The things we choose to think about can have a huge impact on our lives. Sometimes we might not feel like we have much choice in our thoughts, but when thoughts enter our minds, we can choose whether we let them stay or whether we remove them, whether we react to them or ignore them, and whether we base our lives on them or test them against God’s Word. The Bible tells us to set our minds on ‘things above, not on earthly things.’ That means our minds should be thinking about God, and godly things, rather than worldly things. The Greek word used for ‘set’ is phroneite, which means to observe, seek after, or direct the mind to. This suggests it’s an active word. Setting our mind is something we need to be continually doing. We can’t do it one day and find our thinking is set on things above forever. Each day, hour, and minute, we need to be choosing to seek after God. This can sound really challenging. But if we’re coming to God in prayer each day, and asking Him to share His heart with us, then we’ll find it easier to see things from His perspective. We also need to be reading our Bibles and memorising verses to help us think about the good, godly things. In Philippians 4 we’re told: ‘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’ (v.8 NIV). Thoughts may enter our mind which don’t match up with criteria. But we can choose to deal with them, remove them, and set our minds on things above instead. 

What Now?

At the top of every hour today, pray ‘God, help me set my mind on things above this hour.’