Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2
What do you spend your time thinking about? Your answer is probably a long list of hope and dreams, fleeting worries and deep concerns, hard and holy and mundane things. Maybe today you’re thinking about how challenging parenting is or how desperate you for a different career. Maybe your mind is spiraling with anxiety or you just feel numb with depression. Perhaps you’re focused on your new year goals, hoping that your hard work and planning will pay off in a particular way. Perhaps you can’t think of anything else but your physical pain.
What’s is going through your mind today, Scripture calls us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.
This begs the question: what is above?
Heaven. God’s full presence. His power. His throne room where He hears our prayers. The Father’s house with many rooms, which He is preparing for us right now. A place of healing. A place without tears. A place of wonder and worship. Forever love. Forever belonging.
Take a deep breath and read that list again. What would you add to it?
We don’t even need to answer the second implied question (what are earthly things?). We are keenly aware of our troubles and sorrow, the brokenness that surrounds us and wreaks havoc within us. God isn’t calling us to ignore these things or pretend they aren’t real or don’t have an immediate impact on our lives. Rather, He is inviting us to set our minds — fix our thoughts, determine our focus — on Him, despite what’s happening here on earth. Because He is where our hope and joy are.
Ruth Mills says
Praising The Lord decreases the time I have to worry. And what’s the statistic? A high number of things we worry about never come to pass anyway so why waste time in worry. He is so worthy it’s gonna take eternity to praise Him so might as well get started now.
Beth Williams says
In Courage,
Fixating on God & things above takes the focus off me & my little pain. Sure I’m having some pains here & there but in light of eternity & what other people are going through it is nothing. Praising & praying to God for others lessens my complaining. Paul said it best in
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Blessings 🙂
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Focusing on God is good thing. As it make you stop and think about all God has blessed us with. All we have to thank God for. Like this beautiful day he has given us to enjoy. That God woke us up to enjoy another day in his beautiful world. That God loves us no matter what. The list go on and on. So I say thank you God for coming into my life. We at times probably don’t thank God enough. Where would we be without God. Thank you incourage for today reading love it. In my prayers. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Focusing on God is good thing. As it make you stop and think about all God has blessed us with. All we have to thank God for. Like this beautiful day he has given us to enjoy. That God loves us no matter what. The list go on and on. So I say thank you God for coming into my life. We at times probably don’t thank God enough. Where would we be without God. Thank you incourage for today reading love it. In my prayers. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little
Irene says
Changing focus. Today, of all the days the week, focusing on things above has to be the right direction to go!
Rachel Markin says
What a Beautiful reminder that I desperately need as I fight Chronic Illness and Daily PainGod is so much Bigger
Carol Groenewegen says
Absolutely
Ariel Krienke says
It makes my day more joyful because I know things from the Lord God will last forever. Things on this earth are temporary and will eventually end. But His love never ends
Paula Schlotterbeck says
It helps me to remember that hard times do not last forever and I can look forward to seeing Jesus face to face!
Shelbi Sue Ong says
Trust me that my holy spirit agrees on the reading this has so deeply my heart. amen