He ultimately wants God ’ s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. However, a truly born-again person desires what the Spirit of God desires. The carnal person may be spiritual, but he only wants things of the spirit that satisfy or glorify him:Ī carnal person may believe in God and pray for things, but God is only a means to his “desires.” James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
The secular person thinks only about the “desires” of his carnal nature. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (Rom. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. In fact, Paul says that the way a person thinks is an indicator both of his salvation and his fruitfulness. Many are missing the manifest presence of God in their lives because they have ungodly thinking, which eventually leads to ungodly practice. Paul says thinking on right things and practicing them brings the God of peace-the very presence of God in our lives (v. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. What are some other benefits of God–centered thinking? Listen to Philippians 4:8–9:įinally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. When we find ourselves anxious or worried, we can be sure that we have lost a God–centered mindset. The person whose thoughts are consumed with God and his kingdom will have perfect peace instead of anxiety and worry. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” It also can be translated, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you” (ESV). In Scripture, those who practice right thinking receive tremendous blessings. The believer’s mind should be consumed with heavenly things. In the Lord’s Prayer, we are taught to be consumed with God’s name being hallowed, and his kingdom and his will being done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. This is what Paul is primarily referring to when he says to the Colossians, “set your hearts on things above.” He is primarily referring to God and his kingdom. Satan wants to keep believers from focusing on what really matters, and that is God and his kingdom. It is for this reason that Satan is always attacking the believer’s mind with doubts, fears, worldly thoughts, etc.
Having a heavenly mindset is very important for advancing the kingdom, not only in our lives but on this earth as well. Though on the earth, they had a heavenly mindset. The people who forcefully grabbed hold of the kingdom of heaven are the ones advancing it. Listen to what Christ said: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matt. Some have said it is possible to be “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.” However, when you look at the history of the church, it was those who were the most heavenly minded who did the most good. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
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