“For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND and PURPOSES OF THE LORD, SO AS TO INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].” 1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP

One thing we must remember as we think about who and what we are in Christ is that we have been given a new way to think! In the past, our fleshly mind was at work to lead us to sin. The Apostle James gives us a great description of that process before Christ.

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires, he is lured away and enticed. 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:5 AMP

The process of sin is a simple one. Our thoughts lead directly to our actions. Look again at the process of sin. The picture that James paints is one of a fisherman, his bait, and the resulting catch. Clearly from this verse God is not in the business of tempting us with sin! He does challenge us to walk in His ways but even in that He leaves the choice to us! Lurking deep inside our flesh is the power of sin. It is constantly trying to come to the service to satisfy its desires. Thos of us who are walking in recovery know all too well the power of the thing that trapped us. If we do not bring that under control it will ultimately do its destructive work. If old patterns of thinking take over, we begin to entertain the bait leading to action. Once the action is taken it will produce nothing of value in our lives! This is why the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians that they have a new way of thinking through the Holy Spirit. The issue is now that we have two voices fighting for control!

I often get asked, “How do I hear God.” God speaks to us in many ways, but our thoughts are always with us. If a thought leads to godliness, then it is of the Lord. If a thought leads to the old place of bondage, then it is from the devil! Seems simple right? Not really! Out fleshly thoughts are constantly trying to tell us the our Spiritual thoughts are just us! The issue is that thoughts are like paths in a forest. The more you walk on them, the more pronounced they become. Our old-life thoughts are like highways in our brains. They are the default path that we take almost automatically. Our new thoughts from the Holy Spirit are like fresh paths, they look inviting, but who knows what lies down them! The more we practice following them the easier and more natural our Spiritual thought become. We near really stop receiving fleshly thoughts, but it gets easier to identify them! The Scripture give us the answer to this dilemma.

“Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” Colossians 3:1-4 AMP

“and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—” Colossians 3:10 AMP

The key is to “keep seeking the things above” and to “2Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth.”  Are also told to “put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self.” That means we must constantly seek the things of God and His Kingdom, not the things of this world! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken