As we continue exploring the divine tools God has given us for success, this week we consider an essential, yet often neglected, area: mastering the soul. In order to experience true success – in our spiritual walk, in the marketplace, and in every area of daily living – our soul must always be aligned with God’s Word and led by his Spirit; only then can we walk in the fullness of His promises for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 reminds us that we are tripartite beings, saying, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So each of us is a spirit being who possesses a soul and lives in a body. But, though we are spirit beings by design, we are daily faced with an internal battle between the spirit and the flesh, both contending for mastery of the soul, because the soul – mind, will, and emotions – ultimately determines the direction of our lives. The soul is the decision-making centre; it is where we choose whether we will walk according to the Spirit unto life, or yield to the flesh unto destruction. Galatians 5:16-17 makes this battle clear, saying, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” To walk in the flesh means living by the standards of the world: governed by the five senses, ruled by impulses, and interpreting life only by what we see, hear, feel, taste, or touch. And because the flesh is selfish, it always seeks its own satisfaction first. But, walking in the Spirit means to live within the parameters of God’s Word, because the words therein are spirit and they are life (John 6:63); choosing to obey God’s Word even when we don’t feel like it. But, this can only happen when we surrender our soul to the Word, allowing the Word to shape our thoughts and guide our decisions.
Church, mastering the soul begins with renewing the mind. The flesh sends us thoughts of anger, jealousy, fear, impurity, pride, and selfishness (Galatians 5:19–21), but the Spirit of God brings thoughts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (vs.22-23). Both the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit begin as thoughts, but the soul ultimately decides which thoughts to accept and which to reject, leading us to act in a certain manner. Therefore, we must use discernment, because not every thought that enters our mind is from God. We must discern whether a thought is from the flesh or from the Spirit, and the Word of God is the only tool we have to tell them apart. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Only the Word can separate fleshly or sensual impulses from spiritual truth, empowering us to make the right decisions. By default, the soul leans toward the flesh, but when we consistently renew our minds to the truth of God’s Word, we train our soul to agree with the Spirit, and over time, choosing spiritual things becomes natural.
So, church, let us commit ourselves to daily renew our mind, guard ourselves from influences that stir fleshly desires, and stay rooted in environments that encourage spiritual living, so we can live a successful life and experience all the blessings God has availed through Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word, which continues to make us wise, teaching us how to walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the desires of the flesh. We choose to daily renew our minds through Your Word, and submit our thoughts, emotions, and decisions to Your truth, so we can walk in Your perfect will for us always. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
