“The New Creation” Day 10: Feed the mind of the Spirit.
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT
Some Christians fail to make any attempt at directing their thoughts. It seems that whatever occurs to them, whatever goes across their minds, is dutifully entertained. Because of this fact, they fail to have the spiritual growth that leads to a transformed way of thinking and an accompanying victorious Christian walk.
The Apostle Paul, in speaking to the Church at Corinth, explains that they deal with the people such that every thought or argument contrary to the word of truth, is challenged so that they may be brought into alignment with the life of Christ.
“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
This same process must be applied to our own internal thought life. We must allow the Holy Spirit to identify thoughts and ways of thinking that are contrary to the mind of Christ. Allowing sloppy thinking, will rob us of the full power of the transformed mind, the mind brought into alignment with the heart of God.
Christians who try to live a life in conformity to God‘s way of being and doing, without paying close attention to the contents of their thought life, will sooner or later be drawn astray, and/or become discouraged in their spiritual development.
We must pay close attention to our inner life, so as not to be undermining the work of the Holy Spirit in us, producing double mindedness.
We would do well to follow the advice Paul gave to the Philippians, in terms of how to have a life filled with peace and the goodness of God:
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”
Philippians 4:6-8 TPT
Remember, thoughts do not accidentally fall into alignment with the word of God. We must allow the Holy Spirit and meditation on the written Word, to guard over our thought processes. The fact is, sooner or later, our thoughts will be translated into behavior.
“Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:20-23 TPT