When we're born again, the power of our flesh over our spirit man and our soul has been negated to some extent.  We don't have to do what our flesh tells us to do. 

There are natural things that our flesh wants to do and it will tell us.  If we're wanting to fast and pray, our flesh might say to us, "I'm hungry ... I'm going to eat."  And we say back, "Not if I don't feed you." 

So we argue with ourselves.  People have mental battles between their spirits and their souls.  This has happened with me.   

Jesus said for us to pick up our cross and follow Him daily, involving our fleshly and soulish realms and dealing with our mind, our will, and our emotions.  Our flesh will tell us, "I'm still tired ... I want to go back to sleep." 

Then we'll say, "No, we have things to do.  Get up!  Let's go!"  And our flesh might say back to us, "No, I'm just going to sit down ... you go by yourself."  And we know that this isn't going to happen. 

These are the kinds of "thought battles" that go on within ourselves.

Reverend Robert W. & Mary C. Butler