Rom 8:5 (NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their MINDS SET on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their MINDS SET on what the Spirit desires. Jesus, teach me that my body’s desires are diametrically opposed to the desires of the Holy Spirit. So, show me the miracle You did concerning what my body has been wanting and what You gave me concerning what the Holy Spirit wants for my future.

The first part of Romans 8:5 says: “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires.” Jesus, help me understand that, that nature is called the sinful nature; and, it IS in my body. Show me through Your Bible what my body actually wants because of that sinful nature.

Gal 5:19-21 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures); idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus, You empowered me through Your creation Word to offer my body as living sacrifice. That is really wonderful!

Jesus, help me understand that if the Holy Spirit hadn’t been speaking to my CONSCIENCE all during my adult life, I would have embraced all of these things in Galatians 5:19-21. John 16:7 (NIV) But I (Jesus) tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. You made sure I had God, the Holy Spirit’s continued help after You left. Show me that when I got saved, born again, and became a Christian, You turned my body into a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now lives IN me. Thank You Jesus!

1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is IN you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. Jesus, You, the Holy Spirit, and God’s creation Word are empowering me to honor God with my body.

John 16:8 (NIV) When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. Jesus, as I can see, my body is anamalistic; it wants extreme pleasure. It wants to be self-serving. It wants to get its needs met no matter who gets hurt in the process. It has sexual drives that it wants satisfied and doesn’t care who it takes to meet them. Show me that what I see in the drives of a wolf are the same drives my body has.

Mat 7:15 (NIV) Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Jesus, teach me that these are people who resisted the Holy Spirit’s convicting power when He was trying to make them feel guilty for the wrong, bad, and evil things they did. 1 Tim 4:2 (NIV) Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. Teach me that the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me through my conscience for years. He has been trying to keep me from becoming like these evil people.

Rom 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Jesus, show me that if this creation Word hadn’t done more than just tell ME what to do, I would be trying, through human efforts, human reasoning, and human abilities, to defeat an animalistic body that would keep making me a prisoner. Rom 7:23 (NIV) But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Jesus, teach me the second part of Romans 8:5 which says: “But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Show me what the Spirit wants or desires for me: Phil 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE--if anything is EXECELLENT or PRAISEWORTHY--think about such things. Show me that this is what I now have my mind set on. This Scripture is giving me the PERMISSION to get this thought life, the POWER to get this thought life, and the RESPONSIBILITY to get this thought life.

Ask, Read, Believe, And Get Results: Jesus, I ASK You to help me see that Philippians 4:8 is giving me permission to have this thought life flowing in me and through me to others. Help me READ it so I can experience its creation power flowing into me as I read it. Help me BELIEVE it created this powerful thought life in me. Help me start GETTING the RESULTS as I keep believing and quoting this verse. Show me that I just took advantage of this Scripture giving me permission, power, and responsibility. Teach me that responsibility is where I have to fight the battle. Like Peter, I will struggle with consistent faith in the permission and power.

Jesus, like Peter forgot You said: “Come,” I can forget that Philippians 4:8 said: Think about such things. Peter forgot that “come” gave him PERMISSION and POWER to come all the way to You. I can forget that each Scripture I am now basing my life on is still giving me permission and power to do what they created in me. I still have the PERMISSION and POWER from every one of these Scriptures. But, help me see that I still have the RESPONSIBILITY of keeping my eyes and my faith locked in on them.

Gal 5:24-25 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us KEEP in step with the Spirit. Jesus, teach me how I can live by the Spirit. Before I try to KEEP in step with the Spirit, help me see that I need to learn how to live by the Spirit. Since my body has been made a temple of the Holy Spirit, help me understand that He is providing me additional power for me to combine with the power of these creation Scriptures.

Rom 8:13 (NIV) For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if BY the Spirit YOU put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Jesus, show me that just like I believe that the Bible gave me creation power to offer my body as a living sacrifice, I can now believe that the Holy Spirit is ALSO giving me the power to put to death and misdeeds of the body.

Jesus, when I:

• Try to examine the words and the beat of the music I listen to and try to listen to the music You want me to listen to,


• Try to evaluate the content and concepts in the shows and movies I watch, and, try to set standards for what I should be exposed to,


• Try to critique the kind of literature I look at and read, and, try to eliminate anything that expresses principles and belief systems that are contrary to the Bible,


• Try to honestly and sincerely examine what kind of people I spend time with, and, try to decide which ones I should spend time with and which ones I should avoid,


• Try to go over my typical conversations and see if they are representative of a true Christian,


• Try to look at what I do together with other people, and, try to decide whether or not I am doing those things the Bible instructs me to do; or, I am doing what the Bible speaks against,

help me see that I will fail! But, when BY the Spirit I put to death the misdeeds of the body, I win! Jesus, get me ready for next week. Help me be ready as You spend time explaining HOW to BY the Spirit I put to death the misdeeds of the body.