For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Do you live according to the flesh? If so, that’s what you focus on.
Do you live according to God’s spirit? If so, that’s the lens you view life.
Literal night and day difference.
A few verses earlier, Paul reminds us Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, which is our flesh. We are free from that law of sin because Jesus condemned that sin to death.
We are free if we have invited the Spirit of God to dwell within us.
Through this, we have freedom from our flesh.
But how do you actually live?
Do you live within your flesh?
The Bible says that brings death. Living in the flesh.
Or do you seek the mind of Christ, which brings life and peace?
Not sure we as Christians ever purposely choose to live within the flesh.
But we do. All the time.
Reaching for more food when your stomach is satisfied.
Watching more television then need be.
Scrolling through your phone, neglecting other options.
Pouring out your bad mood onto unsuspecting family members.
Wanting your way and pouting if you fail to get it.
Choosing first the best of the meal before anyone else gets a chance.
Listening to thoughts that are not of God.
Succumbing to fear believed through lies planted in your mind.
Romans 8 reminds us of our choices: we set our mind on the flesh or the Spirit.
Death and fear or life and peace.
Setting your mind means to purpose.
To go a certain way.
Not sure it means little bumps, as long as you redirect your course back to God.
Finally, verse 9 gives us hope as Paul shares we dwell with the Spirit of God when we belong to him.
The Spirit of God is life. Full of life.
So every time your flesh cries out for itself, remember your are not going to live from within your flesh.
Your goal is no longer to please your flesh.
Instead, set your mind on the Spirit, dwelling within His peace and life.
I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion. Ephesians 1:18-22
How do you see valleys in your life?
How do you view circumstances you wish were different?
Strained relationships you wish were closer?
Undelivered dreams or plans you thought were from God?
What if you reread Ephesians 1, applying it to your situation?
God has great plans for us.
Often we cannot see what they are, but Ephesians reminds us God has called us to a great hope.
To the riches of His inheritance to us.
And to dwell within His great power, which raised Jesus back to life.
What if you looked at the broken things in your life in light of God’s power?
Viewing them instead with eyes of hope, promise, and life?
Within our flesh, things can look pretty grim.
And sometimes they continue in that way, but God is always sovereign over all.
But – if you looked instead with heavenly eyes, circumstances and people would look different.
Human reasoning or God’s miraculous power?
Begin to live from the power God has for us.
See relationships healed with God’s strength.
Smile at the future knowing God is in complete control.
Look past your current circumstances, looking forward instead to what God has for you.
Walk with your head high as you contemplate God’s victory instead of casting your eyes downward in defeat.
Yes, God is over everything with complete control.
Yes, we don’t know what He plans with every little thing.
But you can rest assured He wants good things for us, His children.
Good things in our flesh may not always match up with the good He has for us.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because God is with us always.
He goes before us, behind us, and next to us, surrounding us with His peace, strength, and love.
Cast your vision on God’s hope, inheritance, and power.
As His voice becomes louder within, you’ll see life brighter and brighter, royally disappointing the devil along the way.
So instead of shrinking with fear, rejection, and lies, choose instead to shine with God’s hope and infinite power living inside of you.
As I’ve prayed during these last dozen years, I’ve purposely begged God to fling WIDE the doors He has chosen for me and to SLAM shut the doors not in His plan.
When you are walking through darkness during a season of complete uncertainty, you need His light to guide you.
You rely on His guidance.
I like the analogy of open and shut doors; although, I added an extra measure of assurance.
I wanted to easily walk through to His plan or get slammed in the face with a resounding NO.
Might as well be crystal clear, am I right?
I’ve had many doors open with ease: graduate degrees, student teaching, first job, and marrying the right man just to name a few.
I’ve also had plenty of slammed doors, mostly in the area of dating the wrong men before I married my husband. Giggle.
Guess what?
Those slammed doors are a whole lot of fun.
It’s a joy to know which man God did NOT have hand picked for me.
Back in the day, one date never showed up after weeks of talking on the phone.
He would have been my first date post divorce.
It was the weirdest thing, but God knew best.
I won’t lie – I was bitterly disappointed for a few hours.
My pride was wounded.
But I turned my focus to God and realized it was simply a closed door.
And each closed door moves you closer to a door flung wide open!
Another story? Well, a different date ended in disaster after he told me he had been ‘quite bored’.
I was sitting at home when I got that text.
I began to laugh.
This man had spent the previous two weeks proclaiming his devotion and wondering ‘where I had been his whole life’.
He was also a Christian, but every time he called, I almost broke out into a sweat, because he was easily offended.
Not a good sign!
This guy was the one missing out on me.
It was his loss, certainly not mine.
When the ground shakes from a slammed door, get on your knees and thank God for having your back.
He knows what is best for you.
Because God flung wide the door with my beloved almost a decade ago, I am even more grateful for the closed doors.
I mean, God saved me from a lifetime of misery with the wrong man.
How can a girl not get on her knees thanking God for that?
When God answers you, it may be in a way you absolutely never expected.
Trust Him.
You pray for open and shut doors and wisdom for a lunch date.
The door slams shut.
Why? Because the date never shows up.
Recognize God’s shouts after you’ve ignored His whispers.
Yes, God will communicate to you, but we must listen.
And after listening, we must trust that yes, God still knows what He’s doing even after we hate His answer.
Pray for those doors.
Ask your friends and family to pray for you in this way.
I know, you have control over your reactions, but not over the actions or responses of others.
You have no control how other people will react or sometimes not even care.
You also have no control over circumstances thrown your way.
Sickness, job loss, inflation, an inconsiderate spouse, ungrateful children, the threat of war.
You can only control your reaction.
What does your flesh immediately do when faced with any of that ugliness?
Become wrapped in self-pity as unloving or fear try to walk back into your mind?
Seems justified, yes, but that choice brings darkness.
Walks you away from God and His love for you.
What if instead, you began to thank God for walking with you, for providing you a continued walk with His peace?
And what if you continued to thank God for your circumstances and His provision for all things we pray?
You’d be slapping the devil in the face for sure.
I don’t know what you think, but to me, when we step out in faith while slammed by life outside our control, there’s a bigger hallelujah sung behind us.
Bigger than when we are simply obeying God through flowery, sun-shiney days.
When we choose to ignore our pity party, celebrating God’s goodness instead, the sting sent the devil’s way is a little more obvious to him.
A little more painful. A wee bit more disappointing.
The devil knows you, knows your weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Why give him a good time instead of you?
Give him a bad time. An absolutely horrid time.
Keep showing him Who is boss over you. And it’s not him.
While life is often completely unfair, remember God is always kind and just to you.
He’s always with you no matter your attitude. And that’s not fair to God.
So resolve to give the devil a hard time by ignoring your fleshly cries, filling yourself up with God instead.
In return your days and nights will be even better.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Ever wonder why God takes it?
Our smelly stuff or sin, whatever you want to call it?
I bring it up, because it’s not His.
None of our smelly sin is His.
Never was, never will be.
Why does He choose to take it?
He is holy.
Pure.
Undefiled.
Author of all things.
Literally the Most High.
And yet He wants us.
Not only us, but our stuff.
Our messy lives.
Our problems.
Our very messed up selves.
He wants our unloving attitudes towards children who selfishly taunt us.
He wants our broken hearts, which yearn for uncomplicated stories.
He wants our problems, dripping with unforgiveness.
He wants all of us.
God, who is pure and void of any sin, wants us.
Unbelievable.
If you remember the Old Testament, there was attonment for sin.
God had rules.
But with Jesus, the transaction was paid.
And with that, God continues our relationship with Him.
Because He loves us.
He created us for love.
For relationship with Him.
I find it incredible that God, who is completely pure and undefiled, wants a relationship with us.
We, who bring complicated and messy problems to Him, are wanted by God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
How do you have faith when God allows things you wish He wouldn’t?
What then?
God is sovereign over all.
Yes, our world is broken.
But nothing happens in this life without first filtering through God’s hands.
God’s hands hold our future before it is ever brought to us.
His sovereign knowledge over all things perfectly decides things He allows and does not allow.
There’s comfort in that.
Comfort in knowing all things have first been held in His hands.
Isaiah 55: 8-9 reminds us “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Because God knows the beginning from the end, His ways and thoughts include the big picture.
Way more than little ole us.
He thinks beyond our momentary crisis.
He wants to shape our long term character.
His sight is beyond our day’s irritation or foul mood.
His purposes are to mold us into the person He sees us as.
The way He already sees us.
God has great plans for us.
But will we cooperate?
All comes back to trust.
What if God wants to use your trials to bless others?
To quicken the healing of their wounds?
In order to do that you must walk through, successfully to the other side of the valley.
But I don’t want the valley.
I didn’t ask for the valley.
My friend’s valley’s never look as deep as mine.
It’s not fair.
I know.
More importantly, God knows.
He sees it all.
Remember, He knows the beginning from the end.
And that includes yours.
He saw you years before you were born and He knows when you’ll join Him in heaven.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12
How high is your belief?
Belief in God.
Belief in His goodness.
Belief in His faithfulness.
Belief in your God-given gifts.
How much do you believe?
How deep?
I can say things until I’m blue in the face.
Others can share God’s truth over and over.
But unless you take His words into your heart, they mean nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
We all have our own choices.
To believe God or not.
To believe Him when things are rolling along nicely.
But to also believe Him when you’re plodding along in a deep dark forest.
How deep is your belief?
Even when you cannot feel His hand, do you know He’s still there?
Even when you’re disappointed yet again, do you look instead to His faithfulness?
It’s normal to flip a bit.
To flip on belief when a doubt enters your brain.
A thought pops into your head, planting a doubt, and you respond like you almost agree.
Instead, when little doubts land on your arm, slap them like a mosquito, killing them on the spot.
Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Doubt that is.
Why?
Because doubt always leads to something else.
If you don’t immediately slap that doubt away, it stays in the corner of your mind, coming to the surface every so often.
Something else a few minutes or hours later will try to confirm that doubt.
Now you’ve got a bigger problem.
That “confirmed” doubt has doubled.
Folks, it only gets worse from there.
Doubts are believed when belief in ourselves overtakes our belief in God.
When we determine it’s up to us to be happy.
It’s up to us to solve our moments.
Our belief in God is the cornerstone of everything.
If we don’t believe He is enough, we search.
If we don’t believe He is faithful, we doubt.
If we don’t believe He is here, we panic.
Keep your belief deep, so your roots are well watered when the ground above is parched.
When life is cracked and dry, you will still thrive because your roots are well-watered.
Choose to deeply believe, because life is very real.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
Faith.
What exactly is faith?
Believing.
Faith in God is believing in Him.
Believing He will do what He says.
That He knows best.
Believing He has our back.
That He is leading us down paths of goodness.
Abraham had faith.
Faith when God told him to sacrifice His only son whom he had waited his entire life for.
The son that held the promise of generations to follow.
Yet when God asked Abraham to sacrifice this only son, there was no hesitation.
Because Abraham had faith.
Absolute faith.
Do you?
Jesus had faith in God as well.
When the time came, Jesus asked that the cup would be removed.
But He ended his prayer with, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.”
Faith in God’s higher ways.
Jesus had perfect faith in His Father’s plan.
Explicit trust.
Do you?
It all boils down to Whom you believe in.
With who or what you place your faith.
We all have faith in something or someone.
Even the absence of faith is faith that nothing is there.
Will you place your faith in yourself?
You will fail and so will the rest of the world.
No one is perfect except God.
Or will you place your faith in the One who created all things?
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9
You want proof God exists?
You want proof He is here?
Open your eyes.
Look around.
Really look.
Before God,
Your life was a mess.
Before His salvation,
Your life was a wreck.
Your life after God has had many disasters.
But He is there every single time.
Carrying you through.
Not unscathed, but whole.
Instead of looking at your life and focusing on the disappointments, be amazed at how He has been there.
And still is.
Instead of asking God for proof of His very existence, look at His proof staring you in the face.
Your spouse.
Your children.
Your job you didn’t know you’d need.
Your safety net of family and friends.
Physical provision just when you needed it.
Emotional support from a friend when it mattered most.
Unexplained bursts of joy in the midst of trials.
A peace which passes all understanding keeping your heart secure, while life on the outside looks chaotic.
God smiles at us all the time.
Through others.
That’s the proof.
Me, I tend to focus on the “too bad’s”.
Too bad life isn’t this way.
Or that.
And then I become unhappy.
Frankly, I have the distinct ability to wallow in the unhappy.
Gee, no wonder I do when I focus only on the “too bad’s”.
Look at life, instead, this way.
We live in a broken world.
But God has made all the difference in this life.
His provision has carried you through things you didn’t even know were wrong.
His love has filled you with peace time and time again.
So instead of focusing on the “too bad’s”, focus on the “it’s great that’s”.
Choose to focus on the good that most certainly outweighs the bad.
And see His hand that has been on your life, is on your life, and always will be on your life.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
Because I have trusted,
Because I have trusted my Shepherd, who has led me onto paths of righteousness,
And who has led me to peaceful places of plenty and rest,
Because I have wanted nothing else,
I can rest in the knowledge of His protection when I am suddenly surrounded by hills and death.
When I cannot see the next step, I will fear no evil.
Why?
Because my gentle all-knowing Shepherd is right by my side.
He never leaves my side.
Through the sunny skies and days of dark, He is always there, guiding my every step.
Your rod and staff, they comfort me.
He gently prods me to keep moving, even if I am frozen with fear.
If I am about to stumble off the path, He catches me and gently brings me back to His side.
Because He has proven Himself faithful over and over,
Because He has provided for my every need and I want nothing,
I can trust Him in the valley of the shadow of death.
The valley won’t last forever; however, when in the midst, it seems like it.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord.
You mean trust in my own strength, right?
No, trust in the Lord.
But I know what I want.
Need.
So does God.
In fact, He knows best.
He wants your best, sees your future, and will bring all things into fruition if you trust.
Trust in Him, not in yourself.
With all of your heart.
All of me?
Even that corner that wants to do things my own way?
Yep.
Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart.
And lean not on your own understanding.
I cannot trust my own understanding of my very own life?
But I know me better than God.
You do?
God created the mind with which you think.
He created your heart that beats, producing life.
He understands you more than you understand yourself.
So lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him.
All my ways?
Even when I want to go my own way, because I feel it’s best?
When I want to go down pity’s path?
When I want to follow my sour mood to worry’s house?
Yes. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him.
And He will direct your paths.
Well, I do want Him to direct my paths.
When God directs my paths, He brings His perfect peace.
When I follow my own path, not trusting in Him, worry and dread are my companions.
But when I trust in the Lord with my whole heart, and trust not in my own way, God will walk with me and peace will be my companion.
Remind yourself how faithful God has always been to you.
And begin again, trusting Him every step of the way.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
God wants me to be at peace and rest about everything?
Yes, because He commands us to not be anxious about anything.
Even my children?
Yes. Even my marriage?
Yes. Even the uncertain future with our broken world?
Especially, yes.
When God asks us to not be anxious about anything, He knows we are unable to do that in our own strength.
He provides the road map to peace.
With absolutely every piece of your busy life, pray about it.
Seek God’s face about each aspect of your life.
Thank Him for all He has done and will do for you.
When you pray and seek His will with a thankful heart, His peace will wash over you.
His peace, which passes ALL understanding, will arrive.
Not only will His peace arrive, but it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
He will guard your heart against fear.
He will guard your mind against lies.
When you fully submit your requests to God with a thankful heart, He will blanket your heart and soul with a peace which passes all understanding.
When you choose to give ALL of your worries to God, thanking Him for all He is, His peace will take over.
His perfect peace, which we cannot possibly understand.
When you give up control,
When you submit your will to His,
When you thank Him from the top of your head to the tip of your toes for all He has graciously given to you,
He will come, bringing His perfect peace.
He will come.
He wants to come.
He cannot wait to give you His peace.
Keep submitting and thanking, following His will for your life.
Every single day.
You will become radiant with His peace and what a witness that will be of Himself.
The world needs peace.
Only the peace of God will last and what if you, reflecting His perfect peace, could literally show the world a glimpse of God’s saving grace?
He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Psalm 113:9
As mothers, we wear our emotions on our sleeve.
We break our backs for our children, desperately crying out to God for their redemption.
Even if that’s not you and instead you have nieces or nephews or care deeply for other children, we all deeply love.
Sometimes, as soldiers, we become solitary, holding all the burdens in our tired hands.God wants to walk alongside you, helping you every step of the way.You can trust Him completely.
A gentle reminder from God for you this day:
I love your children even more than you can possibly imagine.
They are mine.
I see them.
I know them.
I know their deepest sorrows and greatest joys.
I recognize their desires in life and I am present with them always.
Letting go of them is not easy, but as you do, remember I am God and I am their Father.
I hold them in the palm of My hand.
I will never leave them or forsake them.
When you lift them up before Me in prayer, rejoice that I am already working.
Rest, knowing I love them even more than you are able.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
I lifted my tear stained eyes and looked upon my sweet Lord’s face.
Compassion dripped from His eyes as He scooped me into His arms.
My child, I love you.
I cover you this day with My peace.
May you lay every worry at My feet and allow Me to take it for you.
May you be filled with joy, knowing My sovereign power is flowing through your precious soul.
May you share this love with others, so all of My children can live with abundant life.
I know the beginning from the end.
I will order your steps and you will not falter if you trust Me to lead you.
You may not always get your way, but your heart will remain in peace when you trust Me.
I have never failed you and I will not start now.
I long to be your constant companion.
There are so many amazing and profound things I want to share with you.
But you have to come to Me.
I am here, always ready and waiting for you.
I will never leave, because I love you with everything I have.
I am faithful to you right up through the very end of your story.
Why do we entertain thoughts of doubt?
Because we don’t really believe God holds our life in His hands.
That He has our back.
Little moments of life stir up whispers of fear.
We listen to the whisper.
We think about the whisper.
Doubt creeps back in through our open door.
When we listen to the whispers, we unknowingly fling the door wide open, inviting doubt and fear to join us.
Sigh.
Make a list of your fears.
Now answer each one with God’s matchless truth, breaking the power of each fear.
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The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
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The next time doubt whispers in your ear, whip out the list and speak the written truth.
Immediately switch doubt into certainty.
Then go on your merry way thinking about something entirely different.
We mustn’t doubt God.
He’s been faithful to me in countless ways and He has been and will continue to be faithful to you.
Amy Linnea 
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