The first time I do the exercise on setting my mind on what the Spirit desires, I come up with following list:

1. Spirit, you desire that I live by you.

Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).

You desire that I have my mind set on what you desire. In just thinking about all of the insights that you’ve opened up to me in these few verses, I cannot deny that you desire for me to set my mind on what you desire. How wonderful! 

2. Spirit, you desire to fill me. 

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Act 2:4). 

Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

And Spirit if you desire to fill me, you must desire that I desire you. Wow! I do desire you.

3. Spirit, you desire that I am aware of my need for you.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (Galatians 5:16-17).

I need you because there’s no other way I can stop living according to my sinful nature, unless I am living by you. Lord, I confess that I am powerless to live the life I want to live apart from you. 

Jesus, you said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

Thank you Spirit for making me more aware of my need. When I am in that spiritually dry place, and when I take a look at my life and see where I’ve failed, I see my need for you. We all have our addictions that we feel like bind us and ensnare us. They make us feel powerless and like slaves. I will use those times to simply become aware of my need for you, Jesus. I’ve tried to spend time with you every day, but I can’t on my own strength and on my own discipline. I need you. I’ve tried to stop __________ addiction. I’ve tried to be less lazy, to not be so concerned with what other people think about me, and to conquer all of my other character weaknesses, but I can’t without you. I need you. What are the other things that we struggle with that can be amazing opportunities to become aware of our need for God. Spirit, we set our minds on what you desire. You desire that we would become aware of our need for you. I cannot change myself on my own strength. I cannot even live according to your desires on my own. I need you.

4. Spirit, you desire that I communicate with you to find out what you desire.

Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians. 5: 8:10).

I want to find out what you desire. Communicate through prayer. Read the Bible. And try to find out and discern. Use your mind, use your intuition, use logic proofs, read books about the Bible – use all of these things to try to find out what what the Spirit desires. Brothers and sisters, if you set your minds on what the Spirit desires, you will live by them. You will be living in accordance with the Spirit. The actions will grow out from there.

5. Spirit, you desire to reveal to me what you desire.

But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).

How wonderful, that I don’t just have to figure out what you desire on my own, but you desire to reveal to me your desires. And it is truly by your will that you reveal these things to my mind.  You’re amazing!

What does it mean to set your mind on what the Spirit desires?

While I am doing this, I come across an important distinction between setting my mind on what the Spirit desires and what setting my mind on what I should do. Sometimes, I thought about what the Spirit desires me to do, and that’s where it could become a little difficult to make that distinction. The important thing for me is to emphasize is that it’s about setting our minds on what the Spirit desires, and the fact that the Spirit desires it, not necessarily about what I should do.  Also, another distinction is the difference between thinking about what another person thinks the Spirit desires and setting our minds on what the Spirit desires. Sometimes when we read books or hear sermons, we connect with the material but not necessarily with the Spirit. As you read through the list, please take the time to think about and actually set your mind on what the Spirit desires.

Now things have come together for me, as I realize and understand one more amazing thing that the Spirit desires for us.  The Spirit desires to sustain us and to know of God’s faithfulness. When we are reminded of God’s sustaining grace, are minds become set again on what the Spirit desires, and we are during that time living by the Spirit.

Setting my mind on what the Spirit desires: thinking about what God wants me to do.

1. Observation - After spending some time meditating on what the Spirit desires, how do you feel?

2. Understanding - Why is it important to live by the Spirit?

3. Application - How can I make setting my mind on what the Spirit desires a part of my daily routine?