Think on Things Above
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians.3:1–4.
What a blessing it would be if we could set our hearts on thing above, and make our thoughts obedient to Christ. But no one on this planet is perfect, and we need the power of Christ to control our thoughts. We cannot control our thoughts on our own, but the divine power of Christ we can always seek to control our thoughts and emotions.
We could control our thoughts and destroy sinful thoughts, fearful thoughts, angry thoughts, or any negative thoughts. Do we realize how much our worldly thoughts control us when we are created to filter the world through the Spirit? If we make the habit of taking everything we see, hear, or think, to the Spirit, it will enable us to overcome the world.
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32) This verse is telling us to control our emotions rather than letting our emotions control us. Our thoughts are accompanied by our emotions, and Satan will use our emotions for sinful thoughts and actions. We are not created to live by our emotions; we are created to live by the Spirit.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) In our minds we know no temptation from Satan that we cannot escape because the power of God is with us.
Remember that Satan will tempt us and we may not even be aware of it. For example, he may make us impatient and cause us to rush through our day, or he may make us fearful of the future. The Lord wants us to live with rest for our souls by slowing down inside, putting our trust in Him, and being comforted knowing our home is in Heaven. He doesn’t want us to rush, be fearful, or get angry; he wants us to live everyday with peace and joy and with a heart of love.
Today, Let the Lord continue to make your heart more like the heart of Jesus, and let your heart control your thoughts. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Don’t a be slave to the world, choose freedom in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, help me to thinks on things above and guide me in the Spirit to be free with a heart filled with your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.