Spiritually Minded 07

We said earlier that we are spiritually minded when God's Spirit and our spirit are in control of our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, motivations & imagination. But this won’t happen automatically. It will require some effort on our part:

BEING SPIRITUALLY-MINDED

First, we need to train ourselves to be aware. In other words, we need to keep a close watch on our minds! Remember that every decision we make, every action we take, every thought we think, is influenced by either the spirit or the flesh. Following are some practical ways to make sure our minds are being controlled by the Spirit. (These ideas were taken from Dean Sherman’s Spiritual Warfare teaching series.)

o Take every thought captive. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

o Compare your attitude to that of Jesus. Philippians 2:5 says, “5Let this mind [attitude] be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

o Watch your motives. Philippians 2:3 says, “3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

o Guard your heart, the source of your emotions. Proverbs 4:23 says, “23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

o Sanctify your imagination. In Isaiah 65:2 God says, “2All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.”

Like physical training, training your mind will require determination and perseverance. But unlike physical training, the fruit of training your mind to be spiritually focused will be eternal.