Romans 8... day 6...

For those who live according to the flesh

set their minds on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit

set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 ESV

Where is your mind set...?

Apparently... that's the determining factor... in how we live...

What do our thoughts gravitate toward...? throughout the day...?

To things of the flesh...? the world...?

our comfort...?

what we will eat...? drink...?

what we will wear...?

Jesus said...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink; or about your body,

what you will wear. Is not life more important than food,

and the body more important than clothes? ...

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

... So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or

'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and your

heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well. ..."

Matthew 6:25, 27, 31-33

Worry... definitely a mind-set of the flesh...

And... according to Jesus... life is not about clothes... or food... or any of these external things our flesh is highly concerned with...

He tells us... seek first... His Kingdom... and His Righteousness...

But what does that look like...?

It must begin in our thought life...

...those who live according to the Spirit...

set their minds on the things of the Spirit...

Paul wrote the Romans...

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and accpetable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

The righteous requirement of the law... becomes fulfilled... in Christ Jesus... for those who walk according to the Spirit... (not the flesh...)

Who is shaping your thoughts...? the things of the world...?

Oprah...?

CNN...?

Fox News...?

Glamour...?

Dr. Phil..?

Newsweek...?

Or... are the things of God... transforming your mind...?

His Word...?

Prayerful listening...?

Praise music...?

I long to walk in the Spirit... by His law of life...

but I wonder how well I'm doing...

How can we judge...? where we are...?

Paul had something to say about this to the Galatians...

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality,

impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,

jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you,

as I warned you before, that those who do such things

will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:19-23 ESV

What are you experiencing...? what are you tempted by...? what defines your life...?

Sensuality...? 

Anger...?

Jealousy...?

Or... throughout your day... do you experience...?

Joy...?

Peace...?

Patience...?

Test your thoughts... 

be mindful... of what you fill your head with...

what ideas you listen to... and thoughts you give in to...

Determine... how you want to live...

according to the flesh...?

or...

according to the Spirit...?

Then...

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

Father God... make me mindful... of my mind...

what I think... where I set my thoughts...

teach me... to live... according to the Spirit...

and not... the flesh...