I was tuning into a live Q&A from David Guzik, and he was addressing a question about the relationship between the spirit, the soul, and the body.

I remember pausing the video and just sitting there thinking.

Because this was all new to me.

I knew about body and soul—that made sense. But spirit didn’t really mean much to me. It wasn’t something I was aware of or something I considered when making decisions. And that led me into reflecting on where I was, where I am now, and where I want to head moving forward.

As I tried to understand it more, this framework helped:

We are made up of three parts:

• Spirit (God Awareness) — the deepest part of me, designed for relationship with God.
  • Think: “God-conscious”
• Soul (Self Awareness) — my mind, my will, my emotions – my personality
  • Think: “Self-conscious”
• Body (Physical Awareness) — my physical desires and connection to the world through senses (sight, touch, taste, etc.)
  • Think: “World-conscious”

All three are real. All three matter. But not all three are meant to lead.

Before becoming a Christian, even though I had certain values, the way I lived was still mostly based on what made sense to me, what I wanted, and what felt right in the moment.

Looking at it now, it’s clearer:

Before Christ:

• the flesh (body) leads
• the mind follows
• and the spirit isn’t really active in leading toward God

There wasn’t really a category in my thinking for that.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

After becoming a believer, everything is meant to shift. Something my friend Alice shared with me really helped clarify this—when you’re reborn, change isn’t optional; it’s part of the transformation.

• the spirit leads
• the mind comes into alignment
• and the body follows

“For the word of God is alive and active… piercing even to the division of soul and spirit…” — Hebrews 4:12

That verse stood out to me because it shows that even when I can’t clearly tell the difference between what’s coming from my thoughts, my emotions, or something deeper—God can.

And I think that’s where I am right now.

Before, I didn’t really question where something was coming from. If it made sense to me, I would go with it. Now, there’s more of a pause—not overthinking everything, but just enough to step back and ask what’s actually driving it.

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Not Everything “Good” Is Spiritual

There are things in life that are:

• enjoyable
• meaningful
• even beautiful

But still soulish, not spiritual.

Like:

• a sunrise or sunset
• being by the ocean, just listening to the waves
• a relationship
• a moment of excitement

There’s nothing wrong with those things.

But the mistake is when I:

live for those things… and call it spiritual.

I haven’t really had those same moments yet—like watching a sunrise or being by the ocean—since becoming a Christian. But I think if I were to experience them again, it would feel different. Not because the moment itself changes, but because now I would recognize and appreciate the One who created it.

And I think that’s where the difference starts to show.
Not just in what I experience… but in what it produces in me.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” — Galatians 5:22–23

At the end of the day, the real evidence isn’t in how something looks on the outside—it’s in the fruit that comes from it.

“May God himself… sanctify you through and through… spirit, soul and body…” — 1 Thessalonians 5:23

I’m starting to understand that God isn’t removing parts of me—He’s putting things in order.

Before, I lived based on what I thought and what I wanted.

Now, I’m learning to pause… and let something deeper lead.

I don’t have this all figured out, but I do know that awareness should count for something. It should show up in how I think, how I speak, and how I act—even in small ways.

Yesterday I was at a restaurant, and the pen they gave me to sign with wrote really well. I wanted to take it.

My old self probably would have just taken it—thinking, no one would notice.

But this time, something in me paused and told me I should ask.

So I did.

The waiter said yes, and even thanked me for asking.

And I have to be honest—it made me feel really good.

Maybe that’s what it looks like, in a small way.

Not something dramatic…
just choosing differently, because something deeper is leading.

Maybe that’s where it begins.

Not in having everything right…

but in learning to let the Spirit lead first.

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Source: David Guzik’s Live Q&A

I’m still learning, and I’m grateful for people like David Guzik and my friend Alice who have helped me understand this more clearly.