A conversation on the ego and soul with a friend

I consider the ego to be our (false) sense of self that we develop from infancy up until death. It includes thoughts of a self that is inherently separate from others. I believe thinking that one is separate or insulated from others is a way the ego try’s to protect/defend itself. Therefore, I believe that fear originates in the ego.
I do not think one could rid themselves of an ego while alive. I think that one CAN learn to understand the ego and the fear developed by it.
Really truly (maybe even apparently) I do not know what the ego is. This is only what I think. Conversely, I think the soul is our connectedness or sense of Love.

I wanted to look at this:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

I think this is a rally cry to remind us that Jesus is in us, and that is why he died, so he could be in us.

I find peace in the idea that Jesus lived as a human, to show us a human can be one with God.
I believe Jesus was saying that we could feel human pain and suffering and be thankful still to God.
Job demonstrated that on a lesser level.

How do we still be thankful?
When I ask, God tells me to be thankful right now, even if I am being persecuted right now. He also tells me not to worry about what’s next, just be thankful right now.

I don’t believe that means don’t plan or try. I think that means to plan, try, work, play, eat, sleep, etc. while being thankful! We are not, and cannot be alone in this world literally!

Oh, the poor people that think they can be though……They don’t remember what Jesus said.

Maybe they got too busy worrying or have wasted precious time on useless information/thinking and they were distracted. Poor poor people. We need to be constantly reminded and remind each other. We have to work for God constantly, and in that way we can keep from inadvertently separating ourselves from him. God will never abandon us!

I don’t know how you feel about what I am going to say next but here goes: I think that our own fear is the only “being” that can separate us from God. (us/ourselves) Not a devil entity. Not that there can be no sort of devil entity! Even human beings can display unbelievable cruelty and hatred. It is just that our own fear is the only thing that can conquer us/separate us from God. Devils demons, and devilish people will keep trying, but cannot succeed without our consent. God/Jesus promised that!

I also believe the only thing that separates devils/demons, and devilish people from God is THEIR own fear. God pity’s them I believe, and we should too, if we understand the only thing separating us from them AND GOD is still fear.