UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN SPIRIT
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 (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Some people often use the expression “the subconscious mind” when referring to the human spirit. But for those who think of the metaphysical conceptions of life, the subconscious mind is much more than a state where a person is only partially conscious. Rather, it refers to another side of the unexplored or inexplorable human nature.
The truth is, when you analyze their descriptions of the subconscious state, they’re actually referring to the human spirit. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, for example, Paul calls it the inward man: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” The apostle Peter in his first epistle calls it the hidden man of the heart: “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4).
Those who lack a proper understanding of the true nature of man refer to the human spirit as the “subconscious mind.” The Bible doesn’t talk about a subconscious mind; rather, it reveals the threefold nature of man—spirit, soul, and body. As you study the Scriptures, you’ll see that on one hand, the spirit and soul are used synonymously, referring to the inward man—the unseen, hidden man within the veil of the body.
However, in a more specific sense, the terms spirit and soul are distinct. The spirit refers to the actual inward man, while the soul is a tool of the spirit. The soul is to the spirit what the brain is to the body. The human spirit perceives and interacts with the world through his soul. The soul houses the spiritual senses of the inward man, enabling him to relate to both spiritual and natural realities. In essence, the human spirit is the core of your being—that’s the real you—where God lives.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the understanding of my true nature in Christ. My spirit is alive to you, and through my soul, I express the realities of your divine life within me. I walk in the consciousness of my divine nature, fulfilling your purpose for my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 20:27 KJV, Job 32:8 KJV, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 7 & Psalms 119:113-176
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 18:9-17 & 1 Samuel 9
