Set Your Minds
Ken is a trained counsellor and part of GS Longbridge.
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth.
We are going to spend a few days considering those things that Paul suggests we should be thinking about and why. But today I'd like to focus on the thinking process and the mind, and how important this is in our development as Christians.
The Bible has quite a lot to say about the mind. Paul talks about us ‘being transformed by the renewal of our minds’(1) and suggests that we should ‘not be children in our thinking’ (2) Peter talks about ‘preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded.’ (3) If we are not to be carried along by the world’s opinions and morality, which so easily influence our thinking, we need to know what we believe and be strong enough to stand against popular belief.
Paul tells us to intentionally spend time thinking about the things of God ‘.. to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace’ (4) ‘Whatever is true ... whatever is lovely …think about these things.’ (5)
How intentional and focused are we on Bible truth? Do we spend more than a few minutes a day reading and meditating on the Bible? How regularly do we study in more depth a book of the Bible, a Bible topic or Christian literature/media? Isaiah wrote, ‘This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’ (6)
We are all plagued by negative thoughts and know how difficult it can be to challenge them and not allow ourselves to drift into worry or anxiety. The best way to get rid of negative thoughts is to deliberately set our minds on more positive, uplifting truth. Why don’t you ask God how you can be intentional in directing your thinking to the things that build up and edify?
Prayer - Dear Lord, give us the appetite and resolve to give you more time and to deliberately concentrate on your word and teachings. Change our thinking to be more in tune with your truth. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
(1) Romans 12:2. (2) 1 Corinthians 14:20. (3) 1 Peter 1:13 (4) Romans 8:6 (5) Philippians 4:8
(6) Isaiah 66:2