Choosing Life Through the Spirit
"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." — Romans 8:5-6 (NLT)
This scripture from Romans is a powerful reminder that our thoughts and mindset play a critical role in determining the direction of our lives. The things we dwell on can either lead us toward destruction or toward life and peace. It's important to recognize that the mind is a battleground—there’s a choice every moment to focus on things that are pleasing to God or to allow the sinful nature to control our thoughts.
What I’ve come to learn from this passage is that the things we allow ourselves to think about have the power to shape our future. It's not about being perfect, but about choosing peace and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts. While the world offers distractions and temptations that promise fulfillment, they often lead to emptiness and destruction. On the other hand, focusing on things that please the Spirit brings peace—not because everything around us is perfect, but because God's presence within us offers a deep, abiding peace that surpasses our circumstances.
The good news is that we have the choice. We don't have to stay focused on the things that lead to death. We can choose to dwell on the things that honor God, things that bring life. And when we make that choice, we begin to take dominion over the spaces and places where God has called us, bringing His peace into every area of our lives.
Biblical Example:
A powerful example of someone who lived out this truth is Caleb, one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. Caleb’s story can be found in Numbers 13-14. When the Israelites were on the verge of entering the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve spies to scout it out. Ten of the spies came back with a report of fear, saying that the land was filled with giants and that the people of Israel could never conquer it. However, Caleb, along with Joshua, stood firm in his belief that with God's help, they could take the land. Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Numbers 13:30, NIV).
Even when the majority of the people allowed fear and doubt to dominate their thoughts, Caleb chose to focus on the promises of God and the truth that God was with them. Caleb’s mind was not controlled by fear or the sinful nature of unbelief, but by the Holy Spirit’s reminder of God's faithfulness. His thoughts were set on the life and victory that God had promised, and because of this, Caleb was the only one of his generation to enter the Promised Land (Joshua 14:6-15).
Caleb’s life wasn’t without challenges, but by choosing to trust God and think about what pleased the Spirit, he experienced God's peace and faithfulness. His example shows us that even when the world around us says "no," we can choose to focus on God’s promises and find peace and life in His faithfulness.
Reflection Questions:
What are some areas in your life where fear or doubt may be dominating your thoughts?
Think about areas where you might be struggling to trust God, or where fear has caused you to lose sight of His promises. Are there situations where you’ve allowed your thoughts to be dominated by the sinful nature of fear or unbelief?How can you intentionally focus on God’s promises today?
In what practical ways can you take your thoughts captive and redirect them toward what pleases the Spirit, as Caleb did when he focused on God's power and promises?What would it look like for you to “take dominion” over your thoughts and situations by choosing to dwell on life-giving thoughts like Caleb did?
Consider how you can align your mind with God's truth, especially in areas where you’re facing opposition or challenges. How might your mindset shift if you focused more on God's promises than your circumstances?Are you willing to choose life over fear and doubt, and allow the Spirit to control your mind?
What steps can you take today to align your thoughts with God's truth and choose peace over anxiety or fear?
Closing Prayer: Father, thank You for the example of Caleb, who chose to trust You and focus on Your promises, even when fear and doubt were all around him. Help us to follow Caleb’s example in our own lives. Teach us to take our thoughts captive and focus on the things that please Your Spirit. We know that when we align our thoughts with Your truth, we experience peace and life. Strengthen us to trust in Your promises and to live in the peace that comes from Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
