The Mind of Christ

Lately this phrase keeps coming up as I pray for myself and others.  I pray that I/they would have the mind of Christ...a renewed mind that leads to transformation.  God often speaks to me in what I call "themes".  A certain word, phrase, or picture will come up at seemingly random times, but it is the same word, phrase, or picture every time, so I pay attention to it.  This phrase has been like that for me lately.  It just keeps coming up.  On my smartphone, I have an app called "Identity in Christ", where I receive daily thoughts with a scripture about who I am in Christ.  Today's thought and scripture were related to the mind of Christ.  Then I opened a book I'm reading called Beautiful One and the chapter I'm on had a portion about the mind of Christ.


So, I ask Jesus this question...what's on your mind, Lord?  His answer?  His Father's business...the Kingdom...His Word instructs us to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2) and to think about whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  


Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect".  How am I transformed?  By the renewing of my mind.  How is my mind renewed?  By putting on the mind of Christ.  It is a conscience decision that I make.  It is up to me to make the choice to put it on.  


Jesus loved His Dad and set His mind on things above.  He brought those things above down to earth and loved the one in front of Him.  When I put on the mind of Christ, I can do the same.  I put on His mind of love, which enables me to love the one in front of me.  My judgmental, overly busy, apathetic mind is renewed and I am transformed to do the will of God, which is to love the one I'm tempted to judge, to take time to love the one I've been too busy for, to ask God to break my heart for what breaks His and love the one He loves.


As our missionaries spend time in the bush this week, I pray each one puts on the mind of Christ, so that when their minds say they're too tired, Christ's mind says, "For this reason it says, 'Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you" (Eph. 5:14). When their minds say they can't do this.  It's too hard, Christ's mind says, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). When their minds say there's too much darkness and hopelessness, Christ's mind says, "You are the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14) and "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:13). 


Thank You, Lord that we don't have to be limited to our own minds, but we can put on Your mind, which renews and transforms us.  Remind us daily that just as we put on our clothes in the morning or put on our shoes before leaving the house, we must also put on Your mind, so we will love The ONE and love the one.