Duality of the Body & Spirit- Beautiful Life Week 4
- Kelly Kirstein
- Aug 2
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 14
The Body & Spirit Duality
Learning to Live in the Tension
Have you ever felt like two parts of you were pulling in totally opposite directions?
Like, you know, “I should study for this test,” but your body screams, “Scroll TikTok for three more hours!”
Or maybe you know that gossiping about a friend is wrong, but in the moment it feels so easy to just join in.
That tug-of-war you feel? The Bible actually talks about it. The physical body (what Scripture calls “the flesh”) and the Holy Spirit are at war.
This week, we’re diving into what it means to live by the direction of the Holy Spirit, so we quit caving to the flesh.
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How to Live a Beautiful Life Bible Study
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How to Live a Beautiful Life
Listen to the Week 4 Episode:
Week 4 Lesson for "How to Live A Beautiful Life"
Let's Do This Together: pgs. 37-44
Life feels messy sometimes because we’re constantly navigating two voices:
The Flesh (Body): wants comfort, ease, instant gratification.
The Holy Spirit: wants purpose, growth, and for us to reflect God’s love.
Galatians 5:16–17 explains it perfectly: our flesh and the Spirit want opposite things. Just because we want something doesn’t mean it’s good for us. Think: eating a whole sleeve of Oreos (yum) vs. feeling sick afterward (not so yum).
Jesus even told His disciples, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). In other words, your soul might want to do what’s right, but your body craves shortcuts, comfort, and sometimes stuff that drags you down.
But here’s the thing—you’re not just a body. You’re not just cravings, likes, and feelings. Through Jesus, you’re connected to the Holy Spirit. When you partner with Holy Spirit, your body can actually become a tool for good instead of a trap.
Additional Notes & Thoughts: pg. 44
Where do I feel the biggest tug-of-war between my body’s wants and the Holy Spirit's leading?
What are some “temporary pleasures” I run to that don’t actually leave me satisfied?
What’s one way I could honor God with my body this week? (Think sleep, healthy choices, avoiding harmful habits, etc.)
How does remembering that my body is a temple change how I treat it?
Mental Health Minute:
Week 3: Unload (pg. 83)
1. Start Here. Hebrews 11:6 ESV
Faith is trusting that God will help us when the pull between our body and spirit feels overwhelming. This week is about surrendering those struggles and realigning with him.
2. Things I'm Grateful For
Write down the blessings that remind you of God's presence in your life. These could be people, moments of peace, your health, or small wins where Holy Spirit led you.
3. Things to Work On Where do you feel pulled in the wrong direction the most right now? Maybe it's choosing to be kind, a habit you are trying to break, or and impulse that seems to win.
4. Things I'm Proud Of
Celebrate the little victories! Write down small or big things that you did well this week.
5. Doodle Space
Draw a picture of your body in a tug of war with the Holy Spirit's leading. Maybe it's a picture of what you want and a picture of what you know you should do.
6. Things to Let Go Of
What's weighing you down? Picture handing it off to Jesus.
7. Prayers from the Heart
Let it out. Ask God for what you need. Pray for wisdom and eyes to see the way forward.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the beautiful truth: You don’t have to “win” the battle on your own. The Holy Spirit is your guide, giving you strength and direction when your own desires try to lead you off course.
You’re not meant to hate your body. God made it. But you’re also not meant to let it call all the shots. Instead, see your body as a space where God’s Spirit lives and works.
When you choose to live with eternity in mind, the daily tug-of-war gets easier. You’ll start to recognize and listen to Jesus, and you’ll discover the freedom of choosing what lasts.
More Posts:
Click Here for the Beautiful Life Bible Study Table Of Contents
Faithful Chicks Podcast Script
Faithful Chicks Podcast – Week 4 Script
Title: Tug-of-War: Body vs. Spirit
Hey friends, welcome back to the Faithful Chicks Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here with me today. If you’ve been following along with our How to Live a Beautiful Life study, this is Week 4, and we’re diving into something that I think we all feel, but don’t always talk about out loud: the duality of faith.
As people it easy to acknowledge the physical realm because we can see it, but I find many Christians ignore the spiritual realm and it's part in our faith. Interestingly we believe in a God that we can't see and who is spirit, but in an effort to feel in control we can fail to grow in our understanding of how to interact with him spiritually.
I actually get it. If you don't have church that teaches you how to hear God's voice and to recognize his leading, it can feel impossible to know what to do. We can also try to ignore the spiritual battle that goes on between the tug-of-war between our body and following Holy Spirit.
Now, when I say “spirit,” I don’t mean just your own inner voice. I mean the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—who lives inside of you when you’ve said yes to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is there to guide you, encourage you, and help you choose God’s best, even when your body or emotions want something totally different.
Lean In Conversation
We really need to talk about what happens when we ignore the spiritual side of faith.
Because honestly, faith without the Spirit is powerless. It’s like trying to drive a car with no engine. You can sit in the car, you can hold the steering wheel, you can even make the “vroom” noise — but you’re not going anywhere.
And that’s exactly what happens when we treat faith like a moral code or a religious practice instead of a relationship.
So many people in the church today show up on Sunday, listen to a sermon, if they are really faithful maybe highlight a verse that makes them feel inspired, and then just… move on. They’ve learned how to live like they are part of the kingdom of light, but they haven’t learned how to access it spiritually, so that it affects their everyday life.
But the whole point of our faith — the whole point of going to church, reading Scripture, and following Jesus — is to connect with His presence. To know Him. To walk with Him. To partner with the Holy Spirit in our everyday choices.
Even the Old Testament talks about the Glory of God in the Temple. Or the presence of God going with Moses and the Israelites into the wilderness as a cloud during the day or fire by night.
When we don’t believe in or learn how to live from the superior reality God offers, we end up living a surface-level version of Christianity — one that looks right but lacks power.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is the one who actually brings transformation. He’s the one who changes our hearts, our habits, and even the way we love people. Without Him, we can’t live out the life God designed for us.
When we ignore the Spirit, we might still say we’re Christians — but we end up living like everyone else. We get caught up in gossip, comparison, jealousy, and pride. We hurt people instead of healing people. We create drama instead of peace.
Scripture teaches us in 1 Corinthians 13 about what real love looks like — patient, kind, not easily angered, not self-seeking. Galatians 5 talks about the fruits of the Spirit. They’re supposed to grow in us as we walk with God. When we aren't showing them it points to the fact that something is wrong and we are disconnected from the leading of the Holy Spirit and ultimately the will of God.
So instead of reflecting Christ, we end up reflecting the culture or just behaving in terrible ways. And when that happens, it honestly makes a mess in the church.
That’s why connection with the Holy Spirit isn’t optional — it’s essential. He’s the One who restores our hearts, renews our minds, and helps us live a higher life — one that actually looks like Jesus.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, or if faith has felt dry or routine, maybe that’s your invitation to pause and say, “Holy Spirit, I want to know You. I don’t just want to believe in You — I want to walk with You.”
Because when you do, that’s when faith becomes alive again. That’s when your spirit and your actions finally start moving in the same direction.
The Relatable Struggle
Let me paint the picture: Have you ever been in that place where part of you knows what’s right, but you just don’t feel like doing it?
Like you know you should be kind to that girl at school, but honestly, you’d rather roll your eyes.
Or you know you should get up and read your Bible, but your bed feels too warm and your phone is way more interesting.
Or maybe you know you shouldn’t text that guy back, but the attention feels so good in the moment.
That’s the tug-of-war. The Bible calls it the battle between the “flesh”—your body, your feelings, your short-term cravings—and the Spirit of God, who wants to lead you toward what’s actually good and life-giving.
Galatians 5:16–17 says this: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other.”
That sounds like a lot, but let’s break it down: just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
Why the Battle Exists
Jesus actually talked about this too. In Matthew 26:41, He said: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
And isn’t that real life? You want to live with purpose, to grow in faith, to honor God. But then your body, your emotions, or your insecurities tug you in the opposite direction.
This is why we can’t rely on willpower alone. If you’ve ever tried to “be better” or “just stop doing that one thing,” you know it doesn’t last long. The Holy Spirit isn’t just a cheerleader on the sidelines—He’s your source of strength in the middle of the tug-of-war.
Real Life Examples
Let’s make this practical.
In friendships: The flesh says, “Talk about her behind her back—it’ll make you feel included.” The Spirit says, “Encourage her instead, even if it costs you popularity.”
In dating: The flesh says, “It’s fine to cross boundaries—everybody else does.” The Spirit says, “Honor God with your body because your worth isn’t measured by what you give away.”
In everyday choices: The flesh says, “Just binge Netflix, who cares?” The Spirit says, “Use your time to grow, rest in healthy ways, and invest in what lasts.”
The Spirit isn’t trying to kill your fun. He’s trying to protect your future.
Shifting Perspective
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. That means your body isn’t bad—it was created by God and has purpose. But when your body and your cravings take the driver’s seat, life gets messy fast.
Think of it like this: You wouldn’t let a toddler drive your car, right? Your cravings are like toddlers—they scream, they want what they want right now, but they don’t see the danger ahead. The Holy Spirit, though, sees the road. He knows where you’re headed. And when you let Him drive, your life goes in the direction it’s supposed to.
Reflection Pause
So let me ask you:
Where in your life are you feeling that tug-of-war right now?
Do you usually let your feelings decide for you, or are you pausing long enough to ask, “Holy Spirit, what do You want for me here?”
What would it look like this week to let the Spirit lead instead of your flesh?
Take a second to really think about that.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to fight this battle alone. The Holy Spirit lives in you, and He gives you the power to choose differently. You’re not expected to be perfect—you’re invited to lean on Him.
So this week, when you feel the tug-of-war, stop and pray—even if it’s just a quick, “Holy Spirit, help me.” Over time, those small decisions to listen to Him will change your whole life.
You are not just a body with cravings. You are an eternal soul with purpose. And when you live in step with the Spirit, you’ll discover freedom, peace, and joy that lasts.
That’s it for today’s episode of the Faithful Chicks Podcast. Thanks for hanging out with me! If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who might need the reminder. And don’t forget—living a beautiful life isn’t about perfection, it’s about direction. Let’s choose the Spirit over the flesh together.
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