The Kingdom of HeavenSample

The human mind is very complicated. Your brain has so much going on at any one time. With it, we can dream up incredible creations, inventions to progress humanity, and artwork that alights our souls. Sadly, we can also use our minds to craft ways to hurt others, to devise ways to use words and actions to tear down those who are different than ourselves.  Paul's command to renew our mind can be challenging because of our sinful nature. However, it's what God wants us to do. God wants us to think as He does. To see people and the world how He does. It's all about perspective.

If you choose to be negative, you will be negative. If you choose to be positive, you will be positive. Simple. The only reason you have bad days is because you let your mind believe it has to be a bad day because something happened or someone said something mean about you. But with Jesus, it doesn't have to be that way. 

I know it can be tough to think and believe the way God does things. Having a Kingdom mentality means you are choosing to believe what God does and says about things instead of believing what you feel. Things won't change unless you choose to set your mind on higher things. This is why Paul commands the Philippian church (and us today) to think on things that are pure and lovely, noble and right. What we choose to dwell on begins to determine our actions, for out of the inward thoughts come our outward actions. We must choose not to believe the lies of this world. We must choose not to be sad. We must choose to believe that there is better, to believe what the Bible says. 

Life is a life of choosing. If you are choosing based on how you feel, instead of what God says, then you are not renewing your mind. God wants you to think about and desire and believe what He does because He wants you to live the life He has set out for you. 

Reflect

• How can you set your mind on things above?
• Do you find it hard to stay positive?
• Write to God about how it may be hard to think positive and ask Him to help you tune your mind with His.