The spirit is willing – and should lead!

by angiehauer · Published November 20. 2024 · Updated November 23. 2024

In a marriage course a few years ago, we repeatedly heard that our spirit should lead our body and soul. At the time, I didn’t quite understand that.

But recently it has dawned on me what this means and how I personally function: When I read in the Bible or listen to sermons, my spirit hears God’s truths that move me and that I would like to implement. My spirit is highly motivated and recognizes the guidance of the Holy Spirit. My spirit then runs ahead and expects my soul, that is, my mind, emotions and will, as well as my body, to follow suit.

…The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

But my emotions in particular often take longer to catch up, or need help to accept the things that my spirit has already understood. For example, my spirit knows that Jesus already bore my infirmities 2,000 years ago. And my spirit also knows that I should hold on to that, even if there is no sign of healing in my body yet.

My emotions are struggling with disappointment because I keep expecting that my healing is coming – but it still isn’t evident! My mind points out my rashes and says: no healing in sight. My will is tired of holding on! And my skin continues to be irritated by all sorts of things, breaking out in rashes, itching and hurting, showing no sign of healing.

How can my spirit lead?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

That is what my spirit is responsible for, for this firm confidence, for hope, for faith. And I want to feed my spirit with God’s word in the Bible and with the word that I receive from him in quiet moments. That is where my spirit receives its daily manna: love, acceptance, strength, wisdom and guidance for my life. My spirit can lead my soul and body with the manna it receives from God.

It would be wonderful if my spirit were well nourished and connected to the Holy Spirit! Is it?

When I regularly receive this manna, this good spiritual nourishment, then my spirit can lead and guide – as compassionate and gentle as Jesus leads! With encouragement, help and support!

In practice, this might look like this:

When my soul or my feelings are exhausted from emotional rollercoaster rides, I give them time and plan periods of rest, thus helping them regain their strength.
When I feel unloved, angry, desperate or sad, my spirit remembers the verses that assure me that God sees me and helps me. My spirit embraces my emotions and gives them space to heal.
When my body doesn’t want to go outside for a short walk out of laziness, my spirit motivates it with the thought that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that needs to be taken care of.
When my will is tired and has no desire to fight anymore, it needs encouragement from the spirit that God has good plans and helps me persevere!
When my body is tired from not enough sleep and too much Netflix, my spirit can intervene and send me to bed.

Can you tell your mind, soul and body apart? Can you discern who is speaking in you right now and who is leading?

The most important thing is that your spirit is allowed to lead and that it is well nourished so that it can lead! It is only well nourished when it regularly has time with the Holy Spirit. It is not the emotions that should be in charge – and not the will or the mind either! Only your spirit has the connection to the Holy Spirit. And so the Holy Spirit can only lead you as a person when your spirit takes over the leadership of your soul and your body.

Let your spirit take the lead within you and give it plenty of nourishment!