Dominated

 Romans 8: 1-11v 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”

There is no condemnation or disapproval for those who belong to Christ Jesus The power of the Life-giving Spirit has freed you from sin. The law of Moses was unable to free us. God sent His Son in a body. In that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

Living life now retired from the slavery of working every day. No longer having children living at home whose daily demands once dominated our lives my husband and I are freer than we have ever been from outside distractions, to decide how we want to live the remainder of our days on this earth. Living through the pandemic when our days were dominated by ever changing rules of restricted travelling, restricted gatherings, and fear for the health of our loved ones, especially those most vulnerable, the young and the old, I made the choice to learn more about God and living a Christian life. Reading the bible daily and writing thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit. So, three years later I ask myself how am I doing? Do I think more about things that please the Spirit or am I still dominated by my sinful nature?

Even with the Holy Spirit within me, the devil still sits on my shoulder. I have found a new understanding in the bible teachings from the Old Testament, a clarity of vision as the Spirit opens my eyes to the messages in stories, I am familiar with and those that I am not. A determination to keep writing daily. And a peace when I start my day reading God’s word and finish with prayer. Of course I still have my insecurities times when I think more about the things I haven’t done in my day, like clean my bathroom, eat healthier food, be more active, the list comes so easily concerning my sinful nature. But as a new day dawns God promises us a new beginning so try today to be dominated by the Holy Spirit and not our sinful nature.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending us your Son and the Holy Spirit to guide our days to be dominated by loving you and each other rather than our sinful nature. Amen