But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).
The Apostle Paul reveals a powerful truth in this scripture—he did not allow his body to dictate the course of his life. Instead, he exercised mastery by bringing it into subjection to the spirit. This shows us that even the great Apostle recognized the struggle between the flesh and the spirit, yet he made the conscious decision to let his spirit take charge.
You are a spirit. Your body is your house, your vessel of expression here on earth. It is meant to serve you, not to rule over you. However, if you do not deliberately train your spirit to be in control, your body will attempt to dominate. That’s why spiritual disciplines—prayer, meditation on the Word, fasting, and especially praying in tongues—are so vital. They strengthen your inner man and weaken the control of the flesh.
The flesh will always pull you toward comfort, indulgence, and distractions, but your spirit pulls you toward purpose, destiny, and divine assignment. Mastery is when your spirit gains the ascendancy, and you are no longer driven by fleeting feelings but by eternal truth.
This is the secret of success—learning to build your life from your spirit, not your senses. As you grow in this, you’ll find that your decisions, habits, and actions begin to align with God’s perfect will.
Refuse to be dominated by your body. Refuse to be led by your senses. Keep your spirit active, strong, and alert by constantly engaging in prayer in tongues and meditating on God’s Word. This is how you live the higher life.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank you because my spirit is alive and full of your power. I refuse to be ruled by the flesh or by feelings. I keep my body in subjection to the Spirit and walk in mastery every day. I declare that my life is led by your Word and by the Spirit, and I live in unbroken fellowship with you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.