I find it easy to ask God to transform my mind when I don't have any mind challenges going on. But when I am struggling with bringing my thoughts into alignment with His thoughts it takes conscious effort to ask Him to transform my mind. Sometimes, I just want to think those thoughts of how someone is aggravating me or whatever my current struggle is.
I have a friend who is good to challenge me with stories from her own experience that speak to my issue at hand. She will often tell me how at work she noticed someone who just does not seem to be carrying their load, then she puts into practice what she has learned--she consciously chooses to let their character defects be between them and God and she lays it down. That is really a good word. I cannot fix another person, I can only with God's help fix me. I think this is what living according to what the Spirit desires means.
What does the Spirit desire? Galatians 5:22--23 gives us the answer to that. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." When all of my thoughts are measured by this standard, when all my actions are measured by the same, when I finally am able to say, "Yes, everything I do measures up to this" then and only then will I know that I am living according to what the Spirit desires.
Until then, I will keep trying, with God's help. I think I will be trying in this endeavor until I finally reach heaven. But I think it will be a worthwhile journey. Transformation truly is one day at a time, moment by moment.
Comments