It’s a “will worship” morning (Colossians 2:23). I’ll go with Psalm 123:1-2.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Romans 8. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verses 5-7:
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The Spirit reminded me of the day this became clear to me and what a help it was to learn that my body is the Lord’s vehicle He uses to move around in this world, and my mind is the steering wheel.
Along the still waters, I reflected on what He has taught me through the years. I am a body, a spirit, and a soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The body is distinct from the soul, and the soul is the essence of life (Matthew 10:28). The soul is distinct from the spirit, but this is only discernible by the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
My soul interacts with the physical world through my body (For example, the soul eats via our body—Leviticus 7:18-20). My soul interacts with the spiritual world through my spirit (Romans 8:16). My body belongs to Christ and is used as His vehicle through which He acts in this world (2 Corinthians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). My soul acts in the physical realm of the world through the body, and my spirit acts in the spiritual realm of the world through my mind (Matthew 5:28; see Ephesians 4:23).
My body is His Temple, and my soul is His priest (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5). The priest is responsible for maintaining His Temple (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:21). My mind is the “steering wheel.” I direct my mind to the Spirit or to the flesh. That’s what Paul was saying in Romans 8. If we place our thoughts after the things of the flesh, we will walk in the flesh. If we place our thoughts on the things of the Spirit, we will walk in the Spirit.
In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I heard the Shepherd’s voice renewing my call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This is the secret. If our thoughts are centered on ourselves, we will walk after the flesh. Only when we deny ourselves, and “reckon” ourselves to be “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” can we walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1, 4; Galatians 5:16, 25). I want to walk in the Spirit, and I can’t do that unless I take up my cross. I can’t bring Christ to wherever He wants to be unlss I follow Him. So, I took up my cross, and followed Him to His table.
At the table, He tenderly anointed my head with His oil, and filled my cup with His grace. We talked together into the harvest, goodness and mercy following close.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap.
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