Romans 8:5-11
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law--indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
It's so easy to get caught up in the material things in life--clothes, friends, money... When I study, it's hard for me to keep in mind that what I do is all to glorify God. I often think that these tests, these grades are obstacles keeping me from the future that I want, but they're really tests not just of knowledge but also of faith; faith that I trust God will help me get through the rough patches and stressful times unscathed.
This passage reminded me of something else that happened last night. Recently, I've been pretty content with where I am. I haven't been growing a lot spiritually, but I have gained a lot of friends and I thought that the fellowship was good enough. This weekend, however, was really amazing. PraiSing renewed me a lot spiritually, and I began to thirst for God's word again. Last night, I was talking to some people that I only recently became close to, as well as some that I have fallen out of touch with, both of whom are people who will be leaving. I started to get really emotional because I realized how temporary our stay here is, not just on Earth, but also in North Carolina. God gave me a huge wake up call this weekend, and he reprimanded me for enjoying others' company more than I treasured His; yet by God's grace, I have a really amazing community and a renewed thirst for Christ.
This prayer is from a devotional that Donna subscribed me to, but I really like it:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to recognize the pitfalls of attractive temptations, and to avoid them by following the Holy Spirit's guidance. Amen.
