“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

This scripture indicates an intention—to set. It also indicates a direction—above, not earthly. And this intentional direction is a mindset. I like this quote from RightNow Media: “A mindset is a specific way of thinking that is set before we act, which can directly impact the outcome of our actions. Stay intentional by aligning your mindset and actions in your day-to-day.”

Many seek the “spiritual” aspect of faith, desiring a spiritual “high,” and think that they are missing out when they do not “feel” the spirit. I used to be that way. I loved music that would really put me in the “spirit.” But what is that really? I am not trying to discredit it, but I want to put it into its proper place, because walking with Jesus is more about The Pilgrim’s Progress than flying above the clouds. Hear me well, that does not mean that we should live a life absent the Holy Spirit. In fact, quite the opposite—we cannot live a Christian life without the Holy Spirit.

We cannot live a life without being grounded daily in the Holy Spirit. So, when you are struggling to care, to love, to be other-focused, to be joyful, then know that you are where you should be. It is just a perspective that is off. Yes, the struggle is real, and that is how you know that you are in the spiritual battle and that you need the Holy Spirit to survive, thrive, and succeed. It is really a matter of perspective.

Daniel is a good example. Daniel was of the Jewish nobility, deported as a teenager to Babylon, which was a pagan empire ruled by a ruthless king, Nebuchadnezzar. But Daniel was taken to the king’s court and offered all kinds of royal resources with the intention of converting him to the King’s service. Daniel would have it made. He could have easily allowed himself to assimilate into the Babylonian culture, to go with the flow. But Daniel did not. He resolved, or “set his mind.” How was he able to take this stand, to defy the easy way out?

1. Inclination/Desire: We first must have an inclination or desire in our heart to do the right thing. I give some credit to Daniel’s upbringing, because he could not have been prepared for the temptations of court life unless he had been brought up in a Godly home. I believe his parents must have been faithful to the Law. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Those of us who grew up in Christian families are the most privileged. Those of you who raise your own families in a Christian household are to be praised. But if you did not have that benefit, and even if you did, all of us can cultivate Godly desire by staying in the Word—reading our Bible, sitting under good preaching, and praying to God to strengthen this Godly desire of our heart.
2. Intention, resolve. “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself…” (Daniel 1:8). Paul said, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). These men were intentional. They woke up knowing what their objectives were. They went to bed knowing what their objectives were for the next day, week, month, lifetime.
3. Knowledge/Direction. It is important to have a godly desire and to be intentional, but we must be heading in the right direction. Steven Covey says, “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.” How do we ensure we are heading in the right direction? James gives us the source of all wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
4. Step by step. How do we move forward once we have the desire, intention, and direction? Step by step. I just watched the Summer Olympics. Gymnastics is so dramatic; swimming or running lap after lap—not so dramatic. But equally important. How can you get more power and speed per stroke or stride? After observing Katie Ledecky in the Olympics, I read where it is not unusual for competitive swimmers to swim fifty miles a week. That computes to an average of 115 laps per day! Even when too tired to practice, too sore to compete, too discouraged to keep on, they keep on swimming.
5. Courage. Assuming we have developed godly convictions through the steps above, when troubles come our way, we must stand firm. We have the same power in us that raised Jesus from the dead. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” {Romans 8:11). The root word of courage is heart. So, when Jesus tells us to take heart, he is telling us to be courageous. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! (Be courageous!) I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend; the difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way to life lies here. Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear. Better, though difficult, the right way to go, than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.” (The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan)

In Christ,

Judy