Bible passage: Romans 8:5-6
“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Do you often find yourself trapped in a continuous cycle of wanting to do the right thing but ultimately doing the opposite? Perhaps you feel you lack control over your physical desires and struggle with sin more often than you care to admit. You are not alone; this is a common issue many Christians face. However, this should not be the case. Before Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, sin enslaved us, making it impossible to resist its temptations due to the overpowering desires of our flesh, which directly oppose the Spirit of God. As a result, sin condemned us to eternal damnation. However, Jesus’ sacrifice freed us from the bondage of sin, and His gift of the Holy Spirit gave us the power to say no to sin and yes to the Spirit. Therefore, we have no excuse to continue walking in sin since Christ’s sacrifice.
One of the main reasons we still struggle with sin is the state of our minds. God warns us that our mind has the power to influence our actions (“as a man thinks, so is he” – Proverbs 23:7). The more we focus on the lusts of the flesh (such as physical pleasure, desire for material possessions, and obsession with status and importance – 1 John 2:16), the more likely we are to sin. However, if we focus on things of the Spirit (such as what is true, pure, right, holy, honourable, respectful, merciful, and kind – Philippians 4:8), we will do what the Spirit of God desires and resist sin. So what does it look like to focus on the Spirit practically? It involves developing a lifestyle of daily Bible reading and meditation on scripture (Joshua 1:8), obeying God’s commands (Romans 6:16), and praying for oneself and others, including one’s enemies, throughout the day and in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It also means maintaining a thankful attitude by focusing on the things for which we are grateful to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and consuming godly entertainment that ignites a passion for seeking and knowing God more.
So I urge you to be vigilant in guarding what you allow to fill your minds, such as ungodly entertainment and what you meditate on throughout the day. By doing so, you will begin to experience the joy, peace, and freedom that God has given us.
