Christian Writers Circle

Maturity in Christ through the Mind of Christ
by Judy Hitson

*Romans 8: 6 NIV The mind governed by the flesh is death but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

How is your mind governed?

The decision is ours, what we think and what we do in life each day. The importance is, the thoughts of our mind result in our actions. For as he thinks within himself, so he is,
Pr. 23: 7a NKJV.

What we feed our body, soul and spirit matters. Think about it.
If we eat junk food every day, what happens to our body?
If we supply our mind with junk, selfish desires, motives or actions, what happens to our soul, (mind, will and emotions)?
If we give our spirit, our innermost being, selfish, fleshly understanding,
will we not be motivated by self, the flesh, in our actions?

On the other hand, when we receive the Holy Spirit as a believer in Jesus Christ,
we experience the second birth, born of the Spirit, John 3.
The Spirit gives life, John 6: 63; 2 Corinthians 3: 6.
We have the mind of Christ, I Cor. 2: 16.

Our spirit and soul need spiritual food by the Spirit to be nourished and selfless like Jesus. He did nothing apart from the Father, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner, John 5:19b NKJV. He calls us to follow Him, with His life living in and through us.

When we follow Jesus, He leads us to do nothing apart from Father, our minds will be governed by the Spirit. We will have life and peace. It is not easy! The life of Christ on earth was the way of the cross. We are called to follow in His steps, I Peter. 2: 21. The cross came before the crown in Jesus earthly life and so it will for us, as we follow Him, Luke 9: 23.

Let’s start our day in quiet and stillness before the Lord, with clean hands and a pure heart. Experience His presence.
Praise Him with thanksgiving.
Take time in prayer and Bible reading.
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You,
Is. 26: 3 NKJV.

The choice is ours to govern our mind by the flesh, resulting in death or to govern our mind by the Spirit, resulting in life and peace.

What is your choice?  Christ or self?

If Christ, He will help you think like He thinks, act like He acts, live by the Spirit, not self.
Enjoy life and peace rather than death. This is not talking about life ending on earth, but spiritual death, without the life of the Holy Spirit, Rom. 6: 11.

Prayer: Thank You Father in heaven for sending Jesus that we might walk by the Spirit and not carry out desires of the flesh. Thank You for free will to make choices. Help us as Your children on earth to live Christ. Holy Spirit govern our minds to experience life and peace with You and make right choices in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

*Cross Reference to Romans 8: 6, Galatians 6: 8 NKJV For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Hymn: I Surrender All