Mindset

"Now determine in your mind to seek the Lord your God..."  1 Chronicles 22:19a (HCSB)

Our mindset is a powerful tool.  Our mindset is an important factor in attaining our goals in life.  As a math teacher, I see how one's mindset can impact success and failure in the classroom.  Students who have a determination to understand and learn difficult material usually achieve success.  Their mindset drives them to work hard, get extra help if needed, and the tenacity to stick with difficult material.  Giving up isn't an option for them - they see themselves achieving their goal.  And yet there are other students who give up on the very first problem - not even picking up a pencil to attempt it or raise their hand for help.  They simply do not have the mindset for classroom achievement, for whatever reason.  They are disinterested or they simply do not possess the self-discipline or tenacity needed.  They do not visualize themselves achieving in the classroom and therefore they don't.

Our mindset also impacts our spiritual life.  An aging David knew this well.  So when it came time for him to pass the torch to his son, Solomon, he also passed along very wise advice to the new king - DETERMINE  in your MIND to seek the LORD your GOD!   I love the way this passage is written in the HCSB.  In the NLT it reads, "Now seek the Lord with all your heart and soul."  Same meaning, just a little different wording.  The bottom line is the same - we are to deliberately have our minds set 100% on the LORD - LOVING HIM...and LIVING PURPOSELY for HIM! 

Once we accept Christ, we are made clean.  And though the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, showing us how to live for Christ, we don't always listen.  Therefore, having our minds set upon God and the things of God is CRITICAL in our Christian walk.  We can no longer flit here and there through life without purpose.  Our lives no longer belong to us.  Jesus paid for us with HIS VERY OWN BLOOD - we are now HIS.  Paul says, "My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  (Galatians 3:20)  Hence, we are to live every day DELIBERATELY for Him!

So how are we to have a mindset for the Lord?  What are we to do?  Colossians Chapter 3 gives a wonderful description on how.  In fact, the first 4 verses of chapter 3 gives us a clear directive about our mindset.

"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.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory."  Colossians 3:1-4

Did you get all of that?  This passage was packed with POWER!  Let's dissect what Paul is saying here.  First, as I've already mentioned, we have been given new life in Christ.  Our response to this wonderful new life is that we are to have a MIND that is SET on the REALITIES of HEAVEN - our thoughts should be focused on the things of heaven, not of the earth!  This verse was packed with conviction for me.  I mean, how many times this morning, even, have my thoughts and concerns heavily focused on earthly things that really don't amount to a hill of beans?  Another convicting truth in this passage is the FACT that we have DIED to this life!  Our REALITY is CHRIST - NOT this world!  Our reality is of HEAVENLY PROPORTIONS and APPORTIONS!  I wonder how often we live out this truth in our daily lives?  I mean, how much gravity do we give to the things of heaven as we go about our daily routine? 

Another concept we must grasp in order to have a mindset for Christ is the reality that we are DEAD to SIN!  Once we accept Christ, sin NO LONGER has any power over us!  In fact, the tide has now turned - WE now have POWER over SIN because of Jesus Christ!  So why is it that so many of us live defeated by sin?  Why is it that we just can't seem to resist temptation?  Why do repeatedly commit the sins we so despise?  I believe that sometimes we fall into sin because we are not completely yielded to Christ.  At other times, I think we feel weak and unable to resist sin's power.  Satan delights in making us feel weak and helpless.  His lie is that we are powerless against sin.  The bottom line is that we DO HAVE POWER to resist sin! Unfortunately, we just don't claim that power!

Romans 6:10-11 says, "When he died, he died once to break the power of sin.  But now he lives for the glory of God.  So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus."   

Jesus Christ BROKE the power of sin on the cross.  SIN HAS NO POWER over believers!  BUT...in order to claim this power, we must have the mind set that we are also DEAD to the power of sin  and ALIVE in GOD through JESUS!  The power of sin in our lives has been completely removed and REPLACED by the POWER of GOD!  How awesome is that?  Colossians 3:5 says, "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.  Have NOTHING to do with sexual immoratily, impurity, lust, and evil desires.  Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."

With the power of Christ, we are to PUT TO DEATH the sinful things that lurk within us.  We have been given the power to do this - the Holy Spirit to help us - we just need to have the determined mindset to claim this truth!  In fact, the next time I'm tempted to sin, I think I will declare this truth - out loud if I have to, "Sin, you are the weakest link!  You are dead to me by the power of Jesus Christ! Goodbye!"

We are to also have a mindset holiness...being tenderhearted, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. (Colossians 3:12)  We are to have a mindset of forgiveness and love. (Colossians 3:13-14)  We are to have a mindset of peace.  (Colossians 3:15)  We are to have a  mindset for letting the "message of Christ, in all its richness" fill our lives.  (Colossians 3:16)  If our focus is directed vertically on the things of heaven, then those things horizontally positioned have absolutely no power over us! 

So today, I'm determining in my mind to seek the Lord my God!  What is your mindset?

For additional reading:
Proverbs 14:12
Colossians Chapter 3
Galatians 2:20

Grace and peace!
Love, Cathy