Who Is the Real You?

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you know that you—the real you—are spirit, soul and body?

In that reflection staring back at you is an image of your physical body. You see your face, and everyone else sees what you see. We spend time in the mirror to ensure the person we see is the best representation of ourselves.

Yet, that’s not God’s top concern.

God didn’t just create a physical body. He made a trinity, a three-part being that involves your spirit, soul and body. Paul mentioned these three parts when he wrote, “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Someone may ask, “Who are you?” Your answer should start from within, not from that image in the mirror. God wants you to know your identity and how each part of you—spirit, soul and body—plays a role in discovering the real you.

You Are a Spirit

Your spirit is referred to as the hidden man of the heart. 1 Peter 3:4 (KJV) says, “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.” Your spirit is the part of you that is connected to God.

When you were born, your spirit was alive to God (Romans 7:9). But, once you reached the age of accountability, you had a choice: Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord or reject Him.

You might have questions like, “What happens to a child when they die?” or “What is the age of accountability?” God is a good God and does not hold children responsible until they are old enough to distinguish between good and evil.

If you received Jesus, the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) came to live in your spirit. He speaks to you, guides you, protects you and helps you in every way that you let Him. Now, your spirit is alive again and connected to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Watch Kenneth Copeland as he teaches on spirit, soul and body.

You Have a Soul

You are a spirit, and you have a soul. Third John 2 (NKJV) says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Your soul is composed of your mind, will and emotions.

Your mind is where you think and make decisions. God gave you the right to choose, and He knows your mind is inclined to act independently of Him. That’s why God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV). He gave you the solution: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, KJV).

God’s Word gives you instructions about your mind.

Renewing your mind (Romans 12:2).
Have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Cast your cares onto the Lord (1 Peter 5:7).
Submit to God (James 4:7).

Another part of your soul is your will. It is a gift from God, but it must be trained to align with Him. Your will can express a desire or a commitment. “Someday, I will…” or “Yes, I will.”

When you make Jesus your Savior and Lord, it’s an act of your will. When you realize God wants you to forgive someone and you’re against it, say, “As an act of my will, I forgive that person, in Jesus’ Name.” Your emotions may not agree to forgive, but you are making a declaration of obedience to God.

The third part of your soul is where your emotions are stored. Your feelings—happy, sad, confident, depressed, hopeful, worried—want your mind to make decisions based solely on feelings.

Until you allow your spirit to be in control of your personal trinity, your soul will try to guide your life. The problem is that your soul is easily influenced by outside forces such as the opinions of friends, social media, news, and even the devil.

If you find yourself doing things that God doesn’t want you to do, repent and be cleansed from sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Your soul prospers as it is aligned with the Spirit of God. When you think God’s thoughts and follow His ways, your soul prospers, and the real you prospers too.

Join Gloria and Kellie Copeland as they share how to prosper in your soul.

You Live In a Body

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that your body is a temple: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (NKJV).

Historically, a temple is typically an opulent structure where people engage in acts of worship to their deity. In your body, you perform acts of worship, such as prayer, praise and worship, as well as actions that share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God also asks that you bring your body as a sacrifice to Him. That means you choose His way and will in all aspects of life: what you eat, what you wear and how you present yourself as a witness of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Paul understood the three-part being God made you to be; he said, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20, KJV).

Who is the real you?

The real you—the spirit man—is the one that should be running the show in your life when you spend time feeding on the Word of God and fellowshipping with the Father. As you focus on the real you, instead of just seeing your physical body when you look in the mirror, you’ll see the light of Jesus shining through you.

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Category: FaithBuilders