April 14 – Setting Your Mind on Things Above

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
— Colossians 3:1-2
 
 
Because we have been raised with Christ, Paul urges us to think differently. Resurrection life begins in the heart but continues in the mind. What we dwell on shapes what we desire. What we rehearse internally shapes how we act externally. Setting our minds on “things above” does not mean ignoring earthly responsibilities; it means viewing them through the lens of Christ’s lordship. It means allowing eternal truth to inform daily living.
 
Consider where your thoughts tend to linger. Ask yourself: What occupies most of my mental space—worry, comparison, ambition, resentment, distraction? Do my thoughts align with the hope and truth of the resurrection? What would it look like for my thinking to be shaped more intentionally by Christ? The mind is a powerful place of formation. When we fix our thoughts on Christ—His character, His promises, His reign—our inner life gradually reflects that focus.
 
Today, practice redirecting your attention. Choose one Scripture verse—perhaps today’s passage—and return to it throughout the day. When anxious or negative thoughts arise, gently replace them with truth: “I have been raised with Christ.” You might set reminders on your phone or place a written verse where you will see it often. Notice how intentional focus reshapes your mood, your reactions, and your outlook. Over time, disciplined attention becomes spiritual freedom.
 
 
Loving Father, thank You that I have been raised with Christ. Help me set my mind on what is true, good, and eternal. Guard my thoughts from distraction and anxiety, and renew my thinking with Your truth. Let my inner life reflect the hope of the resurrection and the reign of Christ. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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