This message was inspired by my personal study of The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee, a classic Christian work on spiritual growth. The reflections shared here are grounded in Scripture and offered as encouragement for your own walk with Christ.
Are You Spirit-Conscious, Soul-Conscious, or Body-Conscious? is a question every believer should prayerfully consider. As I read Volumes One, Two, and Three of Watchman Nee’s The Spiritual Man for the second time, I have become much more aware of how differently I am receiving its message.
The first time I read these books, I approached them primarily through my intellect and emotions. Watchman Nee describes this as living through the soul, or self-consciousness. Although I understood many concepts mentally, my human spirit was not yet fully connecting with Father God for deeper revelation.
This raises an important question:
What part of you is directing your life?
Spirit, Soul, and Body
God created us as spirit, soul, and body.
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Being a threefold being does not automatically mean these three dimensions are properly aligned.
- The body can be controlled by appetites, pleasures, and impulses.
- The soul can be governed by thoughts, emotions, wounds, ambitions, and personal opinions.
- The human spirit can become neglected when we fail to cultivate our relationship with God.
God’s Design for Spiritual Order
God’s design is one of divine order.
The body should come under the discipline of the soul.
The soul should submit to the human spirit.
The human spirit should surrender completely to the Holy Spirit.
When this divine order is established, our lives begin to reflect God’s character and purpose.
The Human Spirit Was Created for God
The human spirit is the part of us created to know God, worship Him, receive from Him, and respond to His voice.
📖 Zechariah 12:1 (KJV)
Scripture tells us that the Lord “formeth the spirit of man within him.”
Our spirit is the God-breathed dimension through which spiritual fellowship and awareness become possible.
The Holy Spirit and Our Human Spirit
There is an important distinction.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The human spirit is the inner part of every person that can be renewed, transformed, and led by God.
📖 Romans 8:16 (KJV)
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
When our human spirit yields to the Holy Spirit, everything begins to change.
What Flows From Within You?
When we walk in spiritual health, that health begins to influence every area of life.
It touches:
- Our families
- Our communities
- Our churches
- Our institutions
- Our governments
- Our stewardship of the earth
However, bitterness, pride, unforgiveness, fear, and spiritual neglect also flow outward from within us.
Often, external disorder reveals internal misalignment.
Transformation Begins Within
True spiritual transformation does not begin by changing our surroundings.
It begins when we invite God to examine our inner person.
📖 Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
May this become your daily prayer.
Continue Your Journey
If this message encouraged you, continue your journey by reading these related reflections:
- God Wants You Whole — Discover God’s desire for complete wholeness in your spirit, soul, and body.
- Are You Rooted in Christ? — Learn why deep spiritual roots strengthen your walk with God.
- Chosen to Rule: God’s Love and Trust in You — Reflect on your identity and purpose as one created in God’s image.
Each message builds upon God’s desire for His people to grow in spiritual maturity and live fully surrendered to Him.
Final Reflection
The question is not merely whether you possess a spirit.
The question is:
Is your spirit alive, surrendered, and responsive to the Holy Spirit?
Allow God to examine your heart.
Submit every part of your life to Him.
As your spirit aligns with the Holy Spirit, your soul and body will begin to follow God’s perfect design.
Until next time,
Just Have Faith and Keep It Moving!
LoveyaFan
Fanny Minnitt