Governed by the Spirit
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6
If our minds are governed by the Spirit, we are one step ahead of overcoming Satan’s temptations. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) Overcoming evil normally starts by controlling our thoughts. So, if we keep our thoughts on things above, we can interface to the world through the Spirit. Everything we see or hear goes to the Spirit, and we respond from the Spirit. The Spirit filters sin from our thoughts, from our words, and from our actions including what we see and hear from the world.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) The Spirit will change our thinking from self to God and others. When our hearts are filled with God’s love, we are free from self, and our hearts seek to bring Christ to everyone. This is the life that sets us free in Christ. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
When we live as servants of Christ, the love in our hearts motivates us to tell the world about Christ. We are free in Christ; the world no longer controls us because we are governed by the Spirit. Living as the Lord’s servants helps our minds to be governed by the Spirit, and frees us from being governed by our sinful, worldly, fleshly desires.
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. (Romans 12:2) The more our minds or renewed (or rewired), the more we are transformed, and the more our minds will be governed by the Spirit. Renewing the mind requires we stop thinking the sinful thoughts of the world and start thinking the ways of God because our minds are renewed by our thinking. Reading the Word, praying, and fellowshipping with Christians will aide us in keeping our minds on things above.
We overcome by keeping our thoughts on doing good and eventually our hearts will change because we minister to people, then being governed by the Spirit becomes natural and desirable. It’s a heart filled with God’s love that changes us. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:21) We show our love to God by showing love to others, then our love for God increases.
Today, seek to overcome evil by doing good. Doing good slowly changes our heart where doing good is desirable. Doing good is the best way to fight Satan and his evil temptations.
Prayer: Lord, guide me to be governed by the Spirit and to replace evil by doing good. Today, help me to be guided by the Spirit and to reflect Jesus to everyone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.