“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NIV
I remember running solely on my strength, even though I was a believer. It wasn’t until God showed me the workings of His Spirit that I truly understood how relying on His strength could enhance my life.
Have you ever felt like each day leaves you drained, devoid of energy, and without the inner renewal you desperately need? Perhaps you feel stuck in a cycle of unproductivity or negativity. I can relate. The truth is, we can be believers but still allow our actions, thoughts, and emotions to be influenced by death-giving forces.
Consider Judas, a disciple of Jesus, who was tempted and betrayed Jesus. Though a follower of Christ, his mind was open to negative influences that led to destructive actions. Then there’s Elijah, who, despite being a prophet, was overwhelmed by fear and allowed it to dictate his actions, leading to him fleeing for his life from Jezebel.
Greed and fear are not of the spirit. These examples urge us to recognise the potential for negative influences even in the lives of believers.
How can we ensure we only engage in life-giving activities even as we work?
Love is the keyword. Love for God, love for oneself, and love for others. When we genuinely love God, we recognise our need for His guidance and intentionally build a relationship with Him, seeking His word to govern our lives.
Loving ourselves means being deliberate about our thoughts, actions, and self-care, ensuring that we are consistently replenished.
Loving our neighbours makes us consider their well-being and intentionally choose positive thoughts and actions towards them.
To be spiritually minded is to bear the fruit of the spirit daily, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within and guide us. This requires our willingness to accept correction, guidance, and wisdom.
“I let God’s word guide my thoughts, emotions, speech, and actions.”
This serves as a reminder that, as spiritual beings, our actions and thoughts must be governed by the spirit, choosing life over death intentionally.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to walk more in us is a gradual process, but it’s a beautiful journey where we can take things one day at a time. As we embrace this process, we are empowered to intentionally choose life-giving activities, thoughts, and emotions, changing our own lives and those of others.
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