Set Your Mind

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
Colossians 3:2 AMP

Many of us were raised being told that we can do “anything we put our minds to”. I took this to mean that if I could set a target in my mind and focus on it I could achieve the target I set. Of course when we embrace the idea of achieving what our minds target, we only consider those things we intentionally focus on because we want them. But we should give some thought to the reality that when we are not intentional about our thoughts, when we allow our minds to roam and randomly focus on whatever comes our way, we produce what we have tuned in to with our minds. When our minds are not focused with intention on Godly targets we are playing a game of chance with what will result in our lives. By allowing the world around us to shape our thoughts we are subscribing to a condition of double-minded thinking. We may hold Godly beliefs, but be swayed by the doubts of the culture if we do not intentionally anchor our thoughts in the word of God. (James 1:6-8)

What we think about guides the way we feel; it sets the direction of our hearts. As we think in our minds and hearts, so is our behavior (Prov 23:7). Proverbs 4:23-24 advises this: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

The direction of our hearts sets the course for what we speak and do (Prov 18:21, Matthew 5:28). For this reason we must intentionally set our minds and keep focused habitually on the heavenly things of God, not on things that are on the earth which have only temporal value (Colossians 3:2). When we keep our hearts and minds focused on the things of God, we produce the fruit of God in our lives (Eph 5:9, John 10:10), and we live a life that is blessed (Matthew 5:6;8).

Be Blessed!
~Nina
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Declaration: My mind is set on the things of God.