Here is yet another principle that has been soaking into my heart during this season. I am a soul (that includes my mind, will and emotions), I have a body and a spirit. So, when I remember the verse that states, “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak”, lately I can literally feel the tug of war between my soul and spirit. My soul often says to me, “We’re never going to make it through this. I’m so sad. I feel defeated.” But my spirit says, “I trust You God. I know You have always made a way for me and you won’t stop now.”
Several nights I have woken up into a vision and have seen my soul rocking in the fetal position saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” in desperation. When this happens, I acknowledge the level of discomfort in my life and then I tell my soul, “I understand, but we’re going to listen to my spirit right now.” It may sound completely crazy to you, but every single time I do this, whatever discomfort I may be feeling at the time, immediately lifts off me and I feel peace.
After practicing this over the span of several weeks, I’ve come to a much more settled and peaceful place. What it made me realize is I don’t have to deny my soul’s fears and discomforts, but I can acknowledge them and then defer to my spirit, which is connected to the Father and lives wrapped in peace and the ultimate knowledge of Who God is and what He can/will do.
Now, I know this may feel like a stretch for some of you, but I challenge you to just try it. Ask God to begin to show you the difference between your soul (mind, will and emotions) and your spirit. Then, if you’re feeling something that seems so real, but you know isn’t wrapped in truth and peace, acknowledge it and then ask your spirit to take over. I promise it will be life changing.
Prayer Moment: If you are currently walking out a challenging time, ask God to reveal His truth to you. Begin to practice this method of acknowledgment and deferring to your spirit. If you are saved, then Christ lives in you. Your spirit is directly connected to Him. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather walk in the spirit and not the flesh.
Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:36-41
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:6-11
365 Days in the Presence 