“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV
Have you ever heard the phrase “remember the son of whom you are”? It is a common admonition from guardians to their wards heading off to a boarding school or a new city and it served as a reminder for them to continually uphold the good virtues instilled in them and to avoid mixing with the wrong crowd no matter how tempting.
In our anchor text, we see Paul’s admonition to the church in Colossae, and by extension us, to set our minds on Christ who is eternal, not on things of the earth which are temporary. How do we do this in a world where the cares of life can be so great and the hustle and bustle of trying to make a living so overwhelming? It requires intentionality.
One thing we see in our anchor verse is that it’s our duty to set our minds on God. We should undertake conscious and repeated actions to fix our gaze on Christ as there will be many reasons, some of which are legitimate, that will fight for first place in your heart. But we must steer our attention to God and stir up our delight in Him.
One intentional way to set our minds on Christ is thanksgiving. Through thanksgiving, you can remind yourself of the One who holds your life in His hands and causes your ways to prosper (Psalms 107:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Do not let the only time you remember the name of the Lord be when you have prayer requests. Be like that one leper who came back to give thanks in Luke 11:15. This will help you centre your heart on God both in lack and in plenty.
Another way to set your heart on God is by curating your atmosphere. One good thing to do as you go about your daily activities is to leave godly songs or sermons playing in the background as this helps set your heart on God even during idle moments. By doing this, you find that you are constantly aware of God and maintaining spiritual disciplines like prayer times is easier.
Lastly, give yourself to prayer. Prayer is primarily fellowship with God and in prayers, you show your absolute dependence on God. We live in a world that is more spiritual than physical and spending time in the secret place communing with God is a great way to train your heart to see that you are nothing of yourself but everything with God. (Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
As you set your mind on God, it will show in your decisions and your reaction to everyday temptations, you’d always reveal the child of whom you are, a son of God.
Remember, God wants to be the object of your attention and devotion at all times so, take deliberate actions on these pointers today and every other day to ensure that God comes first in your life and that your actions reflect this.
Bible Reading Plan: Psalms 22-24, 47, 68