As we continue to reiterate and meditate upon our Church theme for the year, on walking ‘In His Steps’, I am reminded of the command in scripture to adopt the same ‘mind’ or thinking as our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5, to ‘Let this mind be in you as it was also in Christ Jesus’. We are to think in the same way that Jesus thought. This is of utmost importance because the discipline of our thoughts and attitudes not only determine the quality of our lives but can ultimately lead to either the fulfilment of God’s purpose in us or at worst to moving away from God.

As it has often been said the ‘mind’ is the battleground for our souls and not only is defeat and victory usually established there but Proverbs 23:7 states that, ‘As he thinks in his heart, so is he’. Our very identity is influenced by our own self-concept.

With so much bombarding our minds from what we see and hear from mainstream media as well as social media, the messages and philosophies that our culture and society conveys to us, it is very easy to succumb to ungodly thoughts and sinful pursuits that lead to destruction. In fact, I believe that this is one of the greatest struggles for the Child of God today, the unending distractions of devices, entertainment, media and recreational pursuits that can diminish our singular focus of faith and relationship with God, and the preaching of the Gospel.

We must learn to have our minds influenced and shape by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. We must know His Word, meditating on Scripture and living it out in our daily experience. 1 Corinthians 2:16 reveals to us that ‘We have been given the mind of Christ’. When we walk in that mindset, it has the power to change our lives and to see us through every circumstance. Let our prayer be; “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14