June 15, 2018

Your Thoughts Matter

Romans 8:1–8

Hannah Hays
Friday's Devo

June 15, 2018

Friday's Devo

June 15, 2018

Central Truth

Because of our security in knowing there is no condemnation if we belong to Christ, we have the freedom to walk in the Spirit and experience joy and peace.

Romans 8:1–8

Life in the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 1 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you 2 8:2 Some manuscripts me 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, 3 8:3 Or and as a sin offering 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.

Footnotes

[1] 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
[2] 8:2 Some manuscripts me
[3] 8:3 Or and as a sin offering

Dive Deeper | Romans 8:1–8

Anxiety and overthinking have been longtime struggles in my life. They creep in when I attempt to take control of my circumstances and do not trust God. For a while, I thought if I prayed hard enough or just tried to make my anxiety stop, it would. When it didn’t, it became frustrating. One day it clicked for me. I realized I wasn’t replacing the lie or my anxious thoughts with God’s truth. Allowing myself to wallow in anxiety and fear does not bring about life and peace, and it certainly doesn’t please God.

I started to actively choose to set my mind and thoughts on God’s truth, instead of allowing myself to dwell on the lie. Trust me, this didn’t happen overnight. It’s taken continued practice! After meditating on what God says about me and reminding myself of all He has done, even giving His Son's life for mine, I want to honor Him with my thoughts and desires.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit to help us as we choose to put off the old self and put on the mind of Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24). One of my favorite song lyrics is “Lord, I need you; Oh, I need you. Every hour, I need you.” It reminds me that even as often as every hour, I need to surrender my thoughts and will to the Lord. I ask Him for direction in what I feed my heart. The things I feed my heart create desires within me, and these desires then translate into the decisions I make and how I live my life.

We will never walk perfectly in the Spirit every day. However, I choose to remind myself that I am free in Christ and that I am no longer a slave to fear, guilt, and shame. I was bought with a price; I am loved; and I am a child of God. Walk in that freedom today! Start living a life full of peace—yielded to the Holy Spirit—and share that hope with others around you.

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

Discussion Questions

1. What do you feed your heart? Consider TV shows, movies, music, what you talk about.

2. What lies do you believe that cause you to become anxious or fearful?

3. What Scripture can you memorize to combat those lies?