Colossians 3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
We think at two levels – we think with our mind and we think with our heart. Our mind is always busy with cognitive analysis. When we hear “RED CAR”, the image of a red car subconsciously appears in our mind. The thoughts of the mind are a direct result of the ‘electrical circuits’ of the brain. Whereas, the heart does not use rational analysis to think. The meditation of the heart is rooted in our belief system. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1). Even when the eyes witness impossibilities and ears hear hopelessness, the heart anchored in Christ will neither be petrified nor be terrified. The rudimentary difference between the worldly and the heavenly minded is that the worldly minded are controlled by their will, emotions and intellect (soul) but the heavenly minded are led by the faith in their hearts.
There is consensus with the thoughts of ‘the heart’ and ‘the mind’ in the heavenly minded. Whereas the heart of the ungodly is full of disbelief and doubt. “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). God cannot be fooled by the hypocritical prayers, superfluous language or with flamboyant vocabulary. He searches the heart and tests the mind.
The thoughts of the heart and mind of the heavenly minded are corroborated:
1. Imagination: ‘Imaginations’ are the eyes of the soul. The imaginations of the mind are supported by the prognosis but the imaginations of the heart are authenticated by the promises of God. When the prognosis and the promises are contradictory, replace the prognosis with promises. This does not mean to live in denial of the diagnosis, just overrule the doctor’s report with the Word of God.
2. Images: Imaginations print images in the mind, and the portraits are archived in the heart. The printout of the mind and the portrait of the heart should endorse each other for prayers to be answered. Hannah prayed for a baby and the confidence in her heart changed her countenance. Her countenance was no more sad (1 Samuel 1:18b). Images in our heart will leave impressions in our expressions and attitudes.
- Insights: Insights of our heart will be the excerpts of the soul. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). Heart that munches on the promises of God will only confess faith.
Heavenly minded replace the imaginations and images of the mind with the insights, thoughts and meditation of the heart.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to meditate your promises in my heart and replace the thoughts of my mind with the perspective of the heart. Amen.
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