Ewald Schmidt

“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.” Romans 8:5

Who is in the driver’s seat of your life at this moment? The Apostle Paul gives us two possible answers. After the fall of man, our default setting is that our flesh is in control of our lives. It is our depraved nature that likes to be in control, and I make my choices in life according to what I desire. This lifestyle usually brings us pain and suffering very quickly as we are confronted by another person’s desires of their flesh. Paul has described the desires of the flesh in Galatians 5:19, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like …” It sounds like a list of such bad things, and I usually recognise those signs in my neighbour’s life quite easily. But may it also be present in my own life, even in a seemingly innocent way? Isn’t this what makes our relationships so difficult?

When Jesus becomes the Lord of my life, I should move over and give up the steering wheel of my life. The Holy Spirit is a much better qualified driver than I am, he knows how to get me to my destination in life safely. How will I know if the Spirit is in control of my life? Jesus said that we shall know a tree by its fruit. The Spirit of God desires his fruit in our lives. Galatians 5:22 teaches that the fruit of the Spirit is, “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” You can immediately see that the view changes when the Holy Spirit takes control of our lives. It is a much more scenic route, when the focus is not on me, myself and I. When we put God first, and serve our neighbour as Jesus has shown us, we live a life filled with joy and peace, much better than hatred and anger. This way of life makes the journey much better for ourselves, and the people around us.

Prayer: Lord, for so long I have tried to be in control of my life, and I have failed miserably. I have hurt other people with my pride and my selfishness. Please forgive me, and transform me through the power of your Spirit. Take control of my life, Lord, and lead me on the path of the Spirit. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Amen.