For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14
As children of God, as long as we have breath we will have two opposing forces at work in our lives: the flesh and the Spirit. Not only are the flesh and the Spirit contrary to each other (Galatians 5:17), but so are their work in our lives and the fruit they bear. One has the ability to please God and the other does not: “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). The fruit of one is life and the fruit of the other is death: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
If living a life in the Spirit or the flesh produces such opposing results, then what is the key to living a life in the Spirit? The Bible is very clear about this – our minds play a key role in determining if our lives will produce life or if our lives will produce death: “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” (Romans 8:5). If we allow our minds to be governed by our emotions or our surroundings, then our minds will be governed by the flesh; but if we allow our minds to be shaped by the word of God and the Holy Spirit then the fruit of our lives will be “life and peace”: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
Declaration: This week I will allow my mind to be governed and ruled by the word of God and by His Spirit and as I do this I will live as one whose life is a product of the Spirit of life.
Scripture: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8