thoughts to fill a tea cup

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind
leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws,
and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please
God.” Romans 8:6-8

I remember the first time I read this verse, it really struck me because like all verses it is true but it put
to words what I could not find words to explain. This life is difficult not only because of trials but
because as followers of Christ we are called to live choosing to do what is right not what is easy or
what our flesh or sinful nature desires. We are called to deny ourselves not just once or twice, or even
just once a day but every moment of every day. Maybe that sounds dramatic but it is true and it is the
hardest thing to do.

Before we get all worked up about how difficult it is to do the right thing let’s go back and look at the
first two sentences. “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit
control your mind leads to life and peace.” Again you must surrender for this to work but you get to
choose. Because we have God’s Holy Spirit inside of us we now have the opportunity to please God
by choosing to do what is right, what leads to life and peace. No, the sinful nature never will desire to
do what is right but our God is much more mighty than my weak flesh, He overcame death and now
He lives in us. The One who overcame death lives inside us. Just let that sink in.

How can we choose to give in to death when the One who overcame and defeated death lives inside
you and me and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us allow the Spirit to control our minds
today and every day choosing by the strength of God to lead lives that lead to life and peace and
show others the truth of Christ.

“All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those
who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
John 3:20-21

Until next time, (which hopefully is soon) 

-Savanah