My Daily Choice

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 KJV

I was physically born on November 5 , 1958, and spiritually reborn on July 13, 1973. The first birth placed me into my family. The second birth placed me into God’s family. The first birth allowed me to live out of the physical aspects of my life. The second birth allowed me to live out of the spiritual aspects of my life. It was then that I was able to make real choices to choose between my flesh and my spirit.

This morning God is helping me to grasp a concept that has eluded me for a long time. My flesh will always live independent of God, be self absorbed, want my own way, yield to sin, think the worst of others, thrive on negative thinking, and feed on what is not good for me. It will nurse hurts, hold on to grudges, and refuse to let go of the very things that obstruct growth in my Christian life. It will always be my enemy. Outside of Christ, I have no other way to live.

But as a child of God, my spirit will always seek God, embrace His ways, seek His approval, view life through His grid of truth, desire His perspective on things, and long to live in intimate fellowship with Him. It will readily submit to His ways, entrust hurts to Him, and daily make exchanges with Him. It will always be my greatest ally and will always find satisfaction and delight in Him.

Knowing these two things becomes the basis for how I choose to live my life. If I choose to live out of the flesh I will journey away from God. My thoughts, actions, and words will not be aligned with His. I will curl up with lies, befriend anger, make myself at home with selfishness, and lack any semblance of satisfaction. If I choose to live out of my spirit I will journey arm and arm with the Creator of the universe for my spirit ALWAYS seeks God, desires God, and aligns itself with God above all others. It is never torn between its own way and God’s way. It is never disloyal to Him, distrusting of Him, or dishonest with Him. It is the only part of me that knows how to continually connect with Him.

Each day I must choose the things born out of my spirit over the things that are born out of my flesh. May my spirit give birth to many thoughts, words, and actions. May my choice of habitation be from my spirit. For it is the most alive part of me that lives linked to God.

Father, because Your Spirit lives in me, my spirit is alive and well. Help me to live out of my spirit. May it give birth to much today! Amen.