By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Romans chapter 7:
25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
We will either serve the Law of Our Heavenly Father through our mind or we will serve our flesh and its cravings. The choice lies with us. Since the law can be summed up by the two great commandments of Love, our choice to serve with the mind must be founded on serving in Love. When you consider the simplicity of serving in Love versus the chaotic complexities surrounding the flesh, the decision should be quite clear yet Paul talks about the battle of the two “I”s in our members. Whichever “I” you feed is the one which will overpower the other. If your decision is to focus on being led by THE SPIRIT, you must feed on the Word daily just as your body needs its daily nourishment.
Paul further wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I urge you as well to join me in presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable. Paul presents us with this choice and explains that is is our reasonable service to do so. The word “reasonable” means that it is the logical action to take given the reality of the matter. As we submit to THE SPIRIT we begin to weaken the flesh until the cravings of the flesh cease all together and no longer dominate our consciousness. This renewing of our mind produces tangible results as we begin to react differently to situations that in previous times we would have responded by the flesh. FATHER in HIS great grace and mercy brings those times in remembrance to show us our improvement in those areas where we were weakest.
And by THE SPIRIT in chapter 15:
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures were written for our instruction with the intent for us to become “one mind” in Christ Jesus. How is the done? By walking in Love which brings us into unity. Paul explains this in Colossians chapter 3:
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
We have a choice- to walk in Love and unity or walk by the flesh which separates and divides. The choice is very simple when it get boiled down to its most basic options. Once we choose we must reinforce our choice with actions that consistently support that choice. There will be times when your flesh will scream out but you must disregard its call and continue on the path of Love, knowing that the screams will cease once your flesh realizes it is no longer in control. This is when we let patience have its perfect work.