I may have addressed this subject in a previous blog, but it is worth mentioning it again.
Several months ago, before the onset of Covid 19 and the drama of the Presidential election, I believe the Lord spoke something to me. It is found in Colossians 3:2:
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
I never realized the importance of that message to me until so many people became terrified by the onset of Covid 19. Then later the drama that surrounded the Presidential election. So much to become fearful about.
The previous scripture is just as important. Colossians 3: 1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.”
The word, affection, is the Greek word phroneo, which means to exercise the mind. To set means to make a determined decision to do something. In this case, to exercise your mind.
As I see it, we have two things we can do when we face situations that can make us fearful, depressed, anxious or worried. You can spend your time in fear, worrying about something which will ruin your whole day. Or you can exercise your mind on the things above and not on the things here on earth.
It reminds me of what we read in Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech your therefore, brethren (fellow believers), by the mercies of God that you present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Instead of worrying or being fearful about the things happening on this earth, discipline yourself, like a bodily decision to exercise, only this time your mind, to take that energy you use to worry or be fearful and read the Word of God, which will strengthened your knowledge of God.
The Word of God tells us that all forms of fear whether being afraid, worry, depression or anxiety is nothing more than a spirit. II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear…”
Setting your affection, exercising your mind, starts with a decision and continues with a discipline. II Corinth. 10:3-5 tells us that though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. We are in a war and the battle takes place in the mind.
II Corinth. 10:5 tells us that we have the power to cast down imaginations (those pictures we paint in our minds); to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
We need to remember are lives are hid in Christ. We need to remember we are seated in heavenly places in Jesus Christ. We have been given the power to rebuke those spirits of fear.
Where are your thoughts today? Covid 19 or the election? How about exercising your mind on the thoughts that in agreement with the Word of God.
When a bad thought comes into your mind that produces fear, take it captive, then speak what the Word of God says about your situation. Make it a habit to set, to exercise your mind on what the God says and not what that spirit of fear is trying to accomplish in your life.
- Pastor Jim