Defeating Spiritual Laziness: Spirit Over Flesh

April 4, 2025 oyenekanel.e@phmedianig.com

In our daily walk of faith, one of the greatest battles we face is the struggle between the spirit and the flesh. The Bible tells us in Matthew 26:41, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This simple yet profound truth explains why spiritual discipline often feels like a battle. Our spirit desires closeness with God, but the flesh resists, craving comfort, distraction, and ease. Spiritual laziness is subtle. It doesn’t always appear as outright rebellion; rather, it disguises itself in small compromises.

1. The spirit urges us to pray, but the flesh whispers, “Not right now, maybe later.”

2. The spirit calls us to read the Word, but the flesh tempts us to scroll through social media for hours instead.

3. The spirit finds peace in stillness, while the flesh craves noise and distraction.

This internal conflict is something every believer experiences. When you try to focus on God—whether through prayer, worship, or reading the Bible—you might notice how your flesh resists. You suddenly feel restless, tired, or easily distracted. This is no coincidence; it’s the flesh fighting against the spirit.

The key to overcoming this struggle is intentional discipline. Just as physical exercise strengthens the body, spiritual discipline strengthens the spirit. Here’s how you can start winning this battle:

1. Recognize the Struggle
Awareness is the first step. When you notice yourself putting off prayer or Bible study, acknowledge that it’s your flesh resisting.

2. Choose the Spirit, Not the Flesh
Every time you choose to pray, read the Bible, or worship despite feeling lazy, you weaken the grip of the flesh. The more you say “yes” to the spirit, the easier it becomes.

3. Create a Routine of Spiritual Discipline
Just like we schedule time for work, exercise, and social activities, we need to schedule time for God. Set a specific time for prayer and Bible study, and stick to it.

4. Limit Distractions
If social media or entertainment constantly pulls you away from spiritual growth, set boundaries. Turn off notifications, set a timer for social media use, and create a distraction-free zone when spending time with God.

5. Persist, Even When It Feels Hard
At first, overcoming spiritual laziness will feel like a battle. But the more consistent you are, the weaker the flesh becomes. Every small victory strengthens your spirit.

6. Say Yes to the Spirit
Spiritual laziness doesn’t have to control your walk with God. Each day presents an opportunity to strengthen your spirit and weaken the flesh. The choice is yours: Will you say yes to the spirit and no to the flesh?

Start today—choose discipline over comfort, prayer over procrastination, and God’s presence over distractions. The more you commit, the closer you’ll grow to God, and the easier it will become to walk in the spirit daily.

Content credit | Agbetan Bisola

Image credit | leadertask.com