You can’t go anywhere these days without being reminded of the importance of, “Social Distancing”, however, there is a much more sinister attack being raged on humanity right now, one that you and I may not even be aware of. This attack is covert, aggressive, and deadly with “Eternal Consequences.” If it is allowed to go undetected and unaddressed, it could cost us our family, our friends, our calling, and most importantly our soul!
What is this attack…..and where did it come from? The attack is called, “SOUL DISTANCING.” This is where we unknowingly through fear and distractions begin to distance our MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS from God and those that He has called us into a relationship with. We can trace this deadly spiritual virus to, “the enemy of our soul.”
On April 15th, I was going about my day thinking about the times that we are currently living in and the varied responses that I had witnessed, along with my own to this viral attack. All of a sudden I heard the still small voice of The Holy Spirit Whisper these words to my heart, “Soul Distancing.” He then quickly began to reveal to me what the enemy is trying to do on a large scale basis to the “Soul” of humanity through the current global COVID-19 pandemic.
My friend, I’m not talking about the need to, “flatten the curve” by using wisdom as we go about our day. I am talking about the lethargy of spirit, the apathy of heart, and the lust of the flesh, that the enemy is endeavoring to lull us into. This “soul stupor” is a by-product of the fear and uncertainty that we are constantly being bombarded with as we are being encouraged to “distance” and, “isolate” ourselves from those around us. The goal of this demonic attack is to weaken our spiritual immune system to the point where we can no longer breathe in the Refreshing, Healing Wind of The Holy Spirit. Therefore we suffocate through fear and infect others with fear as we unwittingly engage in the deadly practice of, “Soul Distancing” from God and others!
What are some of the symptoms and results of, “Soul Distancing”?
Psalm 143:1-4 (AMP) is a desperate cry from the heart of King David to God, a passionate prayer that reveals some of the symptoms and results of, “soul distancing;
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your Faithfulness answer me, and in Your Righteousness.” “And enter not into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is [in himself] righteous or justified.” “For the enemy has pursued and persecuted MY SOUL, he has crushed my life down to the ground; he has made me dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead.” “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed and faints within me [wrapped in gloom]; my heart within my bosom grows numb.”
Spiritually speaking, a numb heart that goes undetected and unaddressed will eventually flatline through fear. For the weary child of God, this is one of the most alarming symptoms and a result of, “soul distancing.”
Like King David in his weakened state, when, “our heart within our bosom grows numb”, we can be sure that there is an “enemy, (fear) that has pursued and persecuted our soul.” The “Soul Intent” of this attack is to as the scripture states above, “crush our life down to the ground.” If we allow this spiritual condition to go undiagnosed and unaddressed, the enemy will convince us to, “dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead,” which I believe is King David’s description of deep depression. Our spirit, “wrapped in the gloom” of this deep, dark depression will then be “overwhelmed and faint within us.” Ultimately this will cause “our heart to grow numb” and flatline through fear as the lust of the flesh has now been given full reign over “our soul”, which consists of our Mind, Will and Emotions. This creates a soul distancing from God and others which is a highly dangerous and contagious state of being!
Why is this such a dangerous and contagious state to be in?
Revelation 3:15-17 (TPT) provides the answer to this question;
“I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion. How I wish you were either one or the other!” “But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth.” “For you claim, I’m rich and getting richer—I don’t need a thing.” “Yet you are clueless that you’re miserable, poor, blind, barren, and naked!”
You see my friend, this dangerous state of being is a “lukewarm” state of being, one that is dominated by ungodly desires and the lust of the flesh. In this climate of deception, we grow so indifferent and numb to the Heart of God that, “Soul Distancing” becomes a way of life for us! “Clueless” to the truth, we infect and contaminate others with “sins of the flesh.” ref. (Galatians 5:19-21), as “we claim, that we are rich and getting richer—and don’t need a thing.” This Pride of Life breeds fear and insecurity that will drive us into the arms of the enemy. The result? A soul that goes into Eternity; distanced and separated from God! This does not have to be the Epitaph of our life! We can leave a legacy of life and, “Life more Abundantly” ref. ( John 10:10b), in Jesus’ Name! In order to achieve this, we must be willing to ask ourselves the following question;
How do I avoid, “Soul Distancing” from God?
The answer is, “a matter of the heart” my friend, and we find that answer in;
1st John 2:15-17 (TPT); “Don’t set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of The Father and the love of the world are incompatible.” “For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from The Father but the world.” “This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the Will of God live forever.”
First and foremost the affections of our heart must continually remain “set on God and the things above.” Ref. (Col. 3:1). This is the only way that we can actively nurture and protect our intimacy with God, as we refuse to sell our soul to the world and give into, “the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance.”
You see my friend, “Holiness of Heart is Giving God Through His Son Jesus Christ First Place in Our Heart.” The personal decision to, “Be holy because I am holy.” Ref. (1st Peter 1:16) is what gives us as individual Believers within, The Body of Christ the confidence to be counted amongst, “those who love to do the Will of God….and live forever!”
How do I do, “The Will of God” with this current global crisis going on?
Mighty Warrior Friend, God gives us Clear Instruction, Encouragement and Great Hopeful Expectation that we can follow, implement and receive in 1st Peter 5:6-11 (TPT);
“If you bow low in God’s Awesome Presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His Hands.” “Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you.” “Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion for its prey to devour.” “Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.” “And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all Loving Grace, Who has called you to share in His Eternal Glory in Christ, will Personally and Powerfully Restore You and make You Stronger than Ever. Yes, He will set you Firmly In Place and Build You Up.” “And He Has All The Power Needed to Do This—Forever! Amen.”
Thank You, Jesus! We never have to be distant from you! We can….“Be Strong and Live Free….Boldly For Him!”
© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”
Picture By: Pat Whelen
Boldly For Him 