Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:5-9
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Through I don’t understand everything he’s up to, these things I gladly affirm today, based on the clarity and charity of your Word.
I belong to Jesus because the Spirit of Christ lives in me. Just as assuredly as Jesus stood outside of Lazarus’ tomb and said, “Come forth”, you sent the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to my heart and I came out of the tomb of my sin and death. How I praise you for your sovereign goodness and power!
When you raised me from the dead in Jesus, you baptized me with the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, making me a member of his Bride and kingdom… You sealed me for eternity by the Spirit, marking me as your very own possession… You commissioned the Spirit to live as a permanent resident in my heart-to constantly preach the gospel to my heart, convict me of sin, make me like Jesus and constantly tell me that I am your beloved child… And you gave the Spirit to me as the firstfruits and guarantee of the full inheritance of the salvation that Jesus completely earned for me. Oh my… what a generous and loving God you are!
Therefore and but of course… I joyfully acknowledge my desire to be more fully and consistently filled with the Holy Spirit… to walk according to the Spirit… to keep in step with the Spirit… to set my mind on what the Spirit desires. For this means that I will become more and more and more like Jesus… in the way I think about all things… in the way I feel about all things… in the way I live my whole life.
According to your Word… according the truth of the gospel, I am already controlled by the Holy Spirit. I am no longer controlled by my sinful nature. To which I say, Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation! And to which I surrender with hope, peace and joy. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.