Spirit Over Soul

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16

Unlike mind over matter, spirit over soul is not an arm wrestle to the ground, positive thinking method of coping.  It’s more of a white flag, I give up, surrender of my will to the will of the Holy Spirit of God Who abides within those who know Him.  There is a tug-of-war going on in every Christian; a tug on the heart, mind and will (soul) to believe and do what we want versus the will of God that pull in opposite directions at all times.

I have heard a lot of sermons on submission and surrender and even come across the concept in books and articles but the truth is that surrendering is not the problem.  The issue is WHO we are surrendering to.  Surrender is a giving over of oneself.  We can surrender our will to God or we can surrender to the enemy, giving ourself over to the flesh.  We cannot at any one moment be doing both.  If we are surrendered to God (Spirit over Soul) then “The love of Christ controls us,” 2 Cor. 5:14.  If we are not, (flesh over soul) then we are controlled by the “lust of the flesh,” 1 John 2:16.

Let’s encourage each other to choose God’s team and to lean in on His side of the tug-of-war so we may be strengthened in the Lord today, raising our white flags in surrender to His leading.