Life in Your Head

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

There is an idea in English literature where a writer describes his inner self as a captive in a box with five senses through which he perceives the world. He distinguishes his inner self from from the outer temporal perceptions. I think this highlights a distinction between the Spirit and the physical, ego or mental personage of our awareness. There is a common observation among some people that they live their lives in their head, meaning they are consumed by plans, activities, and thoughts to live. 

When Yeshua came He brought a new message, invitation and understanding. He correctly defined God, contrasting the true nature and character of Father God’s love, truth, mercy and sovereignty in words and deeds. He revealed that God is sovereign over all with miracles, even raising Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:38-44) God is love and He is Spirit, supernatural. He wants a relationship with us, individually and collectively, but how is that possible?

The Holy Spirit empowers Believers to connect with God on a spiritual level. It’s not that we become brain dead, but we act upon faith rather than reasoning and analysis. God does the heavy lifting in this relationship. He knows everything we need and think before we do. As we read scripture and pray via the Spirit, He speaks, opening the meaning and application in our experiences and living. As we surrender to the Spirit’s lead, He works things out according to His purposes and draws us to Himself. These things don’t originate from our reasoning and are not dependent on our mental assent and initiative – but His. 

Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 16:16-17) Peter was moved by the Spirit to utter truth. Just a little later as Yeshua foretold the suffering He would endure, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”” (Matt. 16:22-23) This was Peter’s human reasoning. Let us keep in step with the Spirit by faith and not rely on our own thoughts. (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 5:25)