The Need for Control
There are two sources of control, a focus of control, and two very different outcomes of it. In one verse God’s word gives us the truth about control.
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NLT
The two sources of control are (1) our sinful nature and (2) the Spirit of God. Our sinful nature is the opposite of the Spirit of God. This sinful nature is not only opposite but also opposed to God and stands in direct conflict with God and His good will for our lives. The sinful nature seeks to control our minds with a deadly outcome.
By contrast, the Spirit of God seeks to control our minds by leading us to a fullness of life that can be lived with peace. We live with the illusion that we are strong enough to control our own minds in our own strength. We can’t and we won’t. Here’s why.
We were made to be in a relationship with God. Our minds are created to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. This is where we experience life and peace. This only happens when we give our minds over to God and surrender control to the Holy Spirit.
Satan and sin came along and said we can self-determine our own future without God. We can, in effect, trust ourselves apart from God. When we give our minds over to this, we experience hurt, destruction, hate, harm, and death.
We like to be in control. Scripture itself talks about the value of self-control. The kind of self-control described comes from a direct relationship with God. We give our minds to the ways of God. We live in submission, asking the Holy Spirit of God to guide and inform our thinking with the nature of God.
As we do, there is an increased sense of peace that fills our lives regardless of circumstances. There is a sense of living a life that has value and purpose. There is the confidence of life with God forever, because of Jesus Christ.
May we let the Spirit of God have control of our minds.
– Ed McDowell, CEO of Warm Beach Camp Ministries