“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”Ro 8:6 NIV

Choose a spiritual, not a carnal mindset. Carnality is at the core of our unregenerate nature, and it lives on in us even after we become Christians. Its gravitational pull is always away from God toward self-centered living. The Bible says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (v. 7). The carnal mind makes us suspicious, skeptical, self-promoting, and spiritually blind to God’s will. Being spiritually-minded means centering your choices around God’s Word and the Spirit’s prompting. And the good news is, “You…are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you” (v. 9 NIV). Giving in to the flesh isn’t inevitable. You get to decide whether the flesh or the Spirit guides you! Peter, in a spiritual mindset, received a revelation of Jesus’ deity. “‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied…‘This was not revealed to you by man [flesh], but by my Father’” (Mt 16:16-17 NIV). Shortly afterward, Jesus confided to His disciples the dreadful means of His death. And in a moment of well-meaning but misguided carnality, Peter refused to accept it. “‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’” (v. 22 NIV). A carnal mindset is an invitation to Satan. So Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but…

“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”    Pr 3:6 NLT

Nothing matters more than recognizing and walking in God’s will. When you don’t know His will, it can be a real source of insecurity. Knowing you’re walking in His will enables you to rise above the challenges life throws at you. The question is, does God intend us to know His will? If not, why bother searching? Let His Word settle the issue once and for all: “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” There’s no vagueness there! “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Ps 37:23 NLT). God’s will addresses even your smallest concern. So what do you need to discern it? Let’s consider some practical Bible principles:

There’s no room for two wills. If you want God’s will, you must be prepared to surrender your own will. Jesus said, “As I listen to the Father, I make my judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants” (Jn 5:30 GWT). Wills frequently clash, so there are choices you must make, and maintain, if you want to walk in obedience to God (See Mt 26:39). Begin your search by surrendering your will; then focus your heart and mind on God and His enlightening Word. Once you accept that He is the leader and you are the follower, it’s a lot easier to say, “I delight to do thy will, O…God…thy law is within my heart” (Ps 40:8).