“Set Your Mind On What The Spirit Desires!”

“Set Your Mind On What The Spirit Desires!”
An artist wanted to paint a picture of Christ. He went looking for somebody whose personality reflected Christ-like inner beauty to pose for the painting. He found one. The end product was the admiration of whoever saw the painting. Some years later the artist felt that he could do justice by painting a picture of Satan. He went looking for somebody whose personality reflected Satan-like inner ugliness to pose for him. He found one. While painting he got into conversation with the model. To his shock and surprise it turned out to be the same person who few years ago posed as the model for the Christ painting.
The artist was at a loss for the sudden change from a Christ model to a Satan model.
The sudden change depends on what as an individual you set your mind on. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” A sinful mind is death, it is hostile to God and does submit to God’s law and cannot please God.
The mind that is controlled by the Spirit is life. We are controlled by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in us. “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to God. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness…” (Rom.8:5-11).
The Spirit of God lives in every believer. The Spirit of God in your life manifests outwardly through deeds and lifestyle of righteousness. However, the Spirit of God in you may take up permanent residence only if you set your mind on what the Spirit desires.
King David was aware of this, that the Holy Spirit has permanent residence in you depending on what you set your mind on. He knew also that repentance alone keeps the Spirit from living. When he sinned he prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew my spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps.51:10-11).
My friend, the Spirit controls you depending on what your mind desires. Let your mind be desirous of the things of God so that you do not pose as a model for a Christ painting and soon also be a model for a Satan painting.
Prayer: Holy Spirit enable me to hold fast on setting my mind on what the Spirit desires and not on what my nature desires. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!