Discovering True Life and Peace Through a Spiritual Mindset

The Apostle Paul penned a powerful truth in Romans 8:6: "...to be spiritually minded is life and peace." This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a profound key to unlocking the abundant life we all long for. However, there's a subtle but crucial distinction we need to make: the difference between a religious-mind and a spiritual-mind. Understanding this difference can be life-altering.

The Pitfalls of the Religious-Mind
Those with a religious-mind often embark on a journey of self-improvement cloaked in spiritual language. They attempt to blend their own efforts with spiritual principles, striving to become a "better version" of themselves. While this might lead to some outward changes in behavior, it rarely touches the core. The old self remains, merely painted over with a veneer of righteousness.

The religious-mind operates on a principle of addition. It acknowledges Christ but constantly seeks something more – more rules, more rituals, more self-discipline – to achieve a perceived level of spiritual maturity. It possesses knowledge about the Savior but misses the transformative power that Jesus brings within a believer. This approach inevitably leads to a life of struggle, a constant striving that falls short of the true freedom and fullness found only in Christ.

Embracing the Transformative Spiritual-Mind
In stark contrast, a spiritual-mind isn't about a merger of wills but a complete surrender of our will to the will of Christ. It's about being utterly consumed by Jesus – His life, His teachings, His very being. He becomes the sole measure of our lives, the standard against which we evaluate everything.

The spiritual-mind is the beautiful harmony that emerges when the consciousness of Christ blends seamlessly with a life fully yielded to Him. We no longer strive to measure up through our own efforts; instead, we embrace the truth that He is actively at work within our hearts and minds, empowering us to live in alignment with His will.

Choosing a spiritual-mindset liberates us from the exhausting battle of conscience. When Christ is our standard, we find peace in knowing that His perfect work, not our flawed attempts, defines us. It's in this surrender, this complete focus on Jesus, that we truly discover the "life and peace" promised in Romans.
So, let's move beyond the surface of religion and embrace the depth of a spiritual mind.

Let's surrender our striving and allow Christ to be not just a part of our lives, but the very essence of who we are. This is where true transformation begins, and where the promise of life and peace becomes a tangible reality.

- Pastor Bud Brabson