Set Your Mind..

I am sure I am not the only one who feels alone from time to time.  People can leave you; friends move on, or circumstances and situations can make you feel like your life is overwhelming you to the point of despair.  In times such as this, have you ever thought about where God is?  He does after all say that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

I heard someone tell a part of her testimony the other day.  When she was younger, she made the wrong friends, and these relationships soon made her question if God is real.  She seriously considered renouncing her faith in God.  At the time she was far away from home and felt all alone.  At one stage she sat sobbing in her room.  She didn’t say how she got out of the situation but shared that years later she asked the Lord where He was when she was going through this.  His response was that as she was sitting at her desk sobbing and staring at the wall, He was right behind her sitting on her bed.  Problem was that she was so focussed on her situation that she didn’t turn to Him, she was looking to other things for answers and comfort. The Lord is gentle and kind and will never force you to look to Him for comfort.  But, when you do, He is always nearby.

There is a well-known story in the Bible of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who refused to fall down and worship the golden image of king Nebuchadnezzar.  The king made a decree that whoever does not fall down and worship the image, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  We mostly know the story of how they came out unharmed, but for me the one thing that is often overlooked is that the king’s men cast three men into the fire, but then you get this comment from the king:

Dan 3:25 NKJV - 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

The fire was so hot that the servants who cast the men in were killed themselves.  Yet in the midst of that fiery furnace, not only did the three men survive and walk freely, but there was a fourth man - Jesus was in their midst.  He was going through the fiery trial with them and kept them safe.  What a great witness to the king and that whole nation of the reality and presence of the Lord.  

This is so encouraging.  Problem is that we are often so focused on the issues in our lives, we magnify them and in doing so, we give it power and feed the fear.  But, if we will take a moment to focus our attention and thoughts on God, we will see that He is always present and ready to save.  Magnifying the Lord will change your situation.  He is always bigger than anything that can come against you.

Rom 8:5 NKJV - 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

What we think on can literally bring us life or death.  Controlling our thought life is very important.  So, what should we be thinking on?

Phil 4:8 NKJV - 8 Finally, brethren, 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. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

If we keep our minds on only these things, then peace is a promise from God.  It is also echoed here:

Is 26:3-4 NKJV - 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.  4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

The last while I have been preoccupied with new creation realities.  When we are born again, not only does our eternal destination change, but our spirits are made alive unto God.  We become a brand-new creation that hasn't existed before. I heard someone humorously explain it the other day by saying that his body was born in his hometown, but he - his new recreated spirit - came from Heaven.  The Bible says that we are in this world, but we are not of it.  

John 17:16 NKJV - 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Once you realize that you came from Heaven and that you will be going back there, it settles how temporary and unimportant - in the greater scheme of things - our daily life issues really are.  Even if you have to deal with the same issue for the rest of your life, then Heaven still awaits where this life will soon be but a distant memory.  In the meantime, you can help yourself by making the effort to focus on the realities of Heaven - as a real place - rather than to be distracted by this natural physical world.  Here is some good advice:  

Col 3:1-3 NKJV - 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

We need to seek and set our minds on things in Heaven where Christ is seated.  Why?  Because we are seated there with Him.  This is so important.  Not only does it change your perspective, it changes your position and your power.  Being seated in Heavenly places gives you a vantage point over the enemy.  You can see him coming a mile off and so he loses the element of surprise, and you can have the victory every time.  

What does it look like to keep your mind on things above?  In a way it is saying that you have a choice if you want to look below where evil is constantly trying to get you in fear, or to look to God in Heaven and magnify Him.  Also, looking to Heaven reminds us of the promise of a very bright future to the point where we have to squint our eyes against the brightness of what is to come. 

All of this is good and true, but for me it is the most important thing to be mindful that “I have died, and my life is hidden with Christ in God”.  We are no longer mere humans; we are spirit beings and so our realities should be on all the things that we were given in Christ when He died and rose again.  Looking unto Him means that we never have to live another day of defeat in our lives - ever!  Because you are now a spirit in Christ, you always win.  But you will not know what is yours in Christ if you don’t take the time to renew your mind to the truths in the Word.  So, hurry up already and put a priority on getting into the Word so you can see what He gave you, but also who He made you to be as you are seated with Him in Heavenly places.

As a closing thought, if you ever again find yourself in a situation where you feel that God is far, be mindful of the fact that feelings are passing and fickle.  The Word is true and stands forever.  It says that He is always with you and all you need to do is set your mind, your focus, your attention, your affection on Him - see where He is in your situation - and you will be comforted to find that He is always just a thought and a focus away. Just like the story of Daniel's friends who found they were not alone in the fire; you will find there is a very real fourth Man. But this time, He is not in the fire with you, He is present IN YOU!

It seems that if you open a blog post, it sometimes asks you to create or open a profile for yourself.  I am not sure what that is about, so if you encounter that, kindly send me a screenshot to newcreationmore@gmail.com so I can follow up.  Blessings.