“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.” (Romans 8:5 NLT)
As we’ve discussed in previous articles, the issue isn’t simply salvation from sin, it’s deliverance from death. The issue at stake in whether we choose to follow Jesus is life and death. Paul’s discussion in Romans 7 clearly positions our carnal self in juxtaposition to our born-again redeemed self. Paul writes in Romans 7:14: “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.”
This is the plight of every unregenerate sinner, of course, but also, unfortunately, plagues many believers who struggle with addictive behaviors even after coming to Christ. That’s why a focus on prayer, near constant conversation with the Lord is so critical. Our minds can only focus on one thing at a time, so, we need to choose carefully what that focus will be.
Yes, of course, we must focus on our work, school, family, and so forth, but my sense is the Lord can be a part of even those things. To believe we must think devoid of any consideration of the Lord’s presence and power is to misunderstand the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. He is with us whatever we’re doing and can easily be summoned when an evil or wrong thought invades our mind. This issue isn’t CAN we, it’s WILL we?
That’s why Paul was so quick to add in the early verses of chapter 8: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Couple that with Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where he writes: “Never stop praying” and you have the perfect formula for overcoming sin in our life and living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit in every detail of our lives.
Do we always succeed? No, especially not at first, but the longer we prioritize prayer and keep our focus on the Lord regardless of whatever else we’re doing, the easier it becomes. In an article I shared a few weeks ago we looked at what is possible and concluded that virtually everything is impossible for us without the Lord’s intervention. Prayer is simply an avenue of opportunity for us to face the impossibility of our life in Christ without the Spirit’s vital ministry working in and through us.
Believing prayer isn’t making demands of God to get what we want, it’s begging God to give us the will to want what He wants even when it’s hard. Can you begin to imagine anything more difficult than being beaten nearly to death, then tortured, tormented, and hung on a Cross? That’s what Jesus KNEW He was facing as He prayed in the Garden and KNEW He didn’t want to face, but He also KNEW there was no other way for us to find our way back to God.
Regardless of the decisions we face, we can know they’ll never be that severe. We can also know the Father to whom Jesus prayed, is the same Father who hears, equips, and answers our prayers, that’s never in question. What IS in question is this: Do we believe in prayer so completely that we’re willing to entrust EVERY decision, whatever the implication for ourselves, to the ultimate will of the Father just as Jesus did? That kind of belief can only be empowered and enabled by our dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
When we measure our desires by the desires of God, then we’ll know what we really believe about prayer.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 