You are a dual being. Part eternal spirit and part temporary body. Together these include your soul. The soul is more powerful than the spirit alone. You are the son of a Divine Father. He wants you to become a soul composed of spirit permanently united with an incorruptible and perfect body of flesh and blood. When we were young in the universe we existed as mere intelligences. Our Father gave us spirit bodies that allowed us to grow and evolve. But without a physical body, we reached a place of limitation beyond which we could not go.
Now, spirits are not weak beings. They are very powerful and full of potential. But without bodies we would not be able to fully exercise our capabilities. We had passed from the infancy of intelligence to the infancy of the spirit. When we gain a body we enter our adolescence. Now together with our powers of the spirit, we receive the senses of the body. Because we were still teenagers and because this was our first physical experience, God wisely ordained a trial period. During our trial period we were given time to learn about the impact of physical things. We learn about the senses and emotions. At first, these new experiences can be overwhelming to a spirit, almost like sensory overload, and we become creatures of the flesh. As we grow PHYSICALLY, we strive to balance spirit and body. The spirit is the power, the ability and the knowledge that we are. The body is the vehicle and method by which our spirits advance and learn.
During our time of trial we rediscover ourselves and choose whether the body or the spirit will rule our lives. The body was never intended to be the leader. Compared to the spirit it is weak. To help us become spirit and not get carried away with the physical, our bodies age and die. As this happens, we become more aware of our spirit.
Spirit is a more refined form of energy than what surrounds us in this existence. Because it is more refined than it is enduring and unchanging. All the things that surround us and that we consider real are actually changing. His energy degrades and changes form. Those things that are truly lasting are more pure.
As spirits, we have certain innate gifts that we brought with us into this mortal life. These gifts, if expressed by the spirit through the body, strengthen our lives and strengthen our souls.
These gifts can profoundly affect, even alter, our experience in this mortal existence. If we unlock these gifts of the spirit and harness their power, we will advance our true selves in the eternal scheme of our existence.
