Have you ever thought that you were two people?  Sometimes when we get so busy we may wish there were two of us, but that isn’t exactly what I’m talking about today. I’m speaking of the struggle that goes on between the natural side of us and the spiritual side of us. Maybe telling you of a dream I had several years ago will give you a clearer picture of what I mean.

“One morning I awoke from a dream that was troubling at first. What I remember is two people fighting at the top of a stairwell. First one seemed to be winning then the other. Then all at once one fell down the stairs. I thought I had won until I saw the face of the other person, it was me!  And yet I was still at the top of the stairs! I woke up startled, wondering what this dream meant”.

Immediately I received some insight to my questions. This struggle in the dream represented the struggle between my flesh and my spirit over which one was going to rule my life.  This is a question everyone has to answer for themselves. In other words, which one will you serve – your natural self that wants to do whatever it wants – or your spirit which is created in the image of God and wants to please Him?  Please understand that when we are born-again, we become a child of God, a new creation in Him; made in His likeness, in His image (2 Corn 5:17).

Our body and mind were use to being in control of our actions, words, attitudes and even our thinking, but now our spirit is to be in control and rule. Our spirit is now in agreement with God’s Spirit. Our spirit wants to rule according to the Word of God but has opposition from our flesh and mind. It (our spirit) can only rule correctly when we renew our mind to the Word of God. By renewing our mind we begin to change our way of thinking to God’s way of thinking (Romans 12:2), and our spirit begins to rule over us instead of our body (our flesh) or mind.

The Bible teaches us that the flesh lusts (or fights) against the spirit, and spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5:17). The American Standard Bible states it this way:

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please or wish”.

Let me say again that before we received Jesus as Savior, our body and mind ruled over us; and they don’t want to give up that control. In some cases that control runs so deep within us the Bible calls them strongholds. God in His mercy has shown us in His Word how to win the victory over such problems. Second Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us that we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against God.  We are to take those thoughts captive, evaluate them and change our way of thinking to correspond with the Word of God and His way of thinking.  To take something captive means to keep it in bounds, to confine and hold under control; which means we are to control our thinking.  Evaluate means to put a value on something.  We must determine how much value or usefulness and importance are attached to our thoughts.   If they are not agreeing with the Word of God, we need to change our thoughts by rejecting them, refusing to continue to think on them.  Our thought life is where everything begins.  The results of those thoughts show up in our words, behavior, and attitudes.

If we want to change our life, there are two things we must do:

1. We must change our thinking
2. We must change our words

A good verse to use for a measuring stick for our thoughts is Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report.  If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things”.   That pretty much explains the process. Just think about what you are thinking about.  Proverbs 23:7 tells us that we are what we think.  What we think on is what is in our heart in abundance, and Luke 6:45 says that out of the abundance of the heart we speak.  So again we see the importance for monitoring our thoughts and our words.

If you are struggling with some thoughts that need to change don’t feel alone, even the Apostle Paul struggled in this area too (Romans 7:15-22, 8:1-2).  He knew and taught that the way to victory was in renewing the mind to the Word of God.  Proverbs 16:3 also teaches us that when we commit our works (renewing our mind) to the Lord, our thoughts will be established.  Colossians 3:2 confirms this teaching by telling us to set our mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

When our heart and our words agree with the Word of God, our spirit will rule over our flesh and soul (mind, emotions and will).  That is when we truly begin to walk in victory and experience the blessings of God and freedom in Jesus.