Short and Sweet, Pure and Simple…Whatever you want to call it, today’s verse is straight to the heart and to the point.

Today’s Truth: Romans 12 :18

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

• Your part is always possible
• Peace is sometimes not a possible reality because it takes two.
• You can not control the other half of the equation
• But, you can do the part that depends on you.

Note that it says everyone…not just those you want to live at peace with. This means your difficult people, those you don’t like, and even those who have hurt you. In order to do this we must go back to the beginning of Romans 12, where the foundation for all this life changing stuff was set….

• Offer Your Self as a Living Sacrifice
• Do not Form Your Life around this World.
• Be Transformed, Changed, by your mind wrapping around the Truth

Today’s Prayer: Ok Lord, I need you help. Remind me to daily surrender, to be aware that I have a side in all things. Keep me focused on living at peace and show me what that looks like in each situation.

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Habits. You’ve heard of habits, right? Have you ever stopped to think that most of your response to life is based on a habit? We have habits of thought that form our belief system, and habits of choices that play into our life outcome. From the smallest thing, to the largest thing, habits can either be a good thing, or literally wreak havoc in our lives.

Many of us have learned to respond to life according to our flesh. This is normal in the world and culture we live in. Once we have lived this way for many years, this lifestyle becomes ingrained just like any other habit. Like a body clock that wakes us naturally at a certain time, our habits kick in and naturally lead us down their path. For many of us, it’s time to look at our habitual way of living to make sure that we are not just habitually living in the human flesh side of us, when we can learn to live in the Spirit’s power and life within us.

Today’s Truth:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air…All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” Ephesians 2:1-4

Scripture confirms that everyone of have developed as people in the developing solution of the World that we live in. This world is led by the ruler of the kingdom of the air, satan himself. Every one of us have lived learning to gratify our self and our own desires. But…then Christ…..read 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 Spriit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled byt he Spirit is life and peace. You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. Therefore, we have an obligation, but it’s not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live  according to the sinful nature you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live.” Romans 8:5-6,9,12

Here we see that when we became alive in Christ, born again, with his Spirit deposited in us…we are new. We no longer have an obligation to those old habits of gratifying our self, making our self first, or demanding self’s way.

If we continue to live in the sinful nature…as outlined in all the previous posts on Living Down…we will die a slow death spiritually. If we want to be alive in the Spirit, we must pay attention and PUT TO DEATH the misdeeds of the flesh that we live in by habit. This death happens one choice at a time and is not a race to perfection. It is however a daily reckoning of ourselves dead to SELF and FLESH, and ALIVE to God.

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for opening my eyes to your WORD. I can see clearly how my life’s hurts have shaped some of my habits of self preservation, or my habits of dealing with things and people. But, you Lord have not left me to live in my old habits, hurts, or patterns. In Christ you have provided a better way. I can Live Up! in your Spirit. Teach me how Jesus, change me.

Thank you Lord that my obligation is not to my ways of the flesh nature in me. My obligation is to Live Up! in your Spirit rather than Living Down in my SELF.

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There are many aspects of living in the flesh, that I do not relate to. For instance, witchcraft is not something I personally struggle with. However, the ones that I do understand and that do hit a nerve, are the ones that I need to remember so that I live wisely in my walk with Christ. Take for instance the following from Galatians 5 ( The Amplified)

• Divisions ( dissensions and separation of people)

How do divisions happen? They usually happen when people disagree or hurt each other. Most of this comes from pride or from jealousy, or from putting SELF feelings as the utmost importance in relationships. Wanting to have our “rights” will cause us to be divided against others because people do not always agree on things. What if you were not always “right” even though it seems to you that you are? What if, a differing thought or opinion, when not going against Scriptural precepts, is just a difference of opinion rather than  a right verses wrong? Many divisions would be healed if we learned to recognize that when we are beginning to divide, we are entering the territory of living down in our flesh.

• Factions ( groups holding to their own particular opinions)

This is like a sister to division. Once people make a stand in their own pride and opinion, the next step is to set up groups that are exclusive to those who only believe the same way. This too is a working out of the flesh nature within us. It is easier to be segregated than it is to learn to walk in God’s love towards people we don’t understand or agree with.

• Envy (discontented desire for someone else’s possessions or advantages)

I will let Scripture explain this one…..it speaks loud and clear on the subject.

“But if you have bitter jealousy, envy and contention ( rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. This superficial wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual ( animal) even devilish( demoniacal). For wherever there is jealousy, envy and contention there will also be confusion( unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.” James 3:14-16 ( Amplified)

• Drunkenness

The Bible does not teach that a woman can not drink. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast, right? But, the Bible clearly teaches that we are not to be drunk with wine, but filled with the Holy Spirit. A woman who is walking in the Spirit needs to determine a few things…is drinking smart for her? Is she able to control her drinking so that she does not even come close to drunk? Does she have a plan…like how much she can safely drink or what drinks she can safely drink without getting drunk? If she is single, does drinking lead to sexual immorality? As an adult woman does drinking lead to worldly and carnal attitudes? And, finally does drinking in public settings possibly stumble others? (as they do not know that you are only having one drink.) For some, who have a history of alcohol abuse either personally or in their families, abstinence might be the best possible way to stay in the Spirit and not live out the addictions of the flesh. Alcohol is not the only type of addicition that needs to be looked at, food is also a powerful addiction and we can be drunk with food , when it is used to soothe or soul, make us happy, fill a void…etc…just like with alcohol. In both cases the question to ask is….is this leading me to walk more in the Spirit or does it lead me into temptations of the flesh?

Today’s Prayer

Father, help me to be aware of the areas of the flesh that drag me down. I desire to have a heart and attitude that is following after you. Teach me what works for me and what doesn’t. Help me to line my life up to your Truth.

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