MIND SETTING - PART 2

Every mind is designed to focus on something and is capable of desiring sinful, undignified thoughts or pure, lovely, godly thoughts and virtue, depending on the focus. A Christian can either be carnally minded or spiritually minded. Until you renew your mind, fix it on things above and train your spirit to be easily receptive to the things of the Spirit, you're not spiritually minded.

Reference: Romans 8:6 King James Version (KJV)

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

Clearly, the devil has access to any mind that yields to the flesh. Remember he is the god of this world, according to 2 Corinthians 4:4 (WEB). His main duty as the god of this world is to blind the minds of the unbelieving ones. Interestingly, the devil doesn't have to harm the unbelievers, he only has to keep their minds blinded and that affects every other thing about them. So the mind of the flesh is a blinded mind, and for this reason, it thinks of nothing but the gratification of the senses and everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16 KJV).

For this reason, apostle Paul focused on the mind of a born again Christian, inciting us on the importance of setting it on the Spirit, which yields life and peace. A mind set on the Spirit is under the governing influence of the Holy Spirit and it dominates any condition of the flesh and its sinful practices to which the impulses of human nature could prompt anyone (Colossians 3:5).

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV) says, "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." Apostle Paul says, "Since you've been raised to new life with Christ, ensure that you set your sights on the realities of heaven; position your mind on the things above." The rendering, "on things above", is also an open invitation for every Christian to visualise and think highly, dream beyond human imagination, desire and live a higher life or go for the best in God. Otherwise, your imagination as a Christian can atrophy when your mind is set on ordinary things of the flesh.

Beloved, with the wrong mind-setting, our imagination for exceptional thinking and genius can suffer from lack of use. In Christ, we've been favourably blessed with a vivid imagination, artistry, vision, inspiration and insight from above. The ability of our mind to be creative, productive and resourceful is unlimited. And except we reset the Christian mind to line up with things above (spiritual things), we may never soar higher in God the way He desires us to. We can reach and maintain great altitudes by ascending in imagination, because setting our minds on things above helps us to move higher or attain more powerful heights in any area of life.

When we consider the growing influence of evil around the world, many Christians tend to feel weary, discouraged or perturbed but all these determinants they feel are a result of a mind setting. However, there are things we can do or ways we can set our minds on the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18-20 grants us the insight to those things. And it reads, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (NIV). The details in these verses reveal the evidence of a mind set on the Spirit, which results in "life and peace". Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16-21; Romans 6:13; 1 John 2:16.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the requirement of my high calling in Christ, which is to set my mind on things above. The desire designed merely to gratify the sight and flesh is worthless compared with the desire to please you and demonstrate your righteousness. By the Spirit of God dwelling in me, I'm empowered to live a higher and glorious life and I deny corrupt desires and passions access to my mind and heart. I'm bound to live for you, and to follow the leadings of your Spirit, for the result is life and peace, in Jesus' Name, Amen!