“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). God set laws in place that govern our lives and cannot be changed. Without Christ we live under the curse of the fall of man. Adam sinned and this brought spiritual death to us all (1 Cor 15:22). We are spirit beings and we live in bodies and have souls, our minds, wills and emotions (1 Thess 5:23). When we accept Christ as our savior the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to bring new life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:11) and our spirits are made new, are born again (John 3:1-7). Our bodies and souls are not born again but have to be renewed and disciplined (1 Cor 9:27; Rom 12:2).

But the kicker hear is that we have to make the decision to walk in the Spirit, be led by the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to change us (Rom 8:14). Paul describes the battle between his flesh (body and soul) and his spirit in the 7th chapter of Romans; his spirit wanting to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and his flesh rebelling. However, he goes on to say that in Christ we have the victory (Rom 8:1-2). It’s a decision, we can choose to be carnally minded and operate in the soulish realm or we can choose to be spiritually minded, to allow our spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, to govern our lives and decisions (Rom 8:6).

Often our first reaction to a situation is to wrestle in our minds and react, bringing turmoil. But look at verse 6 of Romans Chapter 8: “To be spiritually minded is life and peace”. O Lord, help us to learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit speaks to our spirits. How do we know it is the Holy Spirit speaking? Well that guidance, that inner voice (1 kings 19:12) or sense of conviction (Rom 9:1), will be full of peace (James 3:17). We need to read our bibles, pray and let the Holy Spirit rule our spirits and lives, the results are awesome.

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“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13; KJV).

This is one of those special verses for me. The Greek word for temptation has a wider meaning than just temptation to sin; it can mean trial and adversity. So, what this verse means is that the trials you face are no different than from what everyone faces, so don’t feel you have been picked out for unique treatment. Be encouraged as the apostle Paul teaches us in this verse that God will not allow the trial to overwhelm you and he will provide the way out; praise God.

So how will God help? Well first of all he exhorts us to cast our cares on him as he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Be patient (Heb 6:12), get into the word and prayer so you can hear from him. One of the main ways he will show us the answer to our tests and trials is in his word. Find the direction for your situation in the Bible. For example, if you need healing, meditate, confess and build up your faith with scriptures such as: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by E-sai-as the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matt 8:17) and “by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Focus on God’s promises, speak them and the answers will come. We serve a faithful God who never changes (Heb 13:8).

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Mic 6:8; KJV) When I see phrases like: “He has shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee”, in the Bible, I figure God is trying to get something significant across to me. So, what does the Lord require from us in this verse from the prophet Micah? To do justly is to act according to God’s divine laws and commandments.

Mercy is often translated as loving kindness and also includes the sense of faithfulness, tenderness and unfailing love. Kindness is really goodness in action; practical goodness. God said to Israel that “I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Matt 12:7) and a cardinal command is to love: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

In God’s word we are commanded to: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). To make ourselves low or humble seems very alien to the world’s behavior but someone once told me to look at what the world does and do the opposite.

“With the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Matt 7:2). Let’s be quick to obey, the blessings are beyond measure.

“Ye doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil 3:8; KJV). Paul concluded that everything in his previous experience paled, seamed insignificant, in comparison to the wonder and glory of knowing Christ.

All of his previous ambitions and goals were laid aside willingly to focus on his Savior. Before he became a Christian, the apostle Paul was a Jewish Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel the famous Jewish leader and teacher (Acts 22:3). Paul even persecuted the early Christian church before he came to know Jesus as savior and Lord (Acts 22:4). Notice Paul was quite graphic in looking back at his old life referring to it as dung.

Paul’s life was made new and turned completely right side up by knowing Jesus and he pressed in to know him more each day (Phil 3:12). Paul’s heart cry was to know Jesus: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10).

Although we have temporal things to take care of each day our focus should also be to know Christ; this takes work. We need to spend time in his presence, in his word and prayer. The rewards are amazing. As we press in to him, we will become like him (2 Cor 3:18).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

I was studying the Holy Spirit and was reminded that he is called the comforter (John 14:26; Greek parakletos), helper, assistant, guide, revealer of the word of God, one who pulls alongside to help, strengthen and support. He gives us a prayer language (Acts 2:4; tongues) so he can help us pray when we don’t know how to pray for a situation (Rom 8:26-27). Tongues also edify and build up our faith (1 Cor 14:4; Jude 20).

The Holy Spirit guides us and directs (Acts 16:6-7) us and reveals God’s word to us: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26; KJV).

He is the power of God that changes us ever closer to God’s image (2 Cor 3:17-18) and brings life to our mortal bodies: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom 8:11). The Holy Spirit enables us to be the witnesses God desires (Acts 1:8) and enables us to do even greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12). He spreads God’s love abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). Wow, do we ever need the fullness of God’s Spirit in our lives; and we only have to ask God to fill us with the Spirit and he will (Luke 11:13).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.