Today's thought - 23 October 2026 (Being spiritually minded above wordly minded)

 

So, how are you today? You know my friend, we have been walking together for some time now. I know it might not be the same to read my thoughts than to hear them, but I know that the Holy Spirit who places the Word in my heart will also work in your heart to reveal to you what He has in mind for you and for your life.

Romans 8 just popped into my head this morning and as I read the whole chapter, I am again in awe of the God we worship and how amazing His love is. This week has been no different than the previous ones and I can feel the enemy fighting me all the way. He is almost desperate as he tries every pathetic trick in his book of destruction. I say pathetic because that is what it is.

Yesterday he worked through my ex-wife who made a judging comment, and I was so upset on hearing this. I think her arrogance in her words just got to me and it upset me. I realized that she will not change and the end of this process must be near because her ways are inconsistent and just amazes me. The enemy used that moment to try and get to me and as it was a close call, I went to our homecell and instead of being upset I said that now I will seek God even more and to hell with satan and all his goonies.

You see, we should not allow the garbage of satan to get a place in our heads. We are seated in heavenly places, and he (satan) is under our feet. Just keep reminding him of that, because Jesus defeated him and he has no power over us unless we give it to him. So, no, he will not get a place in my head. His place is under my feet, and my trust, hope and faith are in God who created heaven and earth, and my promised land is around the corner.

Paul says in Romans 8:6, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace”. We are looking at following Jesus, taking up your cross and it is not a negotiation. Our Pastor said on Sunday:

We want a Saviour who rescues us, but are we prepared to submit to a Lord who commands us?

We want His blessings, but do we want His authority?

We want His promises, but do we want His instructions?

We want the crown, but what about the cross?

We want Jesus but our hearts are worldly focussed. Jesus said you must lose your life to follow Him. Jesus says in Luke 14:33, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”. He talks here in Luke 14 about the cost of following Him and how a man who wants to build a house will first look at the cost of building that house and if he is able to carry that cost. In the same way we must look at the cost of following Jesus and are we able to carry that cost. Jesus is very direct here as He said that if you are not willing to give up everything, you will not be able to become His disciple.

Paul writes in Romans 8, “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God”.

But he goes on to say that nothing we suffer now remotely compares to the glory we will receive later. He also wrote that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and even when we do not know what to pray, He prays for us. The Spirit pleads for us in harmony with God’s will because God knows all hearts and He will cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

My friend, it is so important that you stand up when you are down and let the Holy Spirit help you and guide you. The cost of following Jesus is worth every little bit that you have to sacrifice and despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

When the storms become to much, seek Him. When the pain is unbearable, seek Him. When the weight becomes to much, seek Him. When people hurt you, seek Him. When the future seems dark and impossible, seek Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God so come with me as we surrender anything else that separates us from Him and trust Him completely as we follow Jesus. Say with me, I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind me and the cross before me. There is no turning back.

Have an awesome day.