To the (five) physical senses, spiritual truths are nonsense—that is, non-sense.

“But the natural [physically led] man [person] does not [cannot] receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [imperceptible] to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [perceived].” —1 Corinthians 2:14

There is a stark difference between living by the flesh and living in the spirit (human). The Bible often contrasts these two ways of life, showing that a carnal (naturally led) person is unable to understand the deeper truths and blessings that come from walking with God in relationship.

Spiritual realities, which include the immense benefits of being in Christ—peace, joy, purpose, healing, provision, and much more—are only accessible to those who are are spiritually conscious.

The carnal mind is trapped by what it sees, hears, and feels. It is bound by the physical senses anchored to the physical world. This constrains it to human limitations. This is why many people, even though they might hear about God’s promises, fail to experience them fully. For the carnal (physically conscious) person, spiritual concepts like faith, prayer, and divine provision seem like foolishness because they are beyond the reach of human perception. To use physical senses to perceive the spiritual realm is like trying to hear colour.

To the physical senses, spiritual truths are nonsense—that is, non-sense.

Spiritual Discernment Opens the Door to God’s Promises

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, makes it clear that spiritual discernment is key to not only understanding but also receiving the things God has for us. Only through the human spirit can we comprehend the mysteries of God’s kingdom since this is the only way to connect to the Spirit of God. Spiritual perception requires a shift from our own limited understanding to a reliance on the human spirit, through whom we can perceive the deeper things of God.

Jesus often spoke in parables because many of His listeners, though physically present, were spiritually deaf. Their carnal minds couldn’t grasp the truths of the kingdom. Likewise, today, there are many promises and blessings available to believers—promises of provision, protection, peace, and purpose—that remain hidden from those who live according to the flesh, that is, the five physical senses.

The Cost of Carnality

Living a carnal life doesn’t just blind us to spiritual truths; it also keeps us from walking in the fullness of God’s blessings and receiving all that He has already given us. Romans 8:6 says,

“For to be carnally minded is death [separation], but to be spiritually minded is life and peace [connection].”

A carnal mindset robs us of life and peace, replacing them with confusion, doubt, and frustration. It creates a disconnect between us and the very source of life—God Himself.

Many of us may wonder why we aren’t experiencing God’s promises fully. We may feel stuck, as though His Word isn’t working for us. But often, the issue lies in our perception. Are we looking at life through spiritual eyes, or are we still filtering everything through the lens of the fleshly perception of our five senses?

We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are (Anaïs Nin)

That is to say, our mindset can dramatically alter the way we perceive the world, whether from higher self (spirit), or lower self (body).

A carnal approach to life creates spiritual blindness.

Our five physical sense, although superbly crafted to navigate the physical realm, are useless in the spiritual realm.

The Blessings of Spiritual Perception

When we walk in the spirit (lower case “s”), our eyes are opened to the limitless resources of God’s kingdom. We begin to see His provision, protection, and grace at work in every area of our lives. What seemed like foolishness before now becomes clear:

“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1), and “By His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

When we change the way we look at things, the way things look begin to change.

These (the benefits mentioned above) are not mere words on a page but living promises (benefits) accessible to those who live in the spirit. Spiritual discernment allows us to claim the full inheritance we have in Christ—salvation, peace, healing, and every other benefit included in the New Covenant.

Choosing spirit Over flesh

To perceive and experience the spiritual realities of God’s promises, we must make a conscious choice every day to walk spiritually conscious instead of being led around by the the flesh. The world around us will constantly pull us back into carnality—tempting us to live according to sight, logic, and human strength. But God’s Word urges us to live by faith, trusting in the invisible yet very real kingdom of God.

As you go about your day, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the spiritual realities around you. Choose to surrender your carnal thoughts, anxieties, and doubts, and replace them with the spiritually nurturing words of life found in the Bible. When we walk in the spirit, the promises of God come alive, and we begin to experience the fullness of life He intended for us.

KEY TAKEAWAY: To the physical senses, spiritual truths are nonsense—that is, non-sense. To ignore the spiritual senses, is to effectively miss out on a whole dimension of life. To only rely on physical senses is to limit yourself. If you can’t see what is there, although invisible to your physical senses, you can’t benefit from it.

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A Prayer for Today:

Heavenly Father, I confess that sometimes I rely too much on my own understanding and miss out on the blessings You have for me. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to open my eyes and ears to perceive Your truth. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting in Your promises. Lead me to live a life that is fully aligned with Your Spirit so that I may experience all that You have stored up for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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