The human soul is where the real spiritual battle takes place, caught between the body and the spirit. God wants the spirit to lead the soul, but if the soul follows the body instead, it becomes vulnerable to sin. Emotions, thoughts, and desires that aren't surrendered to God can easily mislead a person.
Living by emotion makes us unstable, seeking love, satisfaction, or experiences in the wrong ways. The mind, too, is a key battleground — it's easily influenced and must be renewed by God's truth. Our will, the part that makes decisions, must also submit to God's will, not our own desires.
Spiritual growth involves choosing to let go of self-centered feelings, thoughts, and wants, so that we can fully follow and obey God with our whole being.
