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

Hello again, the Holy Spirit has once again given me something to share for God’s glory and our edification. This share was inspired by Elevation Church’s Pastor, Stephen Furtick, current ‘I Thought’ series.

Today’s scripture, Romans 8:5-7 (NIV), says…
[5] Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. [7] The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Consider…
Typically when spiritual living is discussed, the focus is primarily on our hearts and souls. This is true, despite the fact God clearly includes our minds in His mandates.

For example, in Matthew 22:37 (NIV), Jesus said the greatest commandment is…
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND.’

According to AI, This verse emphasizes loving God with every aspect of one’s being – emotions, spirit, and intellect. It calls for complete and total devotion to God, encompassing all facets of human existence.
Here’s a breakdown of the verse’s meaning:
“Love the Lord your God…”:
This highlights the object of love – God, and the need for a personal relationship with Him.
“…with all your heart”:
This refers to the seat of emotions and affections, urging a love rooted in deep passion and desire for God.
“…with all your soul”:
This emphasizes the eternal part of a person, the very essence of their being, suggesting a love that transcends physical life.
“…with all your mind”:
This calls for a love that involves intellect, reason, and understanding, engaging one’s thoughts and cognitive abilities.
Essentially, Matthew 22:37 teaches that loving God is not a superficial act but a comprehensive, all-encompassing devotion that involves every part of a person. It’s a love that is both passionate and thoughtful, deeply spiritual and intellectually engaged.

God doesn’t want a mythical or ethereal relationship with us, He wants a real and practical one. This is why our minds are so important to Him.

As a matter of fact, in Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV), we read…“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Many of us have a heart for God, but our mind isn’t right. Meaning, we have the want to, but lack the must do.

I believe God wants to hear us declare with Hezekiah Walker…

I am souled out
My mind is made up

…and

My heart is fixed, my mind’s made up
No room, no vacancies, I’m all filled up
His Spirit lives in me and that’s the reason I’m souled out

But God knows our natural minds are incapable of this supernatural resolve. Like Jesus told the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41)

What’s more interesting about Jesus’ statement in the garden is that He offered the solution to a weak body, which emanates from a weak mind, first. Jesus’ full statement was…
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Notice, Jesus said seek spiritual strength to overcome our physical weakness.

That brings Colossians 3:2 (NIV) to my thoughts…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) echoes that same strategy…
[2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Notice our spiritual transformation requires an ongoing mind sanctification.

I have read that verse many times, but this time the Holy Spirit helped me focus on “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”, or as the NLT version says, “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good, pleasing and perfect”.

It just clicked for me, God doesn’t just want us to just feel Him, He wants us to KNOW HIM.

As I see that, I hear Psalmist John P Kee singing…

Jesus is real,
I know the Lord is real to me.

I can feel Him in my hands,
I can feel Him in my feet,

For I know, oh,
Jesus is real.

I can feel Him in my heart,
I can feel Him in my soul,
(I can even feel Him, from the crown of my head, to my toes)

While listening to the song, the Holy Spirit further transformed my to thinking to understand, God doesn’t our emotion, He wants our devotion! Indeed He wants to be more than something we feel, He wants to be real!

Still, Pastor Kee’s lyrics, about feeling Jesus all over, make me think of the function of our mind/brain.

A Google search of the brain’s function returned…

The brain controls all bodily functions, from conscious thoughts to automatic processes. It’s responsible for:

• Conscious functions: Thought, memory, emotion, communication, learning, and movement
• Automatic functions: Breathing, heart rate, digestion, temperature, and sleep
• Sensory functions: Sight, touch, pain, and spatial perception
• Motor functions: Balance and coordination
• Regulatory functions: Organ function and body rhythms

So when Jesus says we must love the Lord with all our mind, He’s saying God wants complete control of our lives.

Have you ever thought about why Jesus chose to be the head of the body? I believe it’s because, the head/mind dictates everything the body does.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NLT) explains…
[22] God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. [23] And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Just like our minds with our bodies, Christ is the head/mind in charge of His body, of which we are merely part.

Writing that hit play on Casey J singing…

We belong to you lord
We belong to you
So your song flow through my lips
Your work move through my hands
Your thought stay on my mind
Live in me

She continues, with the declaration I believe God wants to hear…

And you can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
‘Cause I’m yours
And i give you all of me
Give you all of me
God here’s all of me
I’m yours
God I’m yours

God wants our complete, conscious submission to Him.

This brings us to today’s scripture, which emphasizes the importance of our mindsets, or where our minds are set.

You see, we have to cognitively decide to live by God’s Spirit, rather than our flesh!

Paul expounds on this in Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT), where he says…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. [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.

Pay attention to Paul telling us to ‘let’, which denotes a conscious decision to allow the Holy Spirit to control supernaturally what we can’t control naturally.

That’s because, as Paul said in Romans 7:15 (NLT)…I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Thus why God wants us transform what we think, more than how we feel. You see feelings come and go, but thoughts lead to tangible actions.

Thus our intellectual must align with our Spiritual to transform our physical.

I like the way Psalms 119:4-7 (NLT) sets our practical expectations…
[4] You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. [5] Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! [6] Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. [7] As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!

Our minds help us live what we believe!

The Holy Spirit also showed me that our human imperfections are no excuse for disobedience. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 (NLT)…
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

Wait, I thought faith, not obedience leads to everlasting life? Therein lies the confusion, faith is not independent of obedience, rather it’s an outward expression of it. James 2:21-23 (NLT) explains…
[21] Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. [23] And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.

Because Abraham believed God, he made up his mind to obey him, and he did.

Our hearts make us believe God, but our minds make us obey Him.

Accordingly, we must consciously decide to do what God requires.

In case you’re not sure what God requires, Micah 6:8 (NLT) explains…No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God expects us to…

• do right regardless of what’s wrong (Luke 6:27-31)
• love mercy despite of who’s wrong (Luke 6:35-36)
• walk humbly with God by admitting we’re wrong (2 Chronicles 7:14-15)

Notice all of these are conscious and actionable decisions.

That means we must let God set our minds right, if we want to do what’s right in His sight. Think of it like an alarm clock, if the clock itself isn’t set to the right time, the alarm won’t accomplish the desired goal. In the same way, if the Holy Spirit doesn’t set our minds right, we will not accomplish God’s desired goal(s) for our lives.

Romans 8:12-14 (NLT) declares…
[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. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So today, Child of God, be fully committed to God with…

• All your heart
• All your soul
• and ALL YOUR MIND!

Today’s song is…
Fully Committed

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)