How can you practically "set your mind on things above" as instructed earlier? A Life Hidden with Christ Colossians 3:2-3 commands, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”. Scripture speaks literally: at the cross you truly died to the old life, and right now you are spiritually located with Christ in the heavenly realms (cf. Ephesians 2:6). Because this is fact, your thoughts, goals, and affections must rise to match your position. --- Fill Your Mind with the Word • Begin and end the day in Scripture; five unhurried minutes beat none at all. • Read entire books, not random verses, so context steers your thinking. • Memorize key passages—Post-it notes on mirrors, lock-screen images, index cards in the car. • Meditate: rehearse a single verse throughout the day until it shapes your reactions (Psalm 119:105). --- Filter Every Thought 2 Corinthians 10:5 urges, “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. Practical steps: • Pause when anxiety, jealousy, or lust surfaces. Name the thought. • Replace it with truth—Philippians 4:8 provides the grid: true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable. • Speak the replacement verse aloud; hearing reinforces believing. --- Make Worship Your Atmosphere • Play Christ-centered music while driving or cooking. • Turn blessings into verbal thanks the moment you notice them. • Celebrate Communion regularly; the table fixes eyes on a risen, returning Lord (Hebrews 12:2). --- Aim Your Priorities Heavenward Matthew 6:33 instructs, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. • Schedule the eternal: church, service, evangelism, discipleship. • Budget for giving before entertainment. • Evaluate goals—career plans are tools to display Christ, not replacements for Him. --- Link Arms with Believers • Join a small group that opens Bibles, not just shares opinions (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Invite accountability; give a trusted friend permission to ask what you’re reading and thinking. • Serve together—shared mission cements heavenly focus. --- Surrender Your Day, Every Day Romans 12:2 calls for a renewed mind. Build a rhythm: Morning: • Present yourself to God—“I’m yours; think through me today.” Evening: • Review the day with Him; confess stray thoughts, celebrate victories. --- See Trials Through Eternity’s Lens “For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory…” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). • When hardship hits, list what is temporary versus eternal. • Recall that suffering refines faith and multiplies future reward. --- Starve Distracting Influences • Limit media that normalizes sin or stirs discontent (Colossians 3:5-7). • Unfollow feeds that drag attention earthward; follow voices that lift it heavenward. • Build tech-free spaces—dinner table, bedroom, worship gatherings. --- Turn Insight into Action James 1:22 warns against hearing without doing. • Translate every new truth into one concrete step—text an apology, give an anonymous gift, adjust screen time. • Review progress weekly; small, steady obedience cements a mind fixed above. |
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