“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8
What people do not realize is that, because of our fallen nature, our thoughts, desires, words, and actions are tainted by sin’s corruption; we are spiritually dead and unable to truly love God, trust in Him, or honor Him with our lives. It is only by the Spirit of God working through the Word of God that we are reborn from above, trust in Christ for forgiveness, and have our minds renewed so that we might begin to love God, trust in Him, and honor Him with our lives.
O God, grant that we follow the leading and guiding of Your Holy Spirit through the Word so that we might trust in You for mercy and forgiveness and then love and honor Your holy name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
Are you ready to pray this prayer — to ask God, who knows and sees all, to search and test your heart and reveal any wicked way in you? Are you ready for Him to lead you in the way everlasting by moving you to repent of your sins and look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness? Are you ready to seek the guidance and direction of God’s Word in your life?
Lead me, O God, to see and repent of my sins and trust in Christ’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death for pardon and forgiveness. “Lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6
Those who live according to the inclinations and desires of their corrupt human natures set their minds on things that only lead to eternal death and damnation. But those who live in accord with the leading and instruction of the Holy Spirit will desire the things of the Spirit. They continue in the Word of God, are kept in the true and saving faith, and receive in Christ Jesus forgiveness for all their sins and the everlasting joys of heaven.
Grant that we walk according to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit and continue in Your Word, O Lord. Amen.
[Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4
Though the law of God is good, it could not save us because we are, since Adam’s fall, sinful and unable to fulfill the law’s demands. But Christ Jesus, God’s own dear Son, fulfilled it for us and then suffered the condemnation of God’s law in our stead so that we who walk by the Spirit of God and trust in Christ Jesus might be counted righteous and saved.
O gracious and merciful God, thank You for the gift of Your Son and His sacrifice for my sins that I might, by Your Spirit, hear Your Word and trust in Christ Jesus as my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15
The people of this world have their portion in this life and then face God’s judgment. Those who trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross have an inheritance in heaven. With David, they have the confidence of being raised up without sin and seeing the LORD God face-to-face, of being satisfied in the resurrection when they awake in the likeness of Jesus!
Forgive my sins and failings, O Lord, and grant that I be more and more like You in this life, and raise me up on the last day in Your image and likeness. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
