For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:2-10
Where are your decisions first made? In your spirit or in your mind? Do you decide before what your mind says? Can you ‘set’ your mind in a direction? Are we a two or three part created being?
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
So many have co-joined the aspects of the soul and spirit. As those parts of us are mysterious to our “natural” understanding. We study the science of the body. How does one study consciousness? Or the conscience? How does one really study the ‘soul’ of an individual? Is there even a deeper part called the ‘spirit’? How would we understand the spirit? So much of modern psychology lumps together the ‘mind, will, and emotion’. But does it go deeper and more complex than that?
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
What exactly is our ‘spirit’? What does our ‘soul’ consist of? These are questions that only can be truly answered by our Creator and Designer. What is important to me is the aspect of our ‘will’. In our will we should be making our decisions and choices. So many allow their flesh, their natural physical drive, or their emotions to make their decisions for them. Whereas followers of Christ should be seeking the Holy Spirit for their direction and preferences for their choices. Can you make a decision that is counter to what your mind thinks? Can you make a decision and choice counter to what your emotions are doing? Can you choose to ‘set’ your mind in a direction that is counter to your current physical and emotional status and condition?
This IS the daily challenge every disciple of Jesus Christ faces as they grow into spiritual maturity. Can you hear His Voice (within your mind) and accept His direction and counsel? Can you discern the origin and rightly filter the thoughts within your mind? What is the status of your true heart? Do you really want to follow Him at whatever the cost … to your life? Are you truly terminally committed to Christ?
Father we submit to YOU! Jesus YOU are our example! Holy Spirit teach us about the spiritual realm. Help us to understand YOU. YOU Holy Spirit are Wisdom. Guide us in our decision making, Holy Spirit.