Why Nurturing Your Spirit Matters More Than You Think
(The following is addressed on pages 111-117 in the book: God, Show Me More of You.)
There’s a quiet epidemic among Christians today.
We’re spiritually malnourished—while our minds, emotions, and willpower are in overdrive.
Arthur Burk once used this strong metaphor:
Many Christians have spirits that look like little emaciated stick figures, while their souls (mind, will, and emotions) look like overfed sumo wrestlers.
I’ve never forgotten this picture.
We’ve spent years nurturing our bodies with workouts and meal plans, our minds with education and productivity hacks, and our emotions with self-help books and therapy (all good things in their place!). But our spirits—the very place where the Holy Spirit resides—are often left starving.
We let our soul drive our lives, rather than letting the spirit (aligned with the Holy Spirit) lead.
What Does Scripture Say?
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:23
This verse reminds us: we are three-part beings. Spirit. Soul. Body.
But for many of us, the soul has taken the wheel.
Why This Matters?
Our spirit is designed to be the part of us that connects with God.
When we invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, He resides in our spirit (see Romans 8:16). And from there, He brings alignment and transformation to our soul and body. Not the other way around.
But if our spirit is undernourished—ignored, silenced, or squashed by a dominant soul—we miss out on intimacy with God and clarity in direction.
Jesus Himself modeled something different.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…”
— John 5:19
He lived in moment-by-moment communion with the Father—through the Holy Spirit. His spirit led. His soul and body followed.
Soul vs. Spirit in Real Life
Here’s a practical breakdown of what it might look like:
| When Soul is Leading | When Spirit is Leading (aligned with Holy Spirit) |
|---|---|
| “I feel anxious, so I’ll take control.” | “I feel anxious, but I’ll pause and ask the Spirit for peace and wisdom.” |
| “This decision makes logical sense.” | “This seems logical, but I’ll wait and discern what the Spirit is saying.” |
| “I’m emotionally overwhelmed.” | “I acknowledge my emotions, but I invite the Spirit to guide me through.” |
How Do We Strengthen Our Spirit?
Just like we nourish our bodies and educate our minds, we must intentionally nurture our spirits. Here’s how:
1. Speak Blessings Over Your Spirit
Start with a simple daily practice:
“Spirit, I bless you in Jesus’ name to rise up and lead. I bless you to connect with the Holy Spirit, to receive peace, wisdom, and joy.”
2. Pause to Discern
Instead of defaulting to thoughts or emotions, pause and ask:
“Holy Spirit, what are You doing right now? What do You want me to see or know?”
3. Immerse in Scripture and Worship
Let the Word of God speak to your spirit. Let worship soften your heart and attune you to the Father’s voice.
4. Create Space for Silence
Our spirits often need quiet to become aware of the Spirit’s whispers.
Reflection Questions:
- When a hard situation arises, what part of me usually takes the lead—my thoughts, emotions, or spirit?
- What might it look like for me to let the Spirit lead today?
- How can I bless and nourish my spirit intentionally this week?
- Jesus, where have I been living out of my own strength rather than being led by You?
A Closing Prayer
Holy Spirit,
I invite You to lead.
Forgive me for letting my thoughts or emotions drive me instead of trusting You.
I bless my spirit to rise and take its rightful place—under the lordship of Jesus.
Train me to walk in step with You, just as Jesus did.
Amen.
I bless you to become one whose spirit is strong, connected, and in constant communion with God—and let the sumo wrestler-sized soul take its rightful seat… in the passenger side.
Dig Deeper…
God, Show Me More of You
Connect with us for a space to grow together
Merri Ellen Giesbrecht / www.merriellen.com
Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box 
Leave a reply to Susan Cancel reply