“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit Who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit… the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit Who lives in you. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation —but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.” Romans 8:1-12 (NIV)

Dearest Father,

Let the sane blessing of Your Spirit’s life govern our minds. We want to live fully in the transforming, renewing life You bought for us. Your word is powerfully and simply communicating the truth that is so lost on us at times. We fail to see our freedom from the old, and pick up the yoke of slavery of the flesh, simply because it cast a shadow of doubt in our minds. We fail to lay hold of our full emancipation from the burden and heart ache of serving the old self, who has never gotten anything right! 

Why can’t we remember that we don’t have to consider, care about, and feel obligated to answer the highly emotional screaming of the lunatic that is our old self? That old self had doomed us to eternal death and yet we sometimes look there for answers! But we are dead to that life! We are redeemed, a totally new person, with a new Father and destiny. Do whatever it takes for us to recognize the sound of that stranger’s voice within. Help us not to cringe at the deceiving threats the old self lobs at us. Help us not to give that dead life power over our minds by even listening to the rants. We do not owe that dead person obedience, comfort, or answers. That is insanity! Teach us what it means, boots on the ground, to take every thought captive to the Spirit of the Living God! Teach us to live out the simple truth parents tell their children, “Don’t talk to strangers!” 

In Jesus Name Forever

Photo Credit: Jad Limcaco; https://unsplash.com/photos/Y_J0phaFy2g