009 - Body Soul And Spirit

Understanding the Foundational Truth of Body, Soul, and Spirit

To truly grasp how God communicates with us, we must first understand a foundational truth about our nature as human beings: we are a three-part being—body, soul, and spirit. This is not just an abstract concept; it’s a critical key to understanding how we perceive and respond to God’s voice.

The Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul gives us insight into this in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where he writes:
“May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s words affirm that we are comprised of three distinct yet interconnected parts: body, soul, and spirit. Let’s explore what this means and why it matters.

Awareness of Our Body and Soul

For most of us, our body is the easiest part of ourselves to understand. It’s tangible and physical. We’re acutely aware of its needs and signals: a headache, hunger pangs, or an ache in the arm immediately draw our attention.

The soul, however, is less tangible but still familiar. The word “psychology” comes from the Greek word psyche, which refers to the soul. Our soul comprises our mind, will, and emotions—the seat of our thoughts, feelings, and decisions. Many of us have spent time reflecting on our emotions or mental states, growing in our awareness of this part of ourselves.

The Overlooked Spirit

But then there’s the spirit—the part of us that’s often overlooked or misunderstood. Yet the Bible has more references to the human spirit than it does to the Holy Spirit or even evil spirits. This might come as a surprise; it certainly did to me when I first encountered this teaching.

When I studied the scriptures, I discovered that many verses clearly refer to the human spirit. This realization opened up a new understanding for me: our spirit is not a distant or dormant part of us—it’s central to how we connect with God.

Spirit Speaks to Spirit

The most crucial point I want to emphasize is this: God is spirit, and He primarily communicates with us through our spirit. Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Often, we want to hear God with our physical ears or perceive Him through our mental processes. While God can manifest in those ways, His primary mode of communication is spiritual. Our spirit is the part of us that was created to commune with Him.

How This Works in Practice

When we’re learning to hear God, it may seem like He’s speaking to our mind. That’s because our mind processes what the spirit perceives. However, the communication originates in the spirit. There are moments when our spirit picks up something so profound that our mind struggles to keep up—this is a deep spiritual experience that defies intellectual comprehension.

I’ve encountered this dynamic many times. For example, there have been moments when the Holy Spirit revealed something to me that didn’t align with my knowledge or understanding. Initially, I’d wrestle with it, questioning whether it could be true. Yet every time I’ve obeyed what I sensed in my spirit, the results have been transformative.

Growing in Spiritual Awareness

Developing awareness of your spirit takes time and intentionality. It involves tuning in to the subtle ways God communicates. You may sense Him in your soul—an emotional prompting or a gentle thought—but over time, you’ll begin to discern when it’s your spirit responding directly to His.

Here’s an example: I used to get frustrated when I’d have thoughts or visions while praying. I thought they were distractions. What I didn’t realize was that God was already speaking to me—those thoughts and images were His way of communicating through my spirit.

A Challenge to Explore

If you’ve never considered the role of your spirit in hearing God, I encourage you to study the scriptures for yourself. Look up every reference to the word spirit in both the Old and New Testaments. Pay attention to how often it speaks about the human spirit. This exploration will open your eyes to the incredible design God has placed within us.

The Journey of Listening

Learning to hear God isn’t about choosing between the mind, soul, or spirit—it’s about understanding how these parts work together. God speaks to our spirit, our spirit communicates that to our soul, and our mind processes what has been received.

As you grow in this awareness, you’ll find that the more seasoned you become in recognizing God’s voice, the more natural it feels to perceive Him with your spirit. And while your mind may not always grasp it immediately, you can trust that your spirit is fully capable of understanding what God is saying.

In this journey, be patient with yourself. Ask God to help you grow in sensitivity to His voice and to teach you how to listen with your spirit. Over time, you’ll discover that hearing God is not just about using your ears or your intellect—it’s about being attuned to Him in the deepest part of your being.

So, what’s the next step for you? How can you begin to cultivate greater awareness of your spirit and its role in hearing God? Let’s explore this together.