Setting Your Mind
“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” -Colossians 3:2
Beautiful words of Scripture and logically it would make sense how this spiritual truth would be healthy and good for us, as human beings. But it is very difficult to do, day in and day out. As a professional counselor who has spent over 20 years helping thousands of people to find healing in their minds and emotions, I can tell you …this battle is REAL. Many Christians authors and preachers have attempted to teach this and similar verse about the mind. Quoting phrases like, “Take your thoughts captive, cast your cares upon the Lord, take on the yoke of Christ and put on the full armor of God!” And although these are all biblical principles and Godly truth, it can be defeating to hear, when an individual is in the midst of a storm, when it seems like God is silent and adversity is around every corner.
I remember the first time someone told me to “just” take my sad and worrisome thoughts captive and I thought to myself, easier said than done. I wanted to do that. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would help me do it. When I confessed, declared and begged the Lord to heal my mind and the tormenting thoughts did not stop, I blamed myself and thought I must be doing something wrong. After a few more whole-hearted prayer attempts like this and then I began to feel offended at God. Why is this not working, Your Word says, take your thoughts captive…I’m speaking it, I’m believe it to be true, to the best of my ability, but nothing seems to change. Even if I get a moments peace, the thoughts just come right back, especially in times when I let down my guard, I’m tired or another difficult circumstance happens. And then there were times when I would feel like I was having more victory in the day, in my waking hours and then I would have this horrible dreams that would relate to the same hurts, wounds and pain I was trying so hard to conquer, but I felt so helpless when this happened while I was sleeping!
Have you ever experienced something like this, or in the throws of battle as we speak? I wish I could tell you that there are three easy steps to make those thoughts all go away, immediately and permanently. That after 23 years of counseling and 32 of being a Christian I have it all figured out, but I don’t. Not even close. Honestly, the older I get and the more life I live walking with Jesus, the more I realize, I know very little. I am totally and completely reliant on the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me, every day. And when it comes to the battle in mind? I know this to be true: it is how the army of darkness attacks us the most in the mind and their strategy is old and simple; make you doubt God’s goodness and make you question your identity. Working with my clients over the years, this spiritual concept was evident and what worked to bring them freedom one day, did not work the next. Why is faith and how we live it out so complicated?
The key to not losing hope, not blaming yourself and believe God is faithful and true to His Word…is to SET your mind on Him. And that means to do so over and over. As often as it takes. Do not become discourage in doing good. You are not broken or have weak faith. It takes a strong and enduring faith to trust in God and His deliverance, even when your current circumstances do not change. To know that even if you do not see a change in the way you had hoped, that Jesus is with you, the Holy Spirit is leading you and God is protecting you. Lift your eyes to Heaven, seek to view your life through the lens of eternity and fasten your heart to the One who saves. Take heart! Have courage! For the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world, therefore, so have you.
To learn more about how to live your life from a Kingdom perspective, check out my podcast, my books and also my online classes. Your Kingdom destiny awaits, and it all begins with a mindset.
