Set Your Mind

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24 TNIV

Take a moment to read that again. 

Sit with the words and consider the ones that stand out. 

How might you live changed by them?

Take off the old.  Put on the new.  What do you think that looks like?

Move away from deceit.  Move toward righteousness.  Move toward holiness.   Where do you need to do this?

Be made new in the attitude of your mind.  Set your mind.   What do you think this means?

Live changed.  What are some ways you might respond?

***

In The Me I Want To Be, John Ortberg writes:

“There is a fundamental battle in the spiritual life being waged by the Evil One over the nature of the thoughts that run through your mind.  The ultimate freedom that you have, the freedom no one can take away, even in a concentration camp, is the freedom to decide what your mind will dwell on.  I “set my mind” to look for the presence and goodness of God in my life.”

Setting your mind is an intentional way of thinking.

It is a choice that we make each day:  Live intentionally by setting your mind on Christ.  Or live by your mind’s default.

So let’s make the choice.

This week…

Let’s be intentional about what we watch, what we listen to, what we speak, what we choose to expose ourselves to.

Let’s be intentional about the way we think about the situations that we encounter each day—the expected and unexpected.

Let’s be intentional about spending time in Scripture, filling our minds with good things and pondering them.

Let’s be intentional about praying through all that we live through seeking God’s perspective.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—thing about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we set our minds on Christ.  As we seek Him may our minds be filled with the best ways to love and respond to all that rises to meet us this week.

Jessica :)