Set Your Mind on Things Above

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)

hen COVID-19 was devastating the world, I noticed a worrying trend. There was a lot of fear mongering. People expected the situation to worsen. We fall into the same trap when we will fill our minds with images of death, sickness and violence.

Spiritually, too, we need to watch what we focus on. After reminding the Christians at Colossae that they had been resurrected with Christ, Paul urged them, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2).

Put to Death Ungodly Behaviour

Paul warns the Colossians to, “put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Verse 5). Other vices include, “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lying.” (Verses 8-9).

Nothing pleases the devil than to distract us from our spiritual journey and obligations to God. The enemy wants us to focus on the cares of this world, our fears and worldly pleasures. His favourite playing ground is our minds.

Set Your Mind on Things Above

In the epistle to the Philippians, Paul offers counsel on how to set our minds on things above. He says:
“…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

Today, remember to “Keep your heart (mind) with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to focus my mind on heavenly things not the fleeting sin, pleasures and fears of this world.