Protecting Command Central

Holy Spirit-led people are spiritually minded people, and our minds are command central.

That’s why we need to protect our minds. Someone has wisely said, sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:5–6 nlt).

Notice that Paul said, “Think about things that please the Spirit.” Contrast this with people who only think about satisfying their impulses and the appetites of their flesh with things like illicit drugs, sex outside of marriage or before marriage, alcohol, partying, and things of that nature. It also could be empty things like fame and fortune.

Or, it could be simply thinking about only physical things and never spiritual things. Jesus talked about people like this, saying, “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (Matthew 6:31–32 NLT).

Jesus wasn’t saying we should never think about these things. We do need to think about a roof over our heads, what we’re going to eat, and what we’re going to wear. But Jesus was saying that we shouldn’t be obsessed with it. He went on to say, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (verse 33 NLT).

Don’t make the entire focus of your life pursuing physical things at the exclusion of pursuing God.