Outlook

For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Our outlook shapes the world.

These days, it seems almost impossible not to become preoccupied with threatening possibilities and fear of the future. Humans seem to be perseverating on death. Perseverate is an excellent vocabulary word I first learned as a young speech-language pathology student learning about the effect of trauma on the brain. One who has a traumatic brain injury in the area of productive speech processing might get stuck in a loop tape, as it were, of words, thoughts, or fears. In this present world of poly-trauma where we wake up to bad news every day, it’s no wonder that we humans perseverate over our fears. Death is all around us. But take heart! If you have Christ living in you, you have the Spirit of life. And the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace. Even in the face of death.

Some years ago a friend described her sabbath practice to me using the words “life-giving.” After morning worship, she and her family would choose something life-giving to pass the afternoon. In this way, she explained, they were learning to care for their souls with the rest that comes from paying attention to what brought life and peace.

That stuck with me, and thanks to her beautiful example, I have sought to practice seeking what brings life, not just on the Sabbath. Yet today’s scripture makes it clear that this is more than a helpful practice. Life and peace are our identity as believers in Jesus Christ. When we choose to surrender to Him as Lord of our lives, His Spirit comes as our counselor, helper, and friend. And His outlook is life and peace.

Therefore, mine is too.

If today I am awakened with thoughts of death and gloom, fear for the future, I am forgetting who I am. Paul writes in Romans 8:2 that the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. I am free. But even when I don’t think like one who is free, the Spirit is kind and patient with me in my weakness. He is always with me, as near and real as my heart beating in my chest. All I need to do is remember who I am.

I wish all attitude adjustments were that simple. But this one is. As I remember who I am, the life-giving Spirit transforms my outlook from death to life.

I am filled with the Spirit of Christ. And His outlook is #life and peace. Flesh, move over. I choose life today. Share on X

Lord, thank You for filling me with Your Spirit of life. May it be the breath that gives me life through the rhythms of this day. And may I bring life and peace to the world around me. Amen.

@audreycfrank

Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash