by Ronnie Hewitt

 

“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. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8, NASB)

 

I would like to begin with a simple truth: Your mind is the gateway to your soul. What enters it, shapes it. What dominates it, directs it. The above passage in vs. 6 draws a sharp contrast – not between good and bad behavior, but between two mindsets. One leads to death, the other leads to life and peace.

by Ronnie Hewitt

 

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, NASB)

 

Let me begin by telling you about a morning I had recently. I woke up with a to-do list on my mind – Bible class lessons, sermon prep, ministry calls and visits to make, a bulletin article to write, and so on. I was tempted to dive right in. However, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to “Seek first.” So, I paused. I opened the Word. I prayed. And you know what? The day didn’t just go smoother – it felt anchored. That’s the power of Matthew 6:33.

 

Understand, this verse isn’t just about priorities, it’s about trust. Jesus had just finished telling people not to worry about food, clothes, or tomorrow. He wasn’t saying those things don’t matter. He was saying: “Put God first and watch Him take care of the rest.”

by Ronnie Hewitt

 

Have you ever faced a situation where your first instinct was to walk away? Maybe it felt too big, too messy, or too inconvenient. The disciples faced such a moment. A crowd of thousands, hungry and tired, stood before them. Their solution was simple: “Master, send them away.”We read in Matthew 14:15, “As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’” Their logic sounds reasonable. But their solution was based on human limitations, not divine possibility.

 

The truth is that logic without faith often leads to limitation. The disciples saw the need and assumed the solution was outside of them, and it was. How often do we do the same? We see someone hurting, and we think, “I don’t have the words.” We see a ministry opportunity and say, “I’m not qualified.” We see a financial need and whisper, “I don’t have enough.” In those moments, we often send away what God wants us to engage.