Life In The Spirit

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17

How often do you find yourself doing something that you know you shouldn’t do? If you’re like the other 7.5 billion people in this world, the answer is probably all of the time. Yet we are by nature sinful and sin seizes any opportunity it can to wreak havoc on our lives.

So what are we to do? The first step to fix anything is to understand how it works. 

God designed us as a three-part whole consisting of a body, soul, and spirit. The priority we place on each determines if we remain stuck in an endless cycle of sin, or rise above as children of God.

1. Spirt

Our spirit is eternal. It’s where Christ dwells in us. Our faith, hope, love, and inner light all come from the spirit.

2. Soul

Our soul is who we are as individuals. Our choices, feelings, and self-image come from our soul and it’s the window between our spirit and body.

3. Body

Our body is a temporary shell that consists of our five senses: hearing, smell, sight, touch, and taste.

Maintaining this divine order ensures we place the proper emphasis on each part. This is key to living a godly life. In other words, when it comes to making right choices, we must allow ourselves to be led by our spirit.

Your body is important, but when you allow it to supersede the demands of your spirit, the divine order of your three-part whole is turned inside-out. This is an invitation for sin and if it becomes a pattern, life can spiral out of control.

The answer lies in Romans 8:5–6. It says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Today, ask yourself: are you focused on the needs of your spirit or your flesh?

Mark Henderson – Founder of The Inspired Legacy
Mark is a creative professional with more than 20 years experience in the fields of web design and advertising. He also serves as the chief content officer at The Inspired Legacy, an online ministry dedicated to shining a light on God’s gift of parenthood. The organization aims to inspire and equip fathers to boldly lead their families, love their kids unconditionally, and leave a legacy of grown children that carry on these same traditions. Mark resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his wife, Kimberly. Together, they have three children, two girls, and one boy.