images', and from this alien strongholds (images) may develop."
THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN. "We are to be the salt and light and to progressively grow and mature into the image of Christ, else our talk and walk is in vain."
REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY. "Every day belongs to the Lord. As His representatives on earth, we are to dress, to act and to participate in a manner that reflects His Presence."
HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER. "We are to honor the office and the authority as ordained by God of parents, of civil and responsible authorities."
THOU SHALL NOT KILL. "Killing can be done through jealousy, immaturity, egoism, vanity, false pride, indecencies, indifference, a lack of affection to a loved one."
THOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. "All forms of impure actions and abuses to the flesh can be listed under this Commandment."
THOU SHALL NOT STEAL. "Denying, depriving, or failing to give due credit, honor and respect to another person".
THOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR. "Lying about, belittling or disgracing someone through slander, jealousy or envy."
THOU SHALT NOT COVET. "Within the recesses of your being, the inner man, you should not even give a single thought to self-interest. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you".
As you faithfully examine and judge yourself, look for and expect the Presence of the Lord.
Reference: [32][Willard1]