MINDSET

 
September 28, 2022                                        MINDSET
Romans 8:5-9 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”        (Read all of Romans 8.)
It matters greatly. We have the option of choosing our mindset. In reality, as believers, we have only two options; we either set our mind on the flesh, or on the Spirit. This freedom to choose our mindset can be a little scary. We have to take responsibility for our mindset; we cannot blame others or our circumstances for how we think. The Spirt of God draws us to God, but He does not force things on us; we can follow His drawing us, or we can refuse; and that is the tell-tale sign as to whether we are walking according to the Spirit or according to the flesh. When our mind is set on the Spirit, we walk according to the Spirit and when our mind is set on the flesh, we walk according to the flesh. It sounds so simple, yet that is how it is. Mindset is more than just mental agreement; our mindset is what sets our direction in life, it determines how we process information, and it sets the tone of how we respond in all of life. When our mind is set on the Spirit, our thoughts and our actions are in keeping with the ways of God. Just to clarify, flesh refers to that part of us that is always calling us to do whatever we want to do, to do what we like and to live according to our own dictates. We have been made new and given a new spirit, and this new spirit of ours is led by and empowered by the Holy Spirit who live in us. With these two opposing ‘entities’ in us, you can see that there is an ongoing battle-a battle about choices. Again, we must choose whether we walk according to the Spirit, or our flesh. We do not have to fight this battle every single moment; we must set our minds on living according to the Spirit; when the flesh rises up within us, out of our mindset, we simply say no the flesh and continue walking according to the Spirit. We must predetermine our response to the flesh and to the Spirit-that’s a mindset.
Colossians 3:1-3 “If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Blessings,
Buddy