‘A DOG RETURNS TO ITS VOMIT,’ AND, ‘A SOW THAT IS WASHED GOES BACK TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MUD’
(2 Peter 2:22).

I have the cutest little dog—a Bichon Frise.  He is snow white.  I wash him with a special shampoo and conditioner; otherwise, his hair curls and mats too much, especially in salty ocean air.  However, this cute little dog has a very gruesome habit—he returns to his vomit.  I do not have to describe this to you.  I am sure you are familiar with the habits of dogs.

NOW THE MIND OF THE FLESH [WHICH IS SENSE AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT] IS DEATH [DEATH THAT COMPRISES ALL THE MISERIES ARISING FROM SIN, BOTH HERE AND HEREAFTER]. BUT THE MIND OF THE [HOLY] SPIRIT IS LIFE AND [SOUL] PEACE [BOTH NOW AND FOREVER]
(Romans 8:6 AMP).

Understand that the mind of the Self-nature reasons without the influence of the Holy Spirit.  It operates under the management of the father-of-lies, forming perturbing perceptions…concocting false deductions…inventing wild suspicions.  These cause jealousy, hatred, and rage…and eventually death.

THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES
(Romans 8:5).

Just like a dog returns to its vomit, and a sow that is washed returns to the mud, so also the Self-nature, who reasons without the Holy Spirit, will always return to the same sinful habits and patterns that please the father-of-lies.  It will return to its mind-reading and consequential animosity, its perturbing perceptions and ensuing jealousy, and its wild suspicions and resulting rage.  These irrational, out-of-control, and hateful behavior patterns will return tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that…

If you would like to change your behavior patterns, you will need to start living from the reasoning of the Holy Spirit.  You will need to surrender your mind reading, wild suspicions, and perturbing perceptions (reasoning without the Holy Spirit) to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him for His Perspective (reasoning with the Holy Spirit.)  He will set your mind free from returning to its own vomit.

To which patterns do you return again…and again…and again, because of your perturbing perceptions—reasoning without the Holy Spirit? What will it take for you to bring your reasoning under the control of the Holy Spirit?

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I wish to change. Therefore, I bring my Self-nature to You. Please bring it under the control of Your Spirit, so I may have Life and Peace, now and forever.