Life and Peace
"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."
Romans 8:5–6
A.W. Tozer once said:
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
What we continually think about God shapes who we become. Why?
Because our view of God eventually shows up in our character.
There’s something powerful about what we allow to dwell in our minds—what we daydream about, contemplate, and fixate on. Paul makes it clear: those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
For many, it's easy to assume that believing in Jesus is effortless. But I’d argue that following Jesus is a constant battle—a daily war of the mind.
We often treat faith as a one-time decision, when in reality, it feels more like a thousand small moments where we choose the desires of the Spirit over the pull of our own will. It's a continual return to what God wants.
Thinking rightly requires intentional discipline. N.T. Wright puts it this way in The Heart of Romans:
“What you learn, by regular and disciplined practice, to think about will show up in your outward behavior.”
That means who we are today is a direct result of what we’ve trained our minds to dwell on. That may be a hard truth if your thoughts have been far from the things of the Spirit—but it’s also incredibly hopeful. You can change the direction of who you’re becoming.
So can I encourage you, friend—begin turning your thoughts toward the things of the Spirit. Yes, it may feel exhausting at times, but remember the promise:
“…the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Blessings,
