“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.”

Romans 8:5-6

Seems simple, right? Set your mind of the Spirit and abide in Him, and receive life and peace; choose the flesh, and receive death and destruction. Why then is our natural inclination to choose the flesh? Paul is clear here that the only way is by the Spirit. God has given us an ability to abide in Him, to be free from death. We can obey Him instead of our sinful desires, we can obey Him as we navigate through what is seemingly tough in life, we can obey. We can choose to obey. Obedience and freedom don’t really comingle, do they? Well, yes actually. The freedom that comes from obedience to the good good Father who cares for and loves us infinitely is absolute freedom. When we choose to live by the Spirit, we choose freedom – freedom from sin, from death, from temptation – freedom from the flesh.

My current season of life has taught me the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. I have learned the difference between obedience and disobedience to the Spirit. I now know what it means for me to abide. This has come through trial and error, but God has truly taught me abundantly through finding out what the abiding process looks like. Here’s a few of the ways that God has gotten me there:

Choices | “I choose you.” Those words carry weight, whether it is to your best friend or significant other, to choose and be chosen is a big deal. Life is about choices – we make thousands of them daily without even thinking about them. Choices are big. I am not going to use the words “I choose you” with someone unless I mean it. Choosing someone means choosing to love them even when they are not loveable and when you do not want too. Choosing to forgive is a big deal. The flesh (mine at least) is not good at allowing this to happen. Recently I had to actively choose to forgive in an area of life where I was wronged, and It was one of the most freeing things I’ve ever experienced. Choices are an everyday thing; choosing the freedom that comes with obedience, and living by the Spirit is a daily decision that has to be made every single minute of every single day.

Are you choosing to live by the flesh or by the Spirit? Are you choosing to love people by the flesh or by the Spirit?

Trust | This one is new for me. I find it difficult to remember a time where I did not believe in Jesus, but trusting in Him completely, that is new. What does it look like? Particularly for me right now, it is with my future. Yes, everyone knows what dealing with the unknown of the future is like, but I am at a place where I can either trust or doubt, because I don’t know what’s next! God blessed me with the opportunity to spend a year in a discipleship program where I was met an abundance of opportunity to grow and learn. As I end that season, I have learned to trust. Mostly in the sense that I do not know what exactly He has planned for me next, but my spirit is calm and confident in a God that wants to provide and care for me, as long as I let Him and get out of His way. It’s another choice; I choose to trust in Him.

Do you?

Eternal Perspective | God has an interesting way of bringing the larger picture into perspective. I have always been a talker, but my gift to connect with people in conversation didn’t come to fruition until the middle of college-career. Small talk is great and necessary at times, but the deep, meaningful conversations are what feed my soul. The question that is worth asking is, “what matters?” Souls are the answer. Souls are eternal, and they are in need of God’s ability to sanctify. Does the type of food or how fast it is delivered matter, or does the topic of conversation around the table matter, and is it God-honoring? The opportunity we have to impact the Kingdom and bring glory to Him is without comparison or equivocation. It requires yet another choice to determine whether to set the mind on the eternal rather than the Earthly and perishable. Souls are eternal, things of the Earth are not.

Are you focusing on the eternal, or living in the flesh?

My current season is filled with joy and laughter. God has been faithful in delivering certain people that I have longed for and need for the entirety of my life, and I will not let go of the good gifts that He has given. Relationships are so much sweeter because of the lessons that came from others. God has taught me how to make choices, and how to choose to love people, and how to truly forgive. God has taught me to trust; to trust in His provision and His Word. I now know what this actually means. God has given me eternal perspective, rather than an indwelling on what is in the immediate and insignificant. God is good. What is He doing for you?

Are you letting God teach you through His Holy Spirit, or are you walking by your own flesh?