The Real You: Spirit, Soul, and Body (How to Live From Your Recreated Spirit)
Who are we, really? If we strip away our job, our roles, and our personality, what remains? Scripture answers with a life-giving truth that changes how we worship, pray, and win daily battles: we are spirit, soul, and body, and the real you is your spirit. In this post, we’ll walk through a simple, Biblical picture of identity, share practical steps to train our spirit to lead, and show how to set the spiritual atmosphere in our homes with peace and authority. Expect faith-filled direction, simple habits, and hope you can use today. –Pastor Lane Farley
Spirit, Soul, and Body Explained: Discover the Real You
1 Thessalonians 5:23 names our three parts in clear order: spirit, soul, and body. Paul prays that our whole person will be kept blameless until Jesus returns. This order matters. God starts with the spirit because that is where life begins.
We are not just our bodies. We are not just our minds and emotions. We are spirits, made to fellowship with God.
- The spirit is the deepest part of us, the part that connects with God.
- The soul is our mind, will, and emotions.
- The body is our physical house on earth.
The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit first, then understanding rises in our mind. Identity begins on the inside, not the outside. When we get this, fear shrinks, peace grows, and we can face pressure with steady hearts.
For a clear overview of the three parts of man, this short Biblical guide is helpful: The Three Parts of Man—Spirit, Soul, and Body. For verse-by-verse context on 1 Thessalonians 5:23, see this helpful explanation.
Bible Truth: You are a spirit, you have a soul, you live in a body
1 Thessalonians 5:23 sets the order: spirit first, then soul, then body. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” The spirit is where we receive identity, guidance, and assurance from God.
Why this order matters:
- The spirit lives forever.
- The soul needs to learn and align.
- The body serves the spirit’s direction.
A simple picture: the glove and the hand
Picture a glove lying on a table. It looks useless until a hand fills it. The hand gives the glove life and movement. Our body is the glove. Our spirit is the hand inside. The glove matters, but only when the hand leads. When our spirit leads, our whole life moves with purpose.
Why identity affects victory and peace
When we identify only with body or emotions, we get tossed around by circumstances. But when we identify as spirit-led children of God, we walk with clarity. In worship, we yield our soul and body to our spirit’s love for Jesus. That’s why deep worship calms anxiety and realigns our thinking. Peace flows when the spirit leads.
New Creation in Christ: Live From Your Recreated Spirit
Salvation is not a touch-up. It is a rebirth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 that we must be born again. That new birth happens in the spirit.
God doesn’t patch dents. He makes us new from the inside out. We are sealed by the Spirit, marked as God’s own, and filled with heaven’s life. Fear and old labels lose power when we live from this identity. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
For a short read on how God finishes what He starts in us, see this brief article: What does it mean that He who has called you is faithful.
What changes when you are born again
- Our spirit becomes alive to God, righteous by grace, ready to hear and obey.
- Our soul and body need training to follow the spirit’s lead.
- Old cravings lose their grip as the spirit grows strong.
This is why daily choices matter. We feed and train the soul and body so they agree with the spirit, not fight it.
Heaven’s DNA: sealed and marked for victory
Think of a caterpillar. It looks limited, but it carries butterfly DNA. We can feel weak at times, but our spirit carries the DNA of Heaven. Romans 8:16 reminds us that the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. We are sealed by the Spirit, marked as his own, and equipped for victory.
Stop wearing old labels
We do not wear labels like weak, fearful, or unworthy anymore. We speak truth over ourselves:
- “Let the weak say, I am strong.”
- “We have a sound mind.”
- “We are new creations.”
Identity statements to confess this week:
- We are born of God and made new in Christ.
- We walk by the Spirit and live in peace.
- Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world.
Train Your Spirit to Lead: Daily Practices That Work
An athlete trains the body. We train our spirits. Picture a chariot with three horses: spirit, soul, and body. When the soul and body pull in different directions, the ride is wild. When the spirit holds the reins, the chariot runs straight and strong.
Romans 12:2 calls us to renew our minds. 1 Corinthians 9:27 tells us to discipline our bodies. Matthew 4:4 reminds us to live by every word from God. Jude 20 calls us to build ourselves up by praying in the Holy Spirit. James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
Feed on the Word each day
Here’s a simple plan anyone can follow:
- Morning: read a short passage, like Psalm 23 or 2 Corinthians 5:17. Say it out loud.
- Midday: revisit one verse. Turn it into a prayer.
- Night: review and thank God for how it guided your day.
Starter passages this week:
- Psalm 23 for peace and guidance.
- Psalm 91:7 for protection.
- Jeremiah 29:11 for hope.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 for a sound mind.
We can rotate these verses and keep them where we can see them. We speak them over our homes, our minds, and our decisions.
Pray and worship to tune your heart
Jude 20 says we build ourselves up by praying in the Holy Spirit. Worship and prayer tune our heart to God’s voice. We receive a fresh download for the day. If the day feels heavy, that is the best time to worship. We stop, lift our hands, and invite the presence of God. We sing, even if it’s a whisper. We ask, “Holy Spirit, fill this house and lead me.”
A simple worship rhythm:
- Two minutes of praise for who God is.
- One minute of thanks for specific gifts today.
- One minute asking for the Spirit’s leading.
Obey quickly and keep good company
James 1:22 reminds us to act on the Word. We obey promptings fast. When the Spirit nudges us to pray, forgive, give, or speak life, we act. That quick yes keeps us sensitive and strong.
We also need strong believers in our circle. We gather for worship and prayer. We share testimonies that build faith. Community keeps our spirit sharp and our steps steady.
Align your soul and body with your spirit
Let the spirit take the reins. Use the chariot picture during the day:
- When emotions surge, we pause and let the spirit decide.
- When cravings pull us, we speak the Word out loud.
- When confusion hits, we ask for wisdom, then act on the peace of God.
Three quick reset tips:
- Breathe slow and say, “Holy Spirit, lead me.”
- Quote one verse, like Galatians 5:16 or Psalm 23:1.
- Make one small act of obedience right away.
Walk It Out Daily: Set the Atmosphere and Win Your Battles
We choose how we speak, pray, and respond. That choice sets the tone of our home. The thermometer only reflects the environment. The thermostat sets the temperature. In Christ, we are thermostats. We can set a climate of peace, praise, and faith.
We’ve seen real protection in close calls, and we’ve seen people set free from heavy anxiety and dark thoughts. God is still rescuing, healing, and calming storms. As we set the atmosphere with praise and prayer, God’s peace fills the room and brings order to cluttered minds.
Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us that our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds.
Be a thermostat, not a thermometer
Set the spiritual climate of your home with a three-step micro-routine you can do in five minutes:
- Praise out loud. “Jesus, you are Lord of this house.”
- Read one verse. Keep a card on the counter.
- Pray a one-line prayer. “Holy Spirit, lead us today.”
Do this in the morning, and again when tension rises. We do not wait for feelings. We set the temperature by obedience.
Use water, not gasoline, on relational fires
We each carry two pails into tense moments. One holds water. One holds gasoline. Our words decide what happens next. When a conflict sparks, we choose water.
Try these calming phrases that help de-escalate and guard the anointing:
- “Let’s pause and ask God for peace.”
- “I’m sorry for my tone.”
- “We’re on the same team.”
- “Give me a minute to think and pray.”
- “I hear you. Thank you for telling me.”
- “Can we start over?”
- “Let’s invite Jesus into this.”
When pressure comes, we respond from our spirit, not react from our feelings. This protects unity and keeps the door shut to chaos.
Respond from your spirit, not your feelings
Here’s a simple pattern that retrains the soul:
- Pause. Take one slow breath.
- Pray. “Holy Spirit, what should I do?”
- Proceed. Obey the first peace-filled step.
Galatians 5:16 is our anchor. As we walk by the Spirit, flesh reactions lose power. With practice, this becomes natural.
Fight the right fight with spiritual weapons
Strongholds form in the mind. They fall when we speak the word, use the name of Jesus, and worship God with our whole heart. This is not complicated. It is consistent. We take thoughts captive, lift up Jesus, and agree with Scripture. The Spirit leads, and we follow.
Short examples that mirror real life:
- We sense a nudge to pray for a family member. We stop and pray, and later learn that God protected them in a dangerous situation.
- Heavy anxiety tries to return. We worship out loud, quote 2 Timothy 1:7, and reach out to a strong believer for agreement. Peace returns.
- A health concern rises. We ask for prayer, speak healing promises, and trust God to work. We keep thanking him as we follow wise steps.
Conclusion
We are spirit, soul, and body, and the real you is your spirit. In Christ, we are new creations, sealed by the Spirit, and made to lead from the inside out. Let’s keep our spirit strong with the word, worship, quick obedience, and life-giving community.
Take one simple step today:
- Pick one Scripture to carry.
- Play one worship song and invite God’s presence.
- Say yes to one small prompting.
Faith declaration: We are new creations in Christ, and we will walk by the Spirit today. We will not be ruled by feelings. We will set the atmosphere with praise, peace, and the word.