I wonder if anyone reading this ever senses kind of a random dark cloud of heaviness that seems to hang overhead? Often it comes out of nowhere and often during the dark of night. I do that fairly fre- quently. And it makes me ask myself and the Lord “what is this I’m feeling?”
The answer: fear, anxiousness, insecurity – just to name a few.
What would it be like to finally and fully break free from these worrisome feelings? I read a short devotional book reminded me of what Paul says in Romans 8:6 “The mind
-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.” After a time of sleep-stealing worries, try reading this verse slowly emphasizing the words “life and peace” as if breathing a huge sigh of relief with each pronunciation.
The devotional also reminded me it is human nature to be self-centered. In other words, when I’m not deliberate about thinking according to the Spirit I will automatically resort to the flesh. And when I think according to the flesh, I am often anxious, fearful, un- nerved, insecure, lonely, depressed…
I think we will always battle the flesh this side of heaven. Quite honestly, sin comes
more natural to me than Spiritual living. Therefore, I do have to be intentional with rec- ognizing and digging up these feelings by the root and sorting through them with prayer, meditation, and the truth of God’s word. And even when I feel convicted for these feel- ings, I can know His purpose for the conviction is life and peace! God means to edify
me through facing whatever I’m bogged down with in the mirror of His Word. Christ doesn’t want me (or you) to be a slave to anxiety, insecurity, fear, depression, or any other work of the flesh.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1.
What a weight lifter it is to know the Spirit of God living in me
(and you) brings life and PEACE! Hallelujah, praise God!