old soul

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Our Wise and Sanctified Souls

May 26, 2025May 25, 2025 krisshetter

"But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

You began your journey on the road of the sanctified life by professing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. You may not even have realized what that meant but, you took the step. You began reading your Bible, going to church, seeking others of faith. Your Knowledge Basket filled little by little. Your soul became refreshed and watered at rest stops along the road by the Word.

The inevitable pothole leaps out at you suddenly. You may even veer off the road a bit. Your soul takes a beating with heartache and loss. Your sins become a glaring, flashing red light. But you look in your Trials Basket and remember God will never leave you or forsake you. (Deut 31:68) You recall Him telling us to ask in His will and you shall receive. (Matt 7:7-9)

The verses you so carefully plucked and memorized tell you the Holy Spirit is your strength and He has a plan for good. We learn such jewels from Proverbs as, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Prov 26:11)

You pick up and dust off your bruised soul and get back on the path, gathering experience after experience. Confirming over and over the truth of God’s Word. The truth that He sees you and knows every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7) You remember each time a new pothole jumps at you to pray for His hand on your life. You affirm to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, and He will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5)

You come to a fork in the road. To the left you see what appears to be an open, empty road. It’s just you and the path. It looks so easy to take. To the right you see broken down souls trudging outside the path. Ones who are weary and thirsty; ones who are lost. Ones who are being deceived. Souls who are in need. But you also see the Holy Spirit ahead, like a busy traffic cop beckoning you forward.

You must ask yourself, “Do I turn left, lock my doors and enjoy the blessing of salvation by myself?” Or, do I choose to submit myself to the entirety of God’s teaching? Will you choose to fill your Stewardship Basket? To love your neighbor, to share the Gospel with your family and friends, to give your time, talents and treasure to those in need for the glory of God? (Matt 22:39)

God’s path calls for us to submit ourselves wholly to Him – not just part. The “easy path” so often doesn’t turn out all that easy. It’s a mirage, set up by the devil to deceive. James tells us a partial faith is “double mindedness.” (James 1:8) And that person shouldn’t expect anything from God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” It means we take all God has gifted us and we turn it back into glorifying Him to others in need.

As our soul matures along this road, we choose. Yes, we choose which fork to take. We choose to submit every sin, every action, every word, every need and every gift for His Kingdom. When we do, God continues filling our Submission Basket with new experiences and new revelations. We trust in Him and He gifts us the best road trip snacks – peace and the security of our eternal future.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4

My friends, humans are the only created beings to which God has blessed this amazing opportunity of sanctification. The animal kingdom obeys God’s plan instantly upon birth. They do what they are made to do. Yet, those actions are limited in scope. We have so much more opportunity to glorify God with what He has given us!

God has placed us on this road to travel and gather. Each mile marker brings us new insight into Him, the world, and the adversary. Wisdom is not a far off mirage. No, the jewels of wisdom sit firmly in our baskets which have been gathered along the way.

“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:98-106

One day I will be an “old soul.” Right now, however, I’m working my way down the road of life. Making mistakes and re-submitting my life to Christ each day. Forgetting to pray and rely on God’s sovereignty then having a friend ask me, “Have you prayed about that?”

I can feel my soul growing wiser, growing more at peace. I want my roots to run deep in His Word so I bear good fruit for others to enjoy along the path. (Matt 7:17-18) But most of all I want to be ever thankful that Jesus took it upon Himself to build this path toward the heavenlies.

A Path Freely Given

He didn’t have to. We need to remember that fact when others abuse what Jesus did for us. When they complain when we re-affirm Jesus is the only Way. God didn’t have to make a way at all. Not only did He build it, He gave us the full recipe, He gave us a guide. All so we can make it safely home.

As I write this my 86 year old, cancer riddled, atheist dad has come to live with us before he travels his final path. I’ve had many friends concerned for how hard this will be. It is hard at times. Especially at 2:00 am when bed clothes and sheets need changing. Or when I must choose to forgo activities dear to me. But I am at peace.

I realized this the other day. It’s a peace I’ve prayed for a lot in my life. I never expected during a trial such as this that peace would be what God gifted me on this road.

The other day, I took my dad for his first ever mani/pedi experience to fix his old crusty toenails. He loved it. When I sent my Bible study sisters a photo of him in the salon, one commented: “I love that you are loving on your dad this way! A foot washing like Jesus would do today!”

It struck me that I have been sanctified for a time such as this. (Esther 4:14) Blessed with the opportunity to take the fork to the right and share the love, mercy and salvation message of Jesus Christ with my father.

My friends, I pray that you too will have many opportunities to do the same.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Our final question: What’s the best lesson you have learned so far on your sanctification journey?

The Well-Travelled Soul

May 19, 2025May 13, 2025 krisshetter

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.”  Ephesians 1: 17-19

Have you ever heard someone young described as having an “old soul?” It usually describes a young person who seems to think and act much older than their actual years. Or someone who enjoys music, art, crafting, etc. from years past. I’ll be honest, I cringe when I hear this phrase. Because usually the person they describe just seems naturally more introverted. Not shy, just one who enjoys quiet. Quiet time and quiet activities.

In reality, all Christians must travel the highway of sanctification to attain true and deep wisdom. We gather it along the road in our baskets little by little with each trial and tribulation and heartbreak. Each time we act in God’s will, not the way of the world, we find another fruit in that basket. When we get to the end of our sanctification road, our dents, scratches, repairs and maybe even a little duct tape, will be our trophies of gathered wisdom.

I bring the “old soul” view up because it flies in the face of what the sanctification road means for a Christian. Worldly wisdom can only get us so far on this journey. We, however, seek the wisdom gifted by Christ Jesus. The wisdom that comes from the different steps we have discussed thus far: knowledge of our LORD, submission to the LORD, the experiences of trials, and the stewardship of all He has given us.

King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:3-4, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.“

In other words, we learn a lot more about life, ourselves, others, and God when we face sadness and hardship. So that supposed 10 year old “old soul,” if raised in a modern society, has yet to gather much in their basket of life.

Worldly Wisdom vs. Godly Wisdom

What’s the difference between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom? If you study Proverbs, you’ll see the best worldly wisdom has to offer actually comes directly from that book! The worst is highlighted throughout the Bible with names such as greed, lust, selfishness, pride, and vengeance. Worldly wisdom so often focuses on the “me” and not the “thee.”

The world tells us it is wise to go along with our loved ones’ sins. “Go along to get along.” “Don’t judge.” God’s Word flies in the face of this when He tells us: “My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.” (James 5:19-20 the Message)

We are likewise reminded when we share the freedom message of Christ Jesus it may separate us from those same friends and family—a worldly unwise move. In light of this, we hold on to the truth that this is yet another act of submitting; which brings us closer to God’s wise plan for our lives.

The world tells you it’s wise to have sex outside marriage. Why? Apparently so you know more about sex and can pick a good sex partner in marriage. And besides they say, it’s your “right” to have a little fun. The Bible tells us “There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us lonelier than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” (1 Cor 16:19-20 the Message) The promoters of sexually immoral behavior call abstinence before marriage unwise. Yet God’s wisdom tells us to value this gift as precious.

My friends, besides standing with Jesus at the end of my life, my end-goal on this journey is wisdom. When to keep my mouth shut and when to speak. When to help others and when to be wary of fools. Recognizing good character and keeping far afield of pigs who want to steal my pearls. Remaining calm when the world says to panic. A knowing that forgiving those the world says I should hate actually heals my own soul.

This week’s question: What’s something you have become wiser about in your journey of life?

Next week we’ll take one last look at our sanctification journey as we wisely travel the road home.

For more study on wisdom check out these series: “31 Days of God’s Wisdom” and “Enjoy Life: From Meaningless to Meaningful (a study of Ecclesiastes)

Enjoying A Wisdom-Filled Life Part Two

April 17, 2024April 10, 2024 krisshetter

Did you miss part one? Click here!

I knew the mistake as soon as I made it. But it was too late. I gave my consent and the ball began to roll. I knew the mistake I had made because for the last few years I’d heard the advice I disregarded over and over in my church home group. Ask God first. Not during, not after, but first. And here I was doing the exact opposite of that good advice. I kicked myself for still being what is called a “baby Christian.” Knowing the Word and knowing the wisdom dispensed therein but not living it out.

I’ve mentioned this unwise situation in which I placed myself in past posts. However, when I was pondering the “most unwise decision I ever made” this kept coming to mind. Mostly because of the pain and suffering it caused me and my family, even to this day.

You see, about 11 years ago, I begrudgingly agreed to be my kids’ elementary school PTA president. For a year prior, I told the PTA board I would not be president. It wasn’t my lack of ability that held me back because I knew I could do the job. No, instead I warned the board that they weren’t ready for my leadership style. Big changes were ahead for the school which meant big changes for the parent-teacher association. We would need to adapt and change in ways I knew would make people very uncomfortable.

At the time my Christian faith consisted of going to church occasionally, hosting a home group, and not much else. I wasn’t closely tethered to the Lord. I hadn’t gained the wisdom necessary to handle political and interpersonal conflict graciously and with self-control. On the other hand, I was organized, comfortable with leading, and skilled at creative solutions. I knew how to get things done.

As that year wound down and the nominating committee kept pestering me, I found myself resigned to being the only one willing to step into the role of president. So, late one evening I heard my voice telling a person over the phone, “Yes.” As soon as I hung up, I realized I hadn’t sought out the one opinion I needed most, God’s.

For the next two years my family’s life was filled with endless meetings, long phone calls, strife, and an absent mother. When I wasn’t physically occupied with the details of this volunteer job, I was absent mentally. At home, I cried frequently and raged about problem parents. I’m sure there were some good times sprinkled in between. But those memories have been squeezed out.

It’s not that I believe that had I prayed, the Lord would have told me “no.” It’s that if I had gotten a “yes” after praying it would have put a completely different spin on the entire experience. Had I taken all that wise advice I would have kept close to the Lord those two years and been at peace, even during times of trouble.

"Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way." Ecclesiastes 8:5

It’s one thing to seek wisdom, as we saw in the last post, but it’s another to actually use that wisdom every day in our lives. What would it look like in your life to heed the advice of say a Christian whom you trust? The advice of your pastor? The advice given in your Bible study or devotional? The advice spread throughout the Bible?

"Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:4-5

Nehemiah was desperate to see to the rebuilding of the second temple. A noble venture for sure. Just like me stepping up to lead our PTA. But, he also knew if he went behind the king’s back there would surely be trouble. You can see tucked in the verse the most important step he took – “So I prayed to the God of the heavens.” And the right words came out of his mouth to the king.

Some sources suggest that the average person makes an eye-popping 35,000 choices per day. Assuming that most people spend around seven hours per day sleeping and thus blissfully choice-free, that makes roughly 2,000 decisions per hour or one decision every two seconds.
Eva M. Krockow Ph.D., Psychology Today

Is it possible to ask God to impart His wisdom for each and every one of those seemingly small decisions? Maybe not, but we can wake each day and ask Him to direct our steps through the Holy Spirit. He gives us that nudge, that convicting tap on our shoulder, that encouragement throughout our day.

Too often, however, when we seek to make decisions about life, we seek only knowledge. And knowledge is not wisdom. Knowledge is data, facts, numbers. Wisdom is experience and life.

“Our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance.”
Historian Will Durant, Store of Civilization

One thing I always admired about the disciples is how many questions they asked Jesus. Although Peter seemed to rely on his own knowledge so often, we get to see him use not only his experiential wisdom and the wisdom imparted by Jesus as he grew more and more faithful. From Peter thinking he needed to defend Jesus in the garden by attacking the soldier, to denying his association to Jesus, he reflected us all. We know better than the Almighty God. We know how best to defend ourselves, how to protect ourselves. When it all fails, we become destitute and hopefully turn to the Lord.

How many times have you found yourself spiritually or emotionally destitute because you didn’t heed good advice or even seek it? Wouldn’t it be nice to turn to God first? To hear the Holy Spirit whisper to us and heed the good advice?

“For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.

⁷Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come? Ecclesiastes 8:6-7

Experiential wisdom is gained in its proper time and procedure. Which is why we all should be leery when people say a young person has an “old soul.” An “old soul” is one that has been on the battlefield of life and has come out with a few scars.

I started paying attention to my own prayer life and the results thereof. I went from praying after a decision for God to help it not be a bad one (like running the PTA) to praying in the midst of the process. Finally, I’ve stopped myself so many times lately and said, “I need to pray first.” It might be a quick prayer about something seemingly insignificant. Or it might be a few days, seeking God’s counsel. And surprisingly, this whole wisdom seeking works pretty good. I can now enjoy my decisions.

Friend, let’s be honest, we can never know all the “right answers.” If we wait until we have them all you will never take any forward steps. For some, that keeps them from putting their trust in God. Because they haven’t gotten all the answers cleared up about the mysteries. We have to be ok with trusting that God is the Almighty Creator and He hasn’t imparted us with all the facts He has about life. We have to be ok with asking Him for help and being satisfied with what He gives us.

^“..then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.” Ecclesiastes 8:17

Being ok with not knowing everything but acting wisely is not ignorance as some might accuse the Christian. We can and should rest peacefully in knowing what we need to know. And living our lives out with wisdom, peace, joy and goodness the information we do know — That God is a god who loves us and teaches us and will never leave us. He is a god who seeks us and wants us to live forever in His Holy Kingdom!

“Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with  those who fear God, because they fear before him.  ¹³But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.” Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

When we first, seek God, then seek His wisdom for our life, and finally live out that wisdom each and every day “it will be well.” We can watch and be at peace when the unwise, godless people around us make bad or even evil decisions. We pray for them that they would know God, who can give them a new life.

We all need wise people around us who fear the Lord first. We all need to use their wisdom and our experiential wisdom each day so we can enjoy our life especially in times of trouble. Let’s start by placing God as our most Holy Rabbi front and center.