Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Who is the governor general of your mind? Who drives your decisions? It is very important for us to discern the difference between our soul and spirit. If not, our feelings will fool us. There are people who misunderstand their strong emotional surge as the anointing or the leading of the Holy Spirit. There are various tools that help us to distinguish between the soulish drive and the leading of the Holy Spirit. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Firstly, the Word of God will help us to distinguish the voice of the soul and the Holy Spirit. The voice of our soul will say, ‘God will understand that you are only human, so it’s ok to lose your temper or yield to temptation’. This is the boorish soulish drive. The Spirit will say, “If you have no peace, don’t do it”. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6).
If we entertain our emotions, hurt or pain to flood our mind, fear and discouragement will flow from our mouth. The Holy Spirit will reiterate God’s promises, God’s goodness and His unfailing love. When we hear bad news both the spirit and the soul will start speaking. The one we entertain will inundate and take over our lives.
Distinctions between the soul and the spirit:
1. Physique: Our physical body only carries out what our mind has decided. If you decide to go somewhere your body takes you to that place. The body has no control over our decisions. Where the mind goes, the man goes. So, punishing the physical body makes no change in the person or the personality.
2. Psyche: In psychology, psyche means the human mind, conscious and unconscious. Psyche is your personality. If there is a disturbing foreboding or a qualm in your soul, stop and reflect inward. The cause of the uneasiness would normally be fear which will soon turn into irritation, frustration and an outburst of anger or tears. Surrender your soul, feelings, forebodings, emotional pangs to the Lord. Soul has to be subject to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pneuma: Pneuma is an ancient Greek word for breath or the spirit of man. The Holy Spirit will breathe godly thoughts on any matter. The soul (our wants, will and emotions) must be subject to God’s desires in order to do God’s will. Pneuma is the leader. The psyche must be subject to the Pneuma and the physical man will automatically accomplish God’s will.
The soulish man is selfish and wants to fulfill his desires but the man led by the spirit will be surrendered to the will, plan and purpose of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Prayer: Father God, give me the discernment to distinguish between the driving voice of my soul and the leading of the Spirit. Amen
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