Whether we want to or not, whether we believe it or deny it, we human beings are made of something eternal: our soul.
That is why the Bible teaches us:
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
Here we see two actions from the Lord: first, He forms a vessel; then, He gives it life through His breath. It is in that moment that man—humanity—receives God’s first gift: the soul, making us living beings.
But we also see a clear separation:
There is the vessel, which has an expiration date… and the soul, which is eternal.
Two distinct parts that will always be in conflict with each other.
That is why the Lord Jesus told His disciples:
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)
Again, we see that separation. The soul—our inner being—is always willing, but the flesh, which constantly tries to stop us from doing what is good, is weak. This leads us to understand something crucial: the soul has spiritual needs.
“Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen…” (1 Samuel 15:22)
This helps us understand a powerful truth: fasting is for us, not for God.
Yes, during a fast we sacrifice and position ourselves to hear Him more clearly—but the purpose is to draw closer to Him. Fasting is a moment of focused obedience, a time when our faith becomes intentional and our heart seeks only to know Him more deeply. More than sacrifice, what God desires is obedience.
Daniel understood this well. That is why, when he needed an urgent answer from God, he submitted himself to a 21-day fast:
“At that time, I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no rich food, no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” (Daniel 10:2–3)
Daniel set aside every pleasure—everything temporary—to focus on what is eternal: his soul. He knew his answer would not come from a man, but from God Himself.
If we look carefully at all the verses shared, we realize something profound:
the value of our soul is immeasurable.
God gave it to us—and He sacrificed His only Son so that our soul could receive salvation.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the surface of the deep… and the Spirit of God…”
(Genesis 1:1–2)
God can create us, and His presence can surround us…
but without communion, without faith, without a desire to be near Him,
we become a formless, empty life filled with disorder and problems.
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