Tag Archive for: Mind

A Mental Realignment

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Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 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]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4, AMP)

The above passage of Scripture reminds us that we need to have our hearts and minds set on the things of Christ. This passage has been a constant tool of realignment for my mind. How often I get off track thinking about things that just don’t matter. This passage of Scripture reminds me that I have been raised with Christ to a new life… Why do I go back to a place that elevates my sinful nature and diminishes the work of the cross? It’s a battle I will face for the rest of my time on this earth.

I’m thankful to God that He shows me grace and continues to call me forward in the things of Him. I like how the amplified version of this verse reads, “keep seeking the things that are above”… This part of the Scripture has a lot of meaning when you dig into the Greek on it. The Greek says this verb is a Present Active Imperative verb. This means that we are to be presently seeking God right in this moment, actively continuing to seek Him long into the future (there’s never a point at which we are good and stop seeking Him), and it’s a command. This means that we are not called to seek the Lord when we feel like it or when it’s convenient. We are to seek the Lord always from now until we die.

While on this earth we are in a process of sanctification. A process that knows no end on this earth. We daily have an opportunity to grow in the things of the Lord as we seek His face and His divine purpose for our lives.

May we never grow weary in seeking the Lord but may we do so with a happy heart, knowing that the best is yet to come! God isn’t finished yet and as we set our hearts and minds on Him we find ourselves realigned to His purpose. God has so much in store for us as we surrender our desires and seek after His.

Lord, please teach us what it means to fully seek You. May our hearts be realigned to your purpose and plan for our lives. May we live to honor You and be people who strive after a Christlike mindset. Lord, I pray that the revival we so desperately seek for our country will start in each one of us as we seek Your face! 

Keep Your Identity in Christ

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But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. (John 1:12-13, AMP)

I think one of the top two greatest secrets to a joy-filled life is keeping your identity in Christ. If I place my identity in anything but Christ I will be disappointed. Everything else will cause me to lose my joy at some point in time.

  • If I put my identity in what I do, I’ll lose joy when I’m called to do something new.
  • If I put my identity in what I look like, I’ll lose my joy when my looks change.
  • If I put my identity in my children, I’ll lose joy when they do something that I don’t agree with or when they leave home.
  • If I put my identity in my performance, I’ll lose joy when I’m not performing well.
  • If I put my identity in how much money I can make, I’ll lose joy when that money ceases to bring me satisfaction.
  • If I put my identity in my achievements, my joy will flee when I’m not getting recognition for a new achievement.
  • If I put my identity in my marriage, my joy will disappear when my spouse says something hurtful.
  • If I put my identity in my church, I’ll lose my joy when someone in the church hurts me.
  • The only thing that brings a steadfast joy in this life is having a sole identity in Christ.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He is the only thing that doesn’t change. My stuff will get old. There will be a day my children move out. There will come a time when my achievements have just collected dust. Nothing on this earth lasts forever.

In fact, I’ve noticed the times when I let the cares of this world occupy my heart. I’ve noticed when I’ve displaced Jesus and given over the throne of my heart to things going on around me. Those things tend to choke out my joy. I must always leave Christ on the throne of my heart, not my concerns, not my worries, not my anxieties, and not my expectations. I must become less so that Christ can become more in me.

Dear Father God, Please help me to identify where I have placed my identity in anything but Christ. Please help me to see where I have let other things occupy the throne of my heart. I surrender. Lord, my joy is only found in Jesus! May I live to serve You alone and become more Christlike with every passing day as I find my identity in the only One who will never change!

Mind

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Our minds can be a tool for the Lord or the cause of our destruction in the hands of the enemy. (Sarah Beth Lindberg, from Victorious Mindset)

Move the Fulcrum

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Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, ESV)

In the above passage of scripture we are reminded that trials will come. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Each trial serves a greater purpose in the Lord. God is refining our character and developing the image of His Son in us with every trial we face. We become more Christlike as we lean into God through the difficult times.

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Patterns of the Mind

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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)

Another week has come and gone.  I would like to take a look at our spiritual temperature by asking the one question I want you to become familiar with.

What is God doing in your life? When you reflect back on the week, what do you see?  Have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life?  Have you seen God use the verses you have applied to memory?  Have you seen God show up in a specific way in your life?  If so, I would love to hear about it.  Please drop me a line and let me know what God has done in your life.

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