“For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” – Romans 8:5

What is your flesh in agreement with? What is your soul in agreement with?

I can tell you for a fact that for many years my flesh and soul were in danger of spending the rest of both my carnal and my eternal life apart from the God I was created to be in relationship with. As desperately as I wanted to fix myself sometimes (and I did try), I never actually believed and invited Jesus to make that change. I remained in accord (in agreement) with a life focused on flesh satisfaction. I lived moment to moment seeking carnal happiness, only to be held captive by more fear, guilt, shame, and destruction… every single time.

What does it mean to have your soul in accord with things of the Spirit? Galatians 1:1 says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free;…” Galatians 5:19-21speaks about the deeds of the flesh. The deeds are listed as sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like those. A lot of those sound like my flesh. A lot of those sound like my struggles. A lot of those probably sound like your flesh and your struggles. The good news comes just after that though… the fruits of the Spirit! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are the results of being in accord with the Spirit! Paul said it simply in the same chapter of Galatians (5:16), “walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

Paul doesn’t say the flesh goes away. He specifically said “the desires”, which I interpret as the flesh actively working, and not exactly helping my soul. However, if I focus on producing the fruits of the Spirit, and walking my walk in a way that produces those good fruits, I know my soul will thrive and I’m doing what God calls me to do.

I want my soul in accord with the Spirit! I’m choosing everyday to make that my mind and heart’s desire. There’s days where Satan will try to steal my joy, but he’s incapable of separating my soul from the Spirit of God, because Jesus paid that price for me. I am a child of God. I am bought and paid for. I know where my joy is. I know the plans He has for me. I know He is faithful. The reason I know this is because of three words Jesus spoke on the cross.

“It is finished.”