Stability of the Soul within the Heart of the Father

The moment a person becomes a Christian, they are baptized into the death of Christ and raised unto newness of life by the glory of the Father. The new believer becomes one spirit with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17), thus now entering into the life of the Son and therefore entering into the life of the Trinity. However, very few modern-day Christians seem to know and understand these eternal truths. As a result, many believers today are blown to and fro by the winds of adversity and never find stability for their souls. The natural tendency of the heart is to look for peace and comfort from the world and life’s circumstances. Sadly, mankind does not know its proper worth and will never find rest in the land of the living. Therefore, the only option remaining for the immaterial soul is to look elsewhere, namely, to God himself.

The spiritual stability of the human soul is found only in the heart of God through the proper foundations of the means of grace. The goal and aim of this book is to strengthen the foundations of a believer’s life, thus leading to the soul’s stability. The approach taken is very similar to that of the Apostle Paul, who wrote a vast majority of the New Testament. Paul oftentimes begins with theology about God and then transitions to practical application in the later portions of his letters. For example, the first three chapters of Ephesians are dedicated to theology regarding the eternal plan of redemption set into motion through Christ (Ephesians 1:3–13), to being saved by grace through faith (2:8–10), to the mystery that has been hidden for ages and is now being revealed by God’s manifold wisdom (3:1–13). The purpose of these chapters is to teach us more about who God is and who we are as children of God in light of that knowledge. Only then does Paul later make the transition to practical application: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (4:1).

The art of understanding the theological points allows the believer to have the eyes of his heart enlightened (1:18), thus enabling him to see the beauty and majesty of the glory of God (which is the external emanation and beauty of God’s internal nature). In turn, the more a believer sees the glory of God unveiled through Scripture, the more he will be changed and transformed into Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). In other words, the more a believer understands and knows God intimately, the more that person will become like God through the transforming power of the Spirit. Biblically, God has so wisely designed that change is to begin internally—not externally. The more the believer understands the love that God has for him “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” the more he can be transformed into the fullness of God—“that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19), thus finding spiritual stability for the soul despite external circumstances.

The design of this book follows the same pattern of Paul’s epistles. The first half concentrates on essential foundational knowledge of God that leads to practical application in the second half. The second half focuses entirely on applying this knowledge through the means of grace which consists of the Word of God, praying, meditation, and other various means of grace. Properly defining these means of grace allows the believer to properly apply these means in their life. Taking these steps will establish a stronger foundation in an individual’s life, which will ultimately lead to the stability of the soul in the heart of God—not the external world.

To walk with God in this world is to have the very life of God infused into the soul. That same life which flows richly between the majestic Trinity: the Father of mercies, the Son of righteousness, and the Spirit of life. One day with the majestic three is better than a thousand elsewhere. The delights of this life miserably fail to compare to that which is in the Lord. To walk with God is to have the soul firmly secure within the heart of God. The believer no longer experiences life on his own; rather, he is given a keen sense and awareness of God’s presence. The soul is now given eyes to see the Lord at work within him, through him, and around him. Everything in life takes on a whole new meaning and perspective as that Christian begins to experience the life of God through these means in his everyday affairs. As a result, the soul finds its proper resting place in God himself, thus finding spiritual stability.

The path to finding such a life is found by delving deeper into the heart of God, depending, of course, on how strong and established the foundations of Christianity are in a believer’s life. So let us embark on this journey by taking a deeper look at various attributes of God, the cross—the signet of his glory, the newness of life, the battle with indwelling sin, and the means of grace. In doing so, may the soul find stability within the heart of God—rather than the external world.