“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honourable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. Fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.” – Philippians 4:8
How can we ‘take thoughts captive?’ What do we do to ‘keep our eyes on Jesus?’ How do we ‘overcome?’ How do we go from ‘one degree of glory to another?’ Can we ‘defeat sin and temptation?’ How do we ‘sit with Jesus in heavenly places? These quotes from the Bible are familiar enough and we probably think we understand what they mean and how amazing their truth is. However, the question is, are they in any way real and visible in our everyday life. Are they part of our personal reality?
Jesus Is The Way
They are all attainable because they are part of what Jesus bought on the cross and what He invites us to experience. It’s time to be honest; otherwise we are just kidding ourselves and others.
God is calling us to break through into a new place of ‘knowing’ Him where these things become our daily experience.
Where To Begin
We want to do them all but where do you begin? Whilst there are practical disciplines and habits we can employ to help us, the shift only happens from a place of ‘abiding’, entwinement, stillness and intimacy with God. As we often don’t really perceive the value of this place of abiding, it can be something of a slow process. (Although it does appear that trials, suffering, loss and pain can be accelerators of it!).
The main commodity that needs to be initially invested is time – both quality and quantity. This is given not from any sense of duty or obligation but from a place of hunger and longing.
One key ‘shift’ on this journey to a new reality is to restore the place of our ‘spirit’ and bring our soul (mind, emotions and will) and our body under its authority. A mind that is renewed from the spirit (small‘s’) can perceive and understand in a different way, provided, of course, that Holy Spirit resides in that spirit.
Renewed Thoughts
It’s time to renew your mind with revelation. Be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ within you and live in complete union with Him! God has re-created you all over again in His perfect righteousness. Now you belong to Him in the realm of true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24).
– Navigator Jo
__
Read also: Love Trumps Everything!
