Prior
to coming to Christ, we determined our daily routine by our priorities. We
valued, worked toward and pursued anything that would assist us in reaching our
goals.
We
developed these habits, day in and day out, living by our human reasoning and
working to please our self and to secure our future. We trained our thoughts,
attitudes, words and actions to respond and to react in certain ways to the
challenges and trials of life.
We
are used to living independently of any restraints or parameters on our
behavior (Romans
8:7-8). We serve
our self and make sure we come out on top (Romans 1:25; 2 Corinthians 5:15). We do good deeds for others,
but we want the praise.
Even
after salvation, some of our former traits, which are alien to God’s ways,
still influence our thoughts, words and behavior. However, we can crucify our
independent and willful tendencies on a daily basis (Matthew 16:24-26).
When
the Spirit of God moves in, He encourages us to shift our mind-set entirely.
This sets up a dichotomy in our life, which causes a tug-of-war within our
soul.
God
wants us to put to death the carnal deeds of our flesh, so that we can live an
abundant spiritual existence in Him (Romans 8:13-14). Yet, our flesh wants to maintain the status quo and
control our own life.
The
tie-breaker is God’s Holy Spirit, who rebirths our spirit, which was formerly
dead in sin (Ephesians
2:5). At
salvation, our old nature died and our spirit was Born Again by God’s Spirit (Colossians 3:3).
Spiritually
alive, we now partake in the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4); the fruit of the Spirit
replaces our formal carnal character (Galatians 5:22-23); and we no longer live apart from Christ, but
in dependence on God’s love and perfect will for our life.
Prayer:
Father
God, thank You that Your Holy Spirit exchanges the deeds of our flesh with His
Spiritual fruit. As You renew our mind, we surrender our life to Christ (Romans
12:2; Mark 10:28-29). By Your saving faith, a gift to us from Your mercy and
love, we willingly submit our old fleshly habits to the work of Your Spirit
within us (Romans
8:12-13).
Thank
You that You work in our life to influence and transform us. Your Spirit draws
us to Your heart and renovates every aspect of our life. This free gift is
priceless and we thank You for the sacrifice that Jesus paid for our eternal
life (Ephesians
2:8). We praise
You for Your constant blessings in our life and for Your abundant and eternal
love, joy and peace that You shower on us each moment of every day.
Thought
for the Day:
Obeying
the will of God each day, we are no longer apart from Christ, and we walk in victory
over our flesh by dwelling in the Spirit and following God’s desires for our
life.
- Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:16-26
- Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:16-26
