Navigate Life by Setting Your Mind on the Things Above
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Navigate Life by Setting Your Mind on the Things Above
In the rush of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in the immediate—the worries, the stress, and the seemingly overwhelming demands of the "things below." Yet, the Bible offers a powerful redirect, from the Apostle Paul: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:2)
But what are these "things above," and how do we practically apply this principle to break free from the cycles of worry and finally make real, lasting progress in our lives?
What Does it Mean to Focus on "Things Above"?
When the Bible instructs us to set our minds on things above, it's not suggesting we ignore our responsibilities, but rather that we change our focus.
1. It's God's Standard and His Grace
The "things above" are synonymous with God's very nature and His gracious gifts to us. They include:
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Wisdom: True wisdom comes from above, a high thing that guides us.
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Righteousness: Choosing the high road of righteousness over the low road of sin.
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Health and Wholeness: Everything good that God gives us—physical, spiritual, and emotional—comes from above.
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His Ways and Promises: Setting our minds on the reality of God's covenant relationship with us—that He is working for our good and nothing is impossible for Him.
2. A Call to a Higher Focus
"Things above" is about maintaining a vertical mindset rather than a horizontal mindset. Your focus determines your reality. Just as a quarterback must keep his eyes up in the pocket to find the open receiver, we must keep our focus upward to see the opportunities and the grace God provides.
When life's pressure is on, the natural tendency is to look down—to look at our problems and circumstances. But when we maintain a fixed gaze on the things above, we discover a powerful shift:
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Peace and Purpose: Focusing on the eternal realm aligns our lives with God's kingdom and gives us an inner peace that transcends turbulent circumstances.
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Less Anxiety: By focusing on the unchanging character and promises of Christ, the temporary struggles of the world lose their power to consume us.
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The Power of the Holy Spirit: God provides the grace and empowering of the Holy Spirit, to help us set our minds on the things above.
🧭 The Power of Direction: Stop Going in Circles
Having a "True North" keeps us from going around in circles and helps navigate successfully.
Kelvin's real-life experience of being lost in the Maine wilderness vividly illustrates this principle:
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When facing stress and a clouded perspective, he immediately went "in a complete circle."
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He realized he had the tools, but his focus was wrong. He had to get his mind (his navigational device) re-established on its correct reference point.
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The moment he was able to reorient his focus—his true North—he went from lost and going in circles to being back on track and making progress in a matter of minutes.
In life, if we let the temporary circumstances—whether it's self-doubt, a past mistake, or what someone else has said about us—dictate our path, we will constantly go in circles, struggling to break through to the next level of progress.
Where your mind (your head) is set dictates where your life (your body) will go.
🔑 Your Blueprint for a Breakthrough: The New You
The shift from living in a cycle of "things below" to a life focused on "things above" is all about embracing your new identity in Christ—The New You.
Our The New You Program, provides a powerful framework for this transformation. This program is built on the reality that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), but you need to fully install and establish this new identity.
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A New Covenant, A New You: God isn't trying to patch up your old self; He's given you a completely new self in Christ. The more you set your mind on who God says you are, the more the "old you" begins to fade away.
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Consistent Reprogramming: To set your mind on things above means actively and consistently focusing on God's promises and the life He has for you. This means:
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Getting Clear: Defining what God has promised you and what you want your life to look like.
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Immersion: Keeping these truths in your eyes, ears, mouth, and imagination daily until they are impressed into your heart.
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From Circles to Progress: As Kelvin testified, getting his mind set on this new reality—the "things above" that are his true purpose and potential—allowed him to break through years of being stuck and instantly begin making major progress toward writing his book.
You don't have to wait for the perfect time, the right feeling, or a dramatic event. The grace to set your mind on the things above is available to you today.
Are you ready to stop going in circles and set your mind on the things above?
If you're tired of the frustration of feeling lost, going in circles, or letting the "things below" dictate your life, it's time for a change of focus.
Action Step: You can start your journey to a New You and find the clarity and peace you need.