Romans 8:5-8 – “For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.“

Today, the Holy Spirit challenged me regarding the need to feed on the Nature and Word of God!   Romans 8 begins with the amazing declaration of complete salvation and a guiltless conscience for all saved.   There are many nuisances, including if we do have condemnation lording it over us, maybe we need to reexamine our relationship with Jesus.

Being “in” Christ is more than praying a little sinner’s prayer, walking the aisles, admitting we have sinned, or joining the church.   It is total surrender.   It is being born again and made completely new on the inside.  It is dying to the flesh and self.     It is believing In The Heart that Jesus is the Christ.    We know that historically, intellectually, and theoretically, but when it gets in our hearts and transforms us into a new person on the inside, we are changed.

If we cling to the world, allowing our emotions, selfish desires, and the flesh to motivate and dominate us, we need to reexamine our relationship.   That is what makes Romans 8:5-8 so powerful for the believer.  Until we totally surrender everything to Jesus, we will battle the desires of the flesh and succumb to its desires and demands.

God gives us grace at salvation to overcome the flesh, but we have to pursue righteousness.

Romans 12:1—2 — “Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, and sisters, BY the mercies of God, TO PRESENT your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. DO NOT be conformed to this present world, BUT BE. transformed BY the renewing of your mind, SO THAT you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”

Grace comes at the new birth to live holy.  But living holy demands filling the heart and mind with God, His Word, and Spirit.   A glass cannot be filled with air and water simultaneously.   I said, filled!

If we cater to the flesh and allow fleshly desires and emotions to shape our outlook, we will never overcome but will continually deal with the same failures over and over.   We have to change our outlook by filling our hearts and minds with His Word, which produces His character in us.   We seek to be continuously filled with the infilling of the Holy Spirit.   We fill our minds with the things that produce life and that flow to our hearts, which is demonstrated in our actions and characterized by our words.

If we are to be manifestations of Him and overcomers, we must not allow the flesh to overcome us.   We bring every thought and desire captive and make them bow and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. We do not have to live dominated by the flesh!  It is a choice that demands diligence and constant focus on God, His Word, and His Spirit.

Today is a day of Victory because it is the Day the Lord has made, and we are “in” Him, and He is “in” us; therefore, His Victory is our Victory, and He is totally victorious!

I pray that you will become fully absorbed in the Spirit and Word of God and live with a Guiltless Conscience!