Thu, Sep 10, 2009
Being immersed
Psalm 141: 3-4 (NLT) Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don't let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness.
Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) 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.
That phrase 'letting your sinful nature control your mind' sounds so terribly sinister it's easy to overlook as something I would never allow to happen. But for me--maybe for most of us-- it's not as though I face an ambush or hostile takeover of my mental capacities. It's a thousand tiny moments of me turning ever-so-slightly away from the direction of the Spirit. This is the 'drift toward evil'. Before I know it, I've slipped down an unfortunately familiar slope of thought patterns that DO lead to death. Death of peace... joy... healthy relationships... all the good fruits.
This prayer from A Guide to Prayer for All God's People accompanies these verses well:
'O God, whose grace and mercy flow like an endless river from your great being, help me now to place myself in the path of your rushing love and limitless compassion, that I may find my spirit renewed.'
Despite all we hear about dreaming and leading... setting goals and going after them... how to be a better leader/spouse/parent... sometimes it's all we can do to 'place ourselves in the path of your rushing love'... to ask for your help to keep us from drifting toward evil. It's all we can do to allow our minds to move toward being more Spirit controlled.
Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) 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.
That phrase 'letting your sinful nature control your mind' sounds so terribly sinister it's easy to overlook as something I would never allow to happen. But for me--maybe for most of us-- it's not as though I face an ambush or hostile takeover of my mental capacities. It's a thousand tiny moments of me turning ever-so-slightly away from the direction of the Spirit. This is the 'drift toward evil'. Before I know it, I've slipped down an unfortunately familiar slope of thought patterns that DO lead to death. Death of peace... joy... healthy relationships... all the good fruits.
This prayer from A Guide to Prayer for All God's People accompanies these verses well:
'O God, whose grace and mercy flow like an endless river from your great being, help me now to place myself in the path of your rushing love and limitless compassion, that I may find my spirit renewed.'
Despite all we hear about dreaming and leading... setting goals and going after them... how to be a better leader/spouse/parent... sometimes it's all we can do to 'place ourselves in the path of your rushing love'... to ask for your help to keep us from drifting toward evil. It's all we can do to allow our minds to move toward being more Spirit controlled.
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