Overcome the Tug of War—Accessing the Power of God to Partake of the Divine Nature

Learn how to stop struggling with the natural man and step into the peace, power, and transformation of God’s divine nature.

Moving Beyond the Tug of War

We all feel it—that inner tug of war. The natural man pulls us toward selfishness and sin, while the Spirit calls us to rise higher. Maurice Harker teaches us to ask, “When you lost, what technique did the enemy use to defeat you?” This simple question helps us stop blaming ourselves and start learning. By seeing how the adversary works, we can shift our focus to God’s strength and power instead of getting stuck in failure.

The scriptures teach that the natural man is an enemy to God (Mosiah 3:19). But is it possible to fully overcome him? As Joseph Fielding McConkie once said, “As long as I can prick my finger and blood comes out, I am corruptible.” This reminds us that we all have weakness as long as we live in mortal bodies. Even Paul admitted, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Why? Because Paul understood that his weakness kept him humble and reliant on Christ. It helped him see that he could do all things only through Christ who strengthened him (Philippians 4:13).

God commands us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48), and this perfection is a process of growing “grace for grace” and “grace to grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:12-13). As we practice God’s law and partake of its fruits, we align more fully with His will. This allows us to grow “perfection upon perfection,” which is not perfectionism but consistent spiritual progress through Christ’s enabling power.

Transcending to Oneness with God

Joseph Murphy explained that spiritual growth happens as we let go of false ideas and turn to God’s light. He said, “Paul said, ‘I die daily,’ meaning he was constantly dying to erroneous concepts, negative ideas, and resurrecting continuously more of God’s wisdom, truth, and beauty.” This is what it means to overcome the natural man—not by our own power but by letting God’s Spirit change us, with more and more light, “until [our] eye be single to the glory of God” and we “comprehend all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:67).

Murphy also taught that true faith is believing in “One Power—the Spiritual Power within.” When we trust in God as our one source of strength, we stop relying on worldly powers or our own efforts. We live by the Spirit instead of being controlled by the natural man. This happens when we yield to the Holy Ghost and deny ourselves of all ungodliness (Moroni 10:32). In this process, Christ’s grace becomes sufficient for us, and we become “holy without spot” (Moroni 10:33). We begin to escape the false traditions and deceptions we’ve inherited (Doctrine and Covenants 93:39) and grow in spiritual strength.

Becoming Firm in Every Form of Godliness

As Moroni taught, angels minister to us to help us follow Christ and keep His commandments. These heavenly messengers “show themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness” (Moroni 7:30). This process of becoming firm in godliness is how we move into a space where the adversary has no power over us. The natural man’s tendency to see a duality of powers fades as we align with One Power—the power of God.

This transformation doesn’t come through our own strength alone but through humility and grace. When we humbly turn to Christ, His grace enables us to overcome the natural man and live by the Spirit. As we prove God’s laws through obedience and experience their fruits, we grow stronger in faith and firmer in godliness. Eventually, we partake fully of the divine nature and stand in the strength of the Lord, free from the adversary’s influence: “[Satan] hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth” (1 Nephi 22:26).

A Journey Worth Taking

The tug of war between the natural man and the Spirit is real. But as we focus on God and yield to His power, the struggle begins to fade. Weakness (the natural man) turns into strength (the divine nature). We stop being pulled in two directions and start walking forward, with faith, toward the promises of God.

As we practice humility and seek Christ’s grace, we prove the truth of His gospel and partake of its blessings. Moroni 10:32-33 teaches us that through Christ, we can deny all ungodliness and become holy. This is not only a command but a promise. As we yield to God, we leave behind the conflict of duality and step into the peace and power of oneness with Him.

Remember, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He has promised that through Him, we can escape the corruption of the world and partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). When we choose His power over the natural man, we can experience the joy, peace, and transformation that only He can give.

Reflect on how the tug of war between the natural man and the Spirit transforms into strength and peace when you yield to Christ’s power. By partaking of His divine nature, you overcome weakness and step into the fullness of God’s promises.

In the next post, we’ll explore transformative principles that can repair relationships, strengthen individuals, and unlock Christ’s power in your life. Subscribe below to continue your journey with Christ-centered tools and insights.