Power to Commit:
Direct Your Mind – Part 1
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:3-10
Key Verse: Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.:
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Making a true commitment to anything is seldom an easy thing. The very word “commit” refers to an endeavor that takes discipline and hard work. Commitment takes follow through; a consistency of effort even when it no longer has any excitement or fun attached to it.
When we commit ourselves to God, we are laying aside our natural (fleshly) tendencies to self-direct. Commitment means, using the apostle’s words, putting to death whatever belongs to the earthly nature (Colossians 3:5).
In verses 1 and 2, Paul writes that we are to set our hearts and minds on things above. The Greek word for “set” that Paul uses means to direct one’s mind, to seek, to strive. This is the committed one’s follow through. We must daily direct our minds because if we don’t, the evil one is glad to do the directing. The devil loves to put thoughts into our minds that are contrary to the “things above”! The Spirit living in us will help us identify these thoughts of evil, but we must direct them. We are responsible for their length of stay in our minds. With God’s help, we have the power to direct our thoughts away from evil to the things above. As we catch these evil thoughts, we must redirect our thoughts to the wholesome and pure thoughts of godliness.
Father, I commit myself to the task of directing my mind to your thoughts. I will refuse to allow evil thoughts to rule over me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The constant bombardment of worldly influences perpetuated throughout the media makes this quite a challenge but nothing in comparison to the reward of peace this discipline has to offer. The fact that this is difficult is what makes the task so valuable. Now to walk the walk! God, help me to continually keep this as the forefront of my consciousness.