Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s FOCUS on mind control today.

Today’s scripture, Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) says…
[5] 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. [6] So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Consider…
According to Wikipedia, Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion or thought control) means trying to control other people’s beliefs and behaviours.

In this process, a person or group persuades others to change their basic beliefs and values. They may use unethical methods and manipulation, which often harms the people being manipulated.

Reading this definition makes me think of cult behavior. But, when reading today’s scripture, we see mind control is really an individual choice, and battle.

The mind control battle is described in Galatians 5:17 (NLT), which explains…
[17] The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

This verse shows us the mind control battle is actually a battle of wills, ‘mine v. Thine’.

This reminds me of the Jesus’ prayer prior to His planned suffering. Luke 22:42 (NLT) shares Jesus prayed…
[42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Appreciate the fact that in this moment, Jesus’ mind’s eye fully envisioned the pain He was about to endure and the excruciating death He was about to die.

Also appreciate, He had a choice. Recall in John 10:18 (NLT), Jesus explained…
[18] “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

That means, Jesus’ prayer was really one of submission.

How often do we offer prayers of submission?

As I personally think about that question, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) exhortation. It says…
[5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

This shows us that a Spirit controlled mind is selfless rather than selfish.

Moreover, we’re expected to be like-minded with Jesus! 😇 We know this to be the case because Jesus said in John 15:12-14, 17 (NLT)…
[12] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. [13] There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command.
[17] This is my command: Love each other.

And 1 John 3:16 (NLT) reiterates…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Clearly Jesus expects us to have the same selfless, loving mindset He had.

Thus far we’ve learned, a Spirit controlled mind is…

• Submissive – Thine not mine
• Selfless – Think of others more and self less

Now the Holy Spirit wants us to recognize a Spirit controlled mind is obedient. Recall Philippians 2:8 said that Jesus was obedient unto death on a cross!

The Holy Spirit took the opportunity to personalize that verse, by guiding me to Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT) which stipulates…
[24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

The Holy Spirit is asking us if we, like Jesus, will be obedient unto the death on His cross?

Yet, the Holy Spirit didn’t stop with obedience in dying, He also showed me Jesus’ obedience in living. Hear me out, Romans 8:11-13 (NLT) declares…
[11] The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. [12] Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Think about it, the same Spirit of God that told Jesus to get up out of the grave, lives in us, and tells us to come out of the darkness and death of sin.

But here’s the key, Jesus obeyed and rose.

This tells me that Christ like obedience looks like Galatians 5:16 (NLT), which says…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

As I close, it occurs to me that Mind Control is an SSO proposition. According to Wikipedia, Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication scheme that allows a user to log in with a single ID to any of several related, yet independent, software systems.

When we…

• Submit to God’s will and way, like Jesus
• Selflessly sacrifice for others, like Jesus
• Obediently die to sin and live for Him, like Jesus

…we will experience the life and peace promised in today’s scripture.

The Holy Spirit is our Single Sign-On authentication to all that God wants us to experience in and through Him. Login through Him today and let Him control your mind.

Today’s song is…
Take My Life (Holiness)

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)