AntieAnt, I decided to repost what you shared that complemented my post as it helps to understand salvation is ongoing and that we are secure as we continue in Him. I will also include this in my study as it's obviously an area of conflict.
The meaning of not of works: not taking things in our hands again, not taking our life back and trying to please God in our own way. We've all been there, it's what sin is about, the works of the flesh are about me: what's in it for me. "He that separates himself argues and mixes up all sound wisdom." "Only by pride comes contentions," divisions are caused by desire to be in charge, leaders are even more vulnerable, but we all battle to walk by "Faith that works by Love," "The Love of God poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." We have no claim on the work and good thing for us: if we had claims we would have to defend our clans and become cults: thinking we are right and others wrong. When this is the case we are divided: the Corinthians had gifts of the Spirit but were divided and unable to receive more than the milk of the word: gifts of the Spirit are not a mark of maturity and can even make us conceited, thinking we are better than others, it happened to me. God is patient with us, for the fruit of the Spirit to ripen in us.
Key Habits to change: If you ask an athlete what’s going on in his mind before competition? He’s not really thinking about anything, just following training: habits have taken over. Key habits put actions of the body on autopilot, that matters if you’re to be without stress to compete for the prize. The stretches and warm-up, like planned, what most people view as tedious is vital for the race to be a natural extension of the discipline. Sounds like a lot of work, but key habits makes other good habits easy; causing positive effects to spill over; starting a chain reaction, over time we change. Some days we don’t stick with the plan, but maintaining the key habit we will be lead by the Spirit to changes without much effort. Your key habit is not the act that causes the chain reaction, but rather the intent behind the act: to see from God's perspective and be empowered. For example, a habit of morning and or evening, to kneel before the Lord and bow to acknowledge His presence with thanksgiving, saying the Lord's prayer for His disciples. An act of a minute, while not enough in itself to live in the presence of God is the beginning of change, "Forgetting what lies behind and go on to know the Lord: meditating on the word in prayer reduces anxiety, improves emotional stability, the peace of mind increases confidence in God; something most find difficult, to remain in His presence through the day, to bring our thoughts in obedience of Christ. Succeed developing a key habit and others will follow, otherwise new habits are hard to stick. There will be frustrated times of lack of progress, where we need reminder: It's not about progress but perseverance, not about being in control but having self control by the Spirit. "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." The key habit helps develop habitual presence of God. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Practicing good habits like an athlete, not my will, emotions, intellect (psychological, philosophical, instinctive) from carnal, mindset, but God's will by the Holy Spirit's leading in our heart. The more familiar we become with the Lord working in our hearts, the more our eyes stay focused on Him, and the easier it is to follow Him with our whole heart.
Not so much disciplining the body, as to be disciplined by the Spirit. "Physical fitness profits little but godliness profits for all things." Loosing ourselves in the Love of God: remaining focused on Him. There's no arguments between work and rest as it's from a place of rest in Him; then we all speak the same language of Love. But just as an eagle exert strength to reach the updraft to soar effortlessly, there is working out the renewing of our mind to soar with God by His Spirit. Neither are we always soaring, even when we know the way. "They that wait on the Lord shall renew strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Yet we know it's God at work in us and all we have is of Him. We are empowered by His Spirit to enter into the Spirit.
