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Topic: Soul (07/13/06)
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TITLE: It is Well With My Soul | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Lynam
07/13/06 -
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What is the soul? That seems to be a question that many people don’t know the answer to.
Most people realize that we are made up of three things: The body; soul; and spirit:
The BODY is our “WORLD consciousness (appetite, desire, greed, lust, pleasure).
The SPIRIT is our “GOD consciousness (His spirit witnesses with our spirit Romans 8:16
KJV; things of God can only be spiritually discerned--I Corinthians 2:14-16 KJV)
The SOUL is our “SELF consciousness (emotions, volition, conscience, mentality, self
consciousness, sin nature).“ We can see the body but the spirit and soul is that
intangible, unseen part of our being. Our soul and spirt are so closely related that it
tells us in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.” KJV
In the 1870s, Horatio Spafford, a Chicago lawyer, penned the words to the stirring song “It is Well with My Soul.”
Before writing this song Mr. Spafford had experienced several tragic losses. After the Chicago fire in 1871, Mr. Spafford lost much of the money he had invested in real estate. Shortly after that disaster his only son died.
Two years later, in 1873, the Spaffords were desparately in need of a vacation. They decided to take a trip to Europe. At the last minute, because of business details, Mr. Spafford could not go. It was decided that he would join his family at a later date.
On November 22, before Mr. Spafford could join them, the ship that Mrs. Spafford and her daughters were traveling on was struck by an English ship. It only took 12 minutes for the Spafford‘s ship to sink. Several days later the survivors were taken to Cardiff, Wales. It was there that Mrs. Spafford sent a cable to her husband with a short message, “Saved alone.”
It was when Mr. Spafford was crossing the ocean, to unite with his wife, that he sailed over the spot where the ship went down. It was there that he penned the words “It is Well with my Soul.”
Even though he had great sorrow he could still say he had peace. He had learned through the word of God and experience that no matter what came into his life it could be well with his soul. The precious words that he penned showed his heart attitude well.
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
Though Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let his blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate.
And hath shed His own blood for my soul”
IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL, WITH MY SOUL.
There are other stanzas to the song but you get the general idea of the condition of his soul at that time.
It is only when we learn these lessons from God’s word that we can say like Paul “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 47 KJV)
Everyone can have this peace through Jesus Christ if they will TRUST Him and believe His word.
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