Voices from Around the World

Grace, Grit, And Willpower: Choosing The Spirit Over The Flesh

• Obediah's Global Movement

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We explore the daily tension between the pull of the flesh and the call of the spirit, and how grace, grit, and willpower work together to shape a whole life. We move from performance to authenticity and practice aligning body, soul, and spirit through reflection and meditation.

• naming the inner war between flesh and spirit 
• rethinking grit, willpower, and the role of grace 
• choosing authenticity over performance and masks 
• integrating body, soul, and spirit for wholeness 
• practical reflections and a guided meditation 
• redefining success as persistence empowered by grace

If you know someone who would like to be a guest on Voices Around the World, or if you yourself feel called to share your story, I warmly invite you to reach out


SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Voices Around the World. A soulful space where stories breathe, borders blur, and humanity speaks. This isn't just a podcast, it's a gathering, a circle of voices, intimate, courageous, and deeply personal, echoing from every corner of the globe. Through heartfelt interviews and reflective solo episodes, we explore the lived experiences that shape our shared world, the struggles that stretch us, the triumphs that lift us, and the quiet moments that remind us we belong. Each episode invites you into conversation with artists, healers, activists, educators, and everyday visionaries, people whose perspectives are rooted in culture, resilience, and truth. And frequently, your host steps into the silence alone, offering gentle reflections on global issues through the lens of compassion, curiosity, and care. This is a space for listening deeply, for honoring differences, and for finding connection and complexity. Because in a world that often divides, voices from around the world dares to weave us together one story at a time. I'm your host, Obadiah, and today I invite you to journey with me into one of the most profound tensions of human existence. The pull of the flesh and the call of the spirit. This is not just theology, it is the layered reality of every human heart. It is the tug of war between instant and intention, between appetite and alignment, and between the loud demands of our human nature and the quiet invitation of our spiritual growth. And here's the truth: none of us escape this struggle. It shows up in the smallest decisions, whether to speak words of kindness or words of anger, whether to choose discipline or indulgence, or whether to listen to the whisper of the spirit or the shout of the flesh. Now, as we step into this journey, I want us to pause and consider three forces that shape how we navigate this tension. Grace, grit, and willpower. Grace is the divine gift that meets us when our strength runs out. It is the reminder that we are not alone in this battle. Grace says you are loved even when you stumble, you are carried even when you collapse. Without grace, the struggle becomes unbearable because we measure ourselves only by success or failure. And with grace, we measure ourselves by surrender, by our willingness to lean into something greater than ourselves. Grace is not passive, it empowers, it lifts us when grit falters. It whispers you don't have to fight alone, and that whisper changes everything. Grit is our human determination, our resilience, our refusal to give up. It's the part of us that says, I will keep going, even when it's hard. It teaches us perseverance. But grit alone is limited. It can carry us so far, but eventually it runs dry. I want you to think of grit as the engine of effort. It's necessary, but it cannot run without fuel. And that fuel is grace. When grit meets grace, determination becomes transformation. And then there's willpower, the ability to choose moment by moment, which voice will we follow. Willpower is the hinge of the door. It describes whether we open ourselves to the flesh or to the spirit. Willpower is fragile, yes, but it is also sacred. Every time we exercise it, we shape our soul. Every time we choose to pause, breathe, and choose to spirit, we strengthen the muscles of our inner life. Willpower without grit collapses. Grit without grace burns out. But when all three work together, grace, grit, and willpower, we find balance. We discover that the battle is not about perfection, but about persistence. Not about falling, but about rising again, carried by grace, strengthened by grit, and guided by willpower. So today we're explored this tension through four lenses, the inner battle we all face on a daily basis, the truth of grace over grit, the call to live as our authentic selves, and the harmony of spirit, soul, and body. I want you to imagine this podcast not as a lecture, but as a conversation, a mirror held up to your own life. And as we walk through these scenes, I invite you to pause and reflect. Where do I see myself in this struggle? Where is my spirit whispering? So wherever you are, on your commute, in your kitchen, or resting quietly, let's step into this journey together. Let's not just talk about flesh versus spirit. Let's feel it, wrestle with it, and discover the beauty of choosing spirit. And also let's remember: grace is the gift, grit is the effort, and willpower is the choice. Together, they form the pathway towards our growth. The flesh versus the spirit is often described as a war. And it feels like that sometimes, doesn't it? Not a polite disagreement, not a quiet debate, but a war, a battlefield inside the human heart. The flesh says, protect yourself, satisfy yourself, prove yourself. And the spirit whispers, trust, surrender, and love. The flesh demands immediacy. It wants gratification now. And the spirit invites patience. It asks us to wait, to trust, to believe in something beyond a moment. This war is not about hating our humanity. Our bodies, our emotions, our instincts, they are all gifts. But left unchecked, they can lead us astray. The flesh is like the fire, it can warm a home or burn it down. And the spirit is the compass guiding that fire towards light instead of destruction. Picture a moment of temptation, the urge to gossip, to lash out, or to indulge. The flesh shouts, you deserve this, you earned it, prove your worth. And the spirit counters, you are called to more. You are already loved. You don't need to prove anything. And here's the exhausting truth. This battle is constant. It doesn't pause when we're tired, it doesn't wait until we're ready. It meets us in the morning when we are wake, in the afternoon when we're wary, and at night when we're all alone. But here's the paradox. The struggle itself is evidence of growth. If you feel torn, it means your spirit is alive, resisting, calling you to be higher and greater. The absence of struggle is not peace, is surrender to the flesh. The presence of struggle is proof that the spirit is fighting for you. I want you to think of it as training. Every choice is a rep. Every pause, every breath, every moment of choosing spirit over flesh strengthens the muscle of your soul. The war is not wasted, it is shaping you. And let's be honest, sometimes the flesh wins. Sometimes we do lash out, sometimes we indulge, and sometimes we choose comfort over our calling. But even then, the spirit doesn't abandon us. Grace meets us in the aftermath, reminding us that failure is not the final. The war continues, and every new day is another chance to choose differently. This war is not fought in grand arenas. It is fought in the ordinary moments. When you choose forgiveness over revenge, when you choose discipline over indulgence, when you choose silence over gossip, and when you choose love over fear. Each of these choices may feel small, but together they form the rhythm of life led by the spirit. So don't despise the struggle. Don't mistake the war for weakness. See it as proof that you are alive, awake, and being shaped. The inner battle is not a sign of failure, it's the sign of a soul emotion, a spirit refusing to be silenced, a life being trained for something bigger, greater, and better. So I ask you to pause and reflect. When in your life right now do you feel the thoughtless pull of the flesh? And how might grace meet you there? Now let's talk about how we fight this battle. Because once we recognize the war between flesh and spirit, the question then becomes: how do we stand? How do we endure? And how do we overcome? Too often we think is about grit, about sheer willpower. We clench our fist, grit our teeth, and try to resist temptation. We constantly tell ourselves, if I'm strong enough, disciplined enough, determined enough, I can win this fight. And grit is important, grit is resilience, it's the human determination that says, I will not give up, even when it's hard. Grit builds character, it teaches perseverance, it strengthens discipline, and without grit, we collapse at the first sign of resistance. But grit alone burns out. Flesh is strong, and human willpower is limited. Willpower is like a battery. It can power us for a time, but eventually it drains. And when it drains, we feel defeated, ashamed, and exhausted. That's why we need grace. Grace is limitless. Grace is the divine strength that meets us when our grit runs dry. Grace says you don't have to win this alone. Grace is not a crutch, it's a current. It doesn't erase the struggle, it transforms it. Now imagine a runner collapsing at the finish line, only to be carried by a friend. That's grace. It doesn't deny the exhaustion, it honors it and then lift us beyond it. Grace changes the way we measure the battle. When we rely on grit, we measure ourselves by success or failure. Did I resist? Did I fall? Did I win? And did I lose? But when we rely on grace, we measure ourselves by surrender. Did I open myself to help? Did I lean into love? Did I trust that I am carried even when I stumble? Grace whispers, you are loved even when you stumble. And that love empowers us to continue to rise again and again. Grace doesn't cancel grit, it fuses it. Grace doesn't erase willpower, it strengthens it. Together, they become a threefold cord: grit as effort, willpower as choice, and grace as gift. So how do we fight this battle in practice? We fight by remembering that grit is not the enemy. Discipline matters, effort matters, and every time we choose to resist, we strengthen our soul's muscle. We fight by recognizing the limits of willpower. Willpower is fragile. It carries us for a time, but it cannot carry us forever. That's why surrender matters. We fight by opening ourselves to grace. Grace is the win in ourselves when our arms grow weary. Grace is that friend who carries us when our legs collapse. Grace is that reminder that victory is not about perfection, it's about persistence. Carried by grace, strengthened by grit, and guided by willpower. So the question is not, do I have enough grit? The question is, am I open to grace? Am I willing to surrender my weakness and let divine strength carry me? Because in the end, grit without grace burns out. Willpower without grace collapses, but grace, grace never fails. Grace transforms the battlefield into the place of growth, where every stumble becomes a step, every fall becomes a lesson, and every victory becomes a song of surrender. So I now invite you to reflect. When you think about your own inner battle, what small choice could you make today to strengthen your spirit's voice? The flesh often pushes us to perform, to wear masks, to chase approval, to build identities rooted in achievement or desire. It whispers: if you just succeed more, if you just look perfect, if you just keep everyone impressed, and then you'll be enough. But the spirit calls us back to authenticity, to the self that is not defined by cravings or applause, but by truth. The spirit says, you are already enough, you are already loved, and you don't need to perform, you need to be. Authenticity is not about polishing an image, it's about living in truth. When we live from the flesh, we become fragmented. We become one person at work, another at home, and another in secret. We wear masks to fit the expectations of others. And in doing so, we lose sight of who we truly are. The flesh thrives on performance, on comparison, on the endless chase for validation. But when we live from the spirit, we become whole. The spirit integrates us, it calls us to drop the mask, to stop chasing applause, and to stand in the light of truth. The spirit says, you don't have to be everything to everyone. You don't have to hide your scars, and you don't have to pretend you're not struggling. You are loved as you are. Authenticity is freedom. It is the courage to say, I am not my failures, I am not my appetites, I am not the mask I wear. I am a beloved soul in progress. And that truth disarms the flesh. Because the flesh thrives on shame and secrecy, but the spirit thrives on honesty and light. The flesh says, hide your weakness, and the spirit says, bring it into the open and watch it lose its power. The authentic self is the bridge between flesh and spirit. It acknowledges the struggle, but chooses to walk in truth. It says, Yes, I feel the pull of the flesh. Yes, I wrestle with desire, but I will not let those impulses define me. I will let the spirit lead me back to who I truly am. Think of authenticity as alignment. When we are authentic, our words match our actions. Our public lives match our private life, and our inner world matches our outer world. We are no longer fragmented, we are whole. And wholeness. Is what the spirit longs for. The spirit doesn't call us to perfection. It calls us to integration, to live as oneself, not many selves, to live in truth, not in performance. So the invitation of the spirit is this: come back to yourself. Come back to authenticity. Come back to the truth that you are loved, not because of what you achieve, but because of who you are. When we answer that call, we find freedom, we find peace, and we find the courage to live without the mask, without fear, and without shame. And in that freedom, the flesh loses its grip and the spirit shines through. I now invite you to reflect. Do you tend to rely more on grit or grace in your struggles? And how might opening yourself to grace change the way you fight? The struggle between flesh and spirit often feels like a tug of war. But to truly understand it, we need to see the bigger picture. We are not just flesh and we are not just spirit. We are an integrated being, spirit, soul, and body, woven together in a mysterious harmony. The body is our vessel, it grounds us in the physical world, it hungers, it tires, it delights and touch and taste. And the soul is our inner landscape, the seats of our emotions, our thoughts, our will. It is where joy, sorrow, fear, and hope reside. And the spirit is a divine spark within us. The compass pointing us home, the whisper of eternity, the part of us that longs for God, for truth, and for transcendence. The challenge comes when these three parts fall out of alignment. When the body leads, we chase pleasure. And when the soul leads, we chase emotion. But when the spirit leads, body and soul find balance. I want you to think of an orchestra. The body is the instrument, the soul is the music, and the spirit is the conductor. If the instrument plays without direction, it's just noise. If the music flows without guidance, it's chaos. But when a conductor lifts the baton, everything comes into perfect harmony. This is why the war between flesh and spirit matters. It's not just about resisting temptation, it's about alignment, it's about letting the spirit take its rightful place as leader. So the soul can flourish and the body can serve. When the body dominates, we become slaves to our appetite. When the soul dominates, we become slaves to emotion. But when the spirit leads, the body becomes a servant of love. The soul becomes a wellspring of compassion, and the whole person becomes whole. And here's the beauty: the spirit doesn't erase the body or silence the soul. It honors them. It says, Your hunger is not evil, it can be directed towards gratitude. Your emotions are not weakness, they can be channeled into empathy. And your body is not shameful, it is a temple, a vessel of service. So the invitation of the spirit is not rejection, it is integration. It is the call to bring every part of ourselves into harmony. Disalignment is the antidote to chaos. It is the path to wholeness. It is the way we fight the war between flesh and spirit, not by denying our humanity, but by letting our humanity be led by divinity. Imagine living a life where your body is healthy and disciplined, your soul is honest and compassionate, and your spirit is attuned to truth. That is the vision, that is the call, and that is the freedom of living in alignment. I now invite you to reflect. What mask do you often wear? And what would it look like to let the spirit call you back to your authentic self? I now invite you to join me in a closing meditation. Close your eyes if you can. Take a deep breath in and out. Let the air fill your lungs, expand your chest, and then release slowly as if you're letting go of everything heavy you've been carrying this year, this month, this week, today. Now bring your awareness to your body. The flesh. Fill the rhythm of your heartbeat. Steady and faithful. Notice the rise and fall of your breath, the tension in your shoulders, the weight in your hands or feet. Your body is not your enemy. It is your vessel. It grounds you in this world. It carries you through every moment. Honor it. Whisper to yourself, I honor my body. I thank it for carrying me. I release the burdens it holds. Now turn inward to your soul, the seat of your emotions, your thoughts, your will. Notice what is swirling there. Perhaps joy, perhaps sorrow, perhaps fear or hope. Your soul is the canvas of your humanity. It paints what colors of laughter and tears and dreams and doubts. Do not judge what you find. Simply notice. Whisper to yourself, I embrace my soul. I welcome its emotions. I honor it thoughts. I allow it to be honest. And now I invite you to go deeper still. Notice your spirit, the awareness, the presence, the quiet voice within. It may feel like a whisper, a gentle nudge, a stillness that holds you. Your spirit is the compass pointing you home, the spark of eternity within you. Whisper to yourself, I feel my spirit. I trust his guidance. I surrender to his leading. Take another deep breath in and out. Imagine your body, soul, and spirit aligning like three strings tuned to the same note, resonating in harmony. Feension ease, fill the wholeness return. Now, picture yourself standing at the crossroads of flesh and spirit. The flesh shouts for control, for comfort, for applause. The spirit whispers for surrender, for trust, for love. In this moment, choose the whisper, choose the spirit. Say aloud, or within your heart. I honor my body. I embrace my soul. I follow my spirit. I am whole. I am free. I am love. Take one last deep breath. Inhaling. And out. Let the spirit lead you. I now invite you to reflect. What did you notice most strongly? Your body, your soul, or your spirit, and how might that awareness guide you today? As we bring this podcast to a close, let us gather the threads we've woven together today. The inner battle is real, flesh and spirit wrestle daily within us, and yet this war is not a curse, it is a calling. It is the evidence that you are alive, awake, and being shaped by something greater and larger. Grace is your strength, grit is your effort, and willpower is your choice. Together, they form the threefold cord that helps you stand in a struggle. And when grit runs dry, when willpower falters and grace carries you, grace whispers you are loved even when you stumble, you are carried even when you fall. The authentic self is waiting beyond the mask, beyond performance, beyond the endless chase for approval. The spirit calls you back to truth, back to wholeness, back to the freedom of living without shame. The flesh thrives on secrecy, but the spirit thrives on honesty and light. And when you choose authenticity, you disarm the flesh and empower the spirit. And remember, you are not just flesh, not just soul, not just spirit. You are all three woven together in divine harmony. The body is your vessel, the soul is your inner landscape, and the spirit is your compass. When the spirit leads, the soul finds peace and the body finds purpose. When aligned, you become whole. So as you step into your day, ask yourself, which voice will I follow? The shout of the flesh or the whisper of the spirit? May you choose to whisper, may you walk in grace, may your authentic self shine, and may your spirit lead your soul and body in harmony. This is not just the message, it is a call, a call to live awake, to live aligned, to live authentic, a call to fight the battle not with fear, but with faith, not with shame, but with surrender, not with grit alone, but with grace that never fails. So as you go forward, knowing that the war within you is shaping you, strengthening you, and calling you higher. And may your life become a song, body as the instrument, soul as the music, and spirit as the conductor played in harmony, resonating with love and echoing with truth. I invite you to reflect that as you step into the rest of your day, what is one whisper of the spirit will you choose to follow? I thank you for sharing this time with me today. Your presence, your listening, and your openness is what makes this space possible. Every moment you spend here is a gift, and I hold it with deep gratitude. As you step back into your day, may you keep listening to the Spirit's song and let it lead you home. And if you know someone who would like to be a guest on Voices Around the World, or if you yourself feel called to share your story, I warmly invite you to reach out. This podcast thrives on the richness of many voices, many journeys, and many truths. With compassion, with deep gratitude and love. This is your host, Obadiah on Voices Around the World. Until next time.