Romans 8:6

NASB	NLT	VOICE
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,	6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.	6 A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace.

Battle of the Minds

In the biblical context, “flesh” refers to our human nature that has fallen into sin and rebels against God. To focus on the “mind of the flesh” describes how we can view the world or have a mindset that is very self-centered and focused on the desires of the world. In the Greco-Roman times, this was about the indulgence in physical pleasures. Paul describes this mindset as a path to alienation, decay, and death.  

The “mind of the Spirit” describes our minds when transformed by the Holy Spirit. When our minds become transformed, we become a new creation of God. Our new selves are found in Christ. Life describes the eternal life, hence where the death previously mentioned described a separation from God for eternity. This life includes a reconciled relationship with our heavenly father, as well as a home for the Holy Spirit. As we’ve talked about all month, the peace described here is an inner tranquility that brings about wholeness and well-being. This peace is not the absence of struggle, but the Spirit’s sustaining presence within it.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: When it comes to the different minds Paul describes, which one do you often find yourself using?

Gift of Discernment

Being mindful of what you let influence your thoughts and minds. It has been shown that we tend to reflect what we surround ourselves with. We can do this both consciously and unconsciously. If we’re surrounding ourselves with people that tend to judge and bully, then we will often find ourselves judging and bullying others. If we’re surrounding ourselves with people who tend to volunteer and serve others, then we will tend to follow them and do that. The point being made is that again: what we surround ourselves with is what we tend to reflect.

There’s no absolution with this process. There’s no definitiveness with this process. In my experience, we can still be around people with differing perspectives and mindsets when we allow God to lead everything we hear and say to others. I often call it the Jesus filter. It’s when we take in everything that others say with a grain of salt and allow myself time to reflect on it with God and see if it has the weight to be submitted into my mind as knowledge or foundational information or if it needs to be scrubbed because it’s useless and non-beneficial. This is especially helpful when we can discern points in an argument between people.

People can say some highly vitriolic things about each other.  If someone makes us upset, we can say some nasty things about them to make sure they hurt in the same way we did. We can say things that can cause damage in one’s relationship or one’s career. In any conflict, we need to slow down, verify facts, and refuse false or dehumanizing narratives while also taking harm seriously and seeking accountability.  I’ll often tell myself and others: “Until we know, we don’t.” Until we know what we know is true and factual, we are making assumptions and guesses about things. Even if it’s 99.9% true, there’s still a chance it cannot be. With that in mind, I want to encourage you to take everything told to you in conflict with a grain of salt. Do your own research. Ask difficult questions. Draw credible conclusions. Trust that God will guide your words, thoughts, and actions and that He will ultimately bring justice. He is our source of victory. We are called to practice truthfulness, repair, and accountability now. He is our source of hope and endurance.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: When you are in conflict, how do you discern if the circumstances are definitively true or true via personal perspectives?

PRAY Action

Praise God for the positive influence He has over our lives. God, thank you for all the sources of your glory and goodness in our world.

Read Philippians 4:7

Ask God for ways to help discern conflict. To be able to run the Jesus filter over everything that was said and done to be able in a way that reflects God’s love, compassion, and peace.

You are a peacemaker. I know it’s hard to be put in the middle of conflicts, either intentionally or unintentionally.  God will gift you the strength and wisdom to help you push through the conflicts and find victory and peace on the other side.

Next slice of manna: Achieving Peace Through Holiness || Hebrews 12:14 || Manna for the Mind #344