Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2

Kari Beougher

It can be so difficult to train our thoughts toward godly and eternal things. In the midst of day to day life, it is easy to get caught up in the details and fail to let our minds dwell on heavenly things instead of earthly things. Jobs, relationships, finances, education- even seemingly good endeavors can fill our mind and distract us from keeping a proper perspective on who God is and what He has called us to do.

Romans 8:5-6 says, "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." 
When we focus solely on the realities of this life, it is overwhelming, discouraging, and ultimately, completely futile and displeasing to God. However, when we have a proper focus on who God is and live in the assurance of the hope of heaven, life is far less overwhelming.

When reading this verse, I think of Matthew 14 and Peter walking on the water to Jesus. When Peter had his focus on the Lord, he was able to trust the Lord and walk with confidence; the moment he focused on his circumstances, he was overwhelmed and unable to do what the Lord had asked of him. In the midst of the heartaches, confusion and disappointments of this life, we can have perfect peace when we have our minds set on the Spirit.

Today, may we purpose to set our minds on things above, not focusing on earthly things. May we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" and "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 10:5).

We ask God to remove strongholds

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, New American Standard Bible).

War, weapons, power, destruction, fortresses, captivity - what sort of war is going on? At this point in Scripture, people were arguing with Christians about whether Christ is the Messiah, the One promised to come to earth to restore God's reign. Christ, indeed, came to save the world from being separated from God through their sin, while satan wishes people to feel trapped in sin and away from the Lord.

Paul tells the Corinthians that these thoughts that questioned Christ and God did not need to be countered by the way the world wages war. Instead, He encouraged Christians to trust in God's power. God wishes to fight for His people, to win them to Him. As believers wanting others to come to have a relationship with God, we trust in God's power because we believe it is the strongest. The power of the Holy Spirit is far greater than the power of the devil that seeks to put barriers between God's creations knowing and trusting in their Creator.

Is there someone on your mind who does not have a relationship with God? Let's pray for God to remove any strongholds that block them from having faith in our Lord and Savior. We hope they will trust in God, our God who renews minds and teaches truth.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999)
Photo from http://my-god-is.com/