What Consumes Your Mind Could Ultimately Control Your Life. Think

June 14, 2018

What Consumes Your Mind Could Ultimately Control Your Life. Think Wisely!

Romans 8:5–8

Lauren Smith

Central Truth

There are so many things people use to try to fill their void: money, sex, alcohol, food, drugs, etc. Whatever feelings of “life” these things might bring are only temporary, however, and they are ultimately unfulfilling. But accepting and trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior will bring you life and peace.

5 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. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 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. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

When I first joined Watermark, Romans 8:6 was the first verse I memorized with my community-group accountability partner. This verse spoke to me, and I really appreciated God’s bluntness. “To set the mind on the flesh is death.” DEATH! I have hypochondriacal tendencies; so the word death got my attention quickly.

I was raised in a Christian home, and I had a beaming love for the Lord as a child and accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was little. As I grew older I desired immaterial things, such as being accepted, beautiful, and loved by men. Once I started to date someone, I moved God to the back burner because I desired to be loved by men more. The first part of Romans 8:6 states, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death”; and, boy, did I slowly start dying in my sins. Physical and major emotional/mental abuse, unhealthy relationships, experimenting with drugs, and negative thoughts about my appearance left me anxiety-stricken and frozen with fear. Setting my mind on my fleshly desires caused me to fear death tremendously.

The second part of Romans 8:6 states, “[B]ut to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace”; and I very quickly found comfort when I dug into my Bible and received biblical counsel because I was filled with God's Word. Reading my Bible reassured me of God's love for me, and I was filled with life and peace, free from my sins and anxiety.

Whatever your current sinful nature is, it does not have to define who you are or to control you permanently. I am praying for you to find life through Jesus and your mind to be filled with peace—free from past hurts, free from addiction, free from depression, free from feelings of unworthiness, free from anxiety. Romans 6:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." How great is that?!

This month's memory verse

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

– Romans 6:22

1. What are some of your current sin patterns?

2. How are those sins affecting your mind, health, and family?

3. Take some time to reflect and pray for guidance, and read Proverbs 3:5-6. How does God want you to combat the sins you thought of?

4. Plug: Check out re:gen, a biblically based, 12-step discipleship ministry for healing, recovery, and freedom from any type of struggle.

5. Challenge: I would love to challenge you to memorize a verse from the Bible. Pick a verse that speaks to you and memorize it so you can turn to it when you are struggling with your sin patterns. My verse is Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” If you see me running around, please ask me to recite my verse. I need some accountability!