Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Under What Power?

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh..." (Rom. 8:5). "Mind" means "to be intent upon, to have your mind set upon, to give yourself to." We can't draw a false conclusion that we shouldn't go to work, because for eight hours we have to concentrate on what we're doing. If we think that a hundred percent of the time we have to have our minds on Jesus, praying, and reading the Bible, we've missed it. We know we can pray in the Spirit constantly; we know that we pray without ceasing. It's an attitude of heart. Praying without ceasing is practicing the presence of God. When we're aware of God's presence, our minds can be involved in whatever the menial task is. So it's not the amount of time that we're doing something. We don't have to offset eight hours of secular, menial work with eight hours of prayer and Bible study to walk in the spirit.

I pull out a Sports Illustrated magazine, flip through it, read it, look at it, and waste thirty minutes. Another guy picks it up for thirty minutes and memorizes it--knows everybody's stats, shoe size, shoe odor, eating this stuff up, lives it. I wasted thirty minutes; he worshipped for thirty minutes. We now go to our Bible. For thirty minutes God is speaking to me and I love His Word! The other guy flips through the Bible the way I looked through the Sports Illustrated. What are we intent upon? It's not the amount of time; it's how important it is to you and how much credibility you give it.

Now I waste eight hours, but this time it's not secular work; I'm watching a "Three Stooges" marathon. If I watch eight hours of the Three Stooges, do you think I'll have to pray for eight hours to get them out? Probably not. I wasted my time. It wasn't edifying and I don't give my life to that. What if I watched eight hours of pornography? You see, it's not just time. Being intent upon (or what you give yourself to) is not just an exchange of time; it's the value that we place. To the degree whether we deal with amoral or immoral also affects us. We are not saying that amoral things are not dangerous. Something amoral that I have placed improper value on--that which has power over me--is just as dangerous as something immoral. All things are lawful, but they do not edify, nor will I be under the power of any of them (1 Cor. 6:12). What power are you under? Who do you have to impress? Who do you have to look like? Whose favor are you looking for?

They that are after the flesh put improper worth upon the things of the world. It dominates and controls their thoughts. It's what they are seeking for and making provision for. And they that are after the Spirit put the same value on the Spirit. I've got a question for you. Do you look forward to prayer night with the same fervency you look forward to movie night? Do you look forward to hanging out with God in prayer to the same degree you want to hang out with your buddies? Are you satisfied with five minutes with God, but do you get bummed out when your parents call you home from eight hours with your friends? For where your treasure is, that's where your heart is (Matt. 6:21).

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