The Spirit of God is at work within you, along with the old nature that says, come on,

this could be fun.

The new nature says it may be pleasurable for the moment, but there are consequences.

Go there, letting the Spirit control your mind, leads to life, and peace.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Magna Carta of the Christian faith.

That's what theologians often call the letter to the Romans.

With precision, Paul described the awful condition our sinful nature places on humanity.

And when we arrive at chapter 8, he makes a wonderful transition.

In this passage, we're relieved to discover God's plan of redemption.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall offers a delightful reminder that while we were

dead in our sins, Christ provides the quintessential solution, His grace.

Chuck titled today's message, Living Above the Drag of Defeat, and we begin with prayer.

It's so good to be able to call you our Father and to talk with you, though briefly,

as we lay before you the needs that weigh upon our minds and in our emotions, that have

a way of draining away the joy and dragging us into a realm of defeat.

Teach us, Lord, today, the truth of the empowering Holy Spirit.

May we be neither afraid of it nor take it to an extreme that is irresponsible or unbiblical.

Give us a balanced understanding of what it means to be under the control of your Spirit.

Thank you for the relief this chapter brings, for the hope it adds to an otherwise monotonous

existence.

Thank you for the joy that we gain as we enter into the Spirit-filled life.

May it become for us a regular reality.

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