"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those 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)
I’m still thinking on Sunday’s sermon and the choir between Spirit and body. We choose how to respond to life’s challenges: we either lean into the Spirit or lean into our flesh. The pastor said “Pivot!” and Ross started yelling in my mind.
Today’s text invites us to lean into the Spirit’s leading, rather than caving to our flesh. Even the resulting verbiage is different: the Spirit controls but the flesh dominates. Domination is brutal, nonconsensual. Control implies choice and cooperation. The flesh beats us down but the Spirit is productive in our lives: we grow fruit and receive gifts.
Scripture makes it clear: acquiescing to our flesh will lead to death. I’ve been alive long enough to see this over and over. We think we are choosing self, but we are actually agreeing with bondage, with the enemy of our soul and his unholy plan for our lives. Charles Dickens describes it so well in his Christmas Carol:
“I wear the chain I forged in life… I made it link by link; I forced it with my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.” (the Ghost of Bob Marley)
Surrendering to the Spirit, however, means overcoming our flesh and rising instead in the strength and purpose of God. In the Spirit, we learn to trade out our will for His will. We find out firsthand that His thoughts and ways far surpass our own.
So often, the choice between flesh and Spirit is decided in a moment. An event transpires: a trial or temptation or interruption and we must choose how to respond. Will we cave to our carnal thinking or will we turn to the Spirit in trust? The pivot is critical.
In my own story, I can identify where I’ve handled moumental moments either way: in the Spirit or in the flesh. One works. The other does not. And honestly, we may pivot perfectly in the initial onslaught, only to turn back to our flesh in the hours that follow. In order to live consistently in the Spirit, we must learn to walk continually in the Spirit. We repeat that pivot over and over because life has a way of loosening our resolve. The wear and tear of daily living tugs us toward our flesh. Our carnal man is loud and constant. We can only subdue the demands via the self-control grown by the Spirit.
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guid your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." (Galatians 5:16-17 NLT)
If your body feels like a battlefield it is because it is. Heaven and hell have each made a claim and you alone get to choose who wins. It all comes dow to that critical pivot: which way will we lean when the pressures of life bear down?
Will we succumb to the desires of our flesh and attempt to subdue it’s ravenous appetite? Or will we submit to the quiet but consistent call of the Spirit, inviting us to a higher plane of existence, surrendered to the will and ways of our loving God?
Choose today. Here and now and then again lat this afternoon and once or twice more this evening before bed. Turn in Lord’s direction. Lean into the Spirit rather than relying on your same old flesh. Wake up and get after it all over again tomorrow. We walk with God successfully when we learn to repeatedly and continually pivot toward the Sprit in every and all circumstances.
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:25 NLT)
Lord, please help us. We so often fail to lean in to Your leading. Our flesh is loud and close and insatiable. Forgive us for all the times we’ve turned toward self. We realize Your invitation is quieter, calmer and far less demanding. Today we welcome Your leadership in our lives. Hey pus identify the pivotal moments in these twenty-four hours. Give us the grace and strength to turn towards You, even as our flesh hounds us. We long to live submitted, surrendered and overflowing with Your Spirit. May we learn to cooperate the critical junctures. Amen.