(emphasis mine)
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

–Parallel verse:
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬
Jesus answered, “I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When I was a teenager in high school, I joined the football team. I also got into a little tiff with a skater kid who kept wanting to fight me. Every day he would pester me. I finally gave in, and it was one of those schoolyard fights — 8 seconds long, one punch, and then broken up. He was universally declared the winner as he got in one punch.

What I didn’t know was the football team had a reputation for helping their own. The coach talked to a junior football player who was also a bodybuilder at the local gym. His name was Eric and he was the strongest kid on campus by far. He became my assigned workout partner. He was patient with me. I was not in great shape.

As we started lifting together, I could not do a “dip”. This is where you get on parallel bars, lower yourself down, and then push yourself back up. Eric could do like 10 of them. I kept trying. After about a year of failures every week, I finally had lost enough fat and gained enough muscle to do my first dip. Then came two dips. Then before I knew it, I was up to six dips.

For a whole year my mind was set on doing one dip. I knew that eventually I could do it (or at least my high school trainer Eric told me so). If my mind had been set on something else while I was working on my dips, I would not have made that personal goal. But I was set on doing a dip.

What do I set my mind on in life? Daily, what do I choose to focus on — my needs, my wants, my rights, or my sin – or is it what the Spirit of God desires for me for the day? Is my mind adrift or is it anchored and set on the Spirit of God?

These questions I find I have to re-ask myself every day. I cannot find the way back to the Spirit of God on my own. In my mind, I worry, stress, lose hope, and lash out without Jesus. So every day I have to intentionally set my mind on Jesus and his great gifts, his role in my life, his forgiveness of my sin and his great plans for me. He is The Way, The Truth, and the Life!

Later on in John 14, he gives his followers a great promise. “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭14‬) When we believe and act on that belief, we will do Jesus’ work. And we will do greater things than he did. Why? Because he is in heaven giving us the wisdom and power. And we can ask him for anything in his name (and in accordance to his will) and he will give it to us.

A while ago there was a bracelet many would wear that said WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). While definitely good to think about throughout the day, isn’t it better and more effective to start the day with the right mindset altogether?

Lord, thank you for reminding me this morning to take time to dwell with your Spirit and gain his perspective on the day and his partnership in my mind. I intentionally set my mind on you. Guide me wherever you desire, speak through me the words of truth and grace. May I reflect you in all my interactions!