07/03/2025
Cultivating the Spiritual Mind ▪︎ Day 1
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:6-8
One of the things that I hope to convey through this Devotional is that the mind is not an inherently evil thing that we have to be weary off. Far too often, we are accustomed to believing that the mind is unspiritual; but I believe that when God created us He gave us a mind to be cultivated by His Spirit. I say this because, today's verse, notes that "to be spiritually minded is life and peace." If we believe this, we should also acknowledge what Jesus said about Himself in the book of John, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Jesus fulfilled God's desire, that we would have life and to have it in abundance which included having a spiritual mind. That being said, if it is not possible to have life and peace without a spiritual mind, then we can conclude that the spiritual mind is essential to having the life that Jesus Christ died for us to have.
Make no mistake about it, life and peace for us is contingent not upon our good hearts and well intentions, but the influence of Holy Spirit on our minds. The enemy of our souls loves a religious mindset because it is effectively carnal. Why? Because when the Apostle Paul was addressing the carnal mind, he was also addressing the traditions of men. Stating, "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)
Self righteousness (my good works) is an example of a carnal mindset. Scripture teaches us that it is, "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
How do we measure if we are indeed carnally minded? Verse 7 of Romans 8 gives us a clue. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God."
Enmity comes from the Greek word echthra meaning a deep seated hatred, hostility or opposition towards God.
Are you boastful? Proud? Self righteous? Is it a challenge for you to rest or to wait on God or others?
Are you the center of hostile situations? Are you often frustrated, bothered, anxious or worried about things outside of your control?
Do the things you think about have the attributes of death (dread, doom, darkness, confusion) or do your thoughts bear the attributes of life and peace (joy, vitality, energy, light, expectation)?
We know that we are spiritually minded when the word of God transforms us. When the word humbles us. When the seed of faith planted in our soul begins to manifest in life and peace, both in us and around us.
In His Love,
