As you know, there are tidal waves of negative opinions, beliefs, and attitudes crashing around us on a daily basis, and it can be difficult to tread the waters of discernment while maintaining a biblical mindset. It seems we barely catch our breath before the next wave comes and the strong current threatens to pull us under.
What is mindset anyway? The simplest definition is a mental attitude that determines how you respond. For example, if you entertain negative thoughts long enough, chances are, you’ll respond negatively to those around you.
Our mindset impacts our decisions, actions, and beliefs. And the more I learn, the more I’m convinced that having a biblical mindset produces healthy responses.
If you’re wondering how to change your mindset, here are a few things to consider:
As a writer, I’m prone to headaches, mostly because I forget to straighten my posture and keep my neck from bending forward. According to WebMD, “Your neck muscles will get a real workout if you angle your face down for multiple hours daily to look at your phone or computer. If you feel tension or soreness in your neck, you may have text neck syndrome.”
In my opinion, there’s a similar syndrome that affects our mindset. When we’re heavily focused on worldly opinions and ideas, angling our minds toward the negative, we become overloaded with confusing information, causing underlying tension and stress.
In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul said, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
I love how Paul connects both the heart and the mind, emphasizing the importance of setting them on heavenly things. This means, instead of mindlessly scrolling social media, we mindfully study the Word of God. Instead of fixating on the latest news headline, we fix our eyes on Jesus.
One of the best things you can do to renew your mindset is to look up. Look beyond the here and now, lifting your eyes to heaven. My friend, this world is not all there is, and having a heavenly mindset will help you navigate life with hope and joy.
A Prayer for a Heavenly Mindset: Lord, please set my heart and mind on things above, not on Earth below.
Many of my mentoring programs have pivoted toward helping women step into greater peace. My heart is to help them move from a mindset of worry, doubt, and fear to a place of security in God’s peaceful presence.
One of the first things I encourage is alignment with the Lord—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Surprisingly, many women are swayed by the constant bombardment of mixed messages coming from every angle. And part of their anxiety stems from unknowingly aligning themselves with false beliefs such as…
-God must be tired of hearing from me.
-I will never overcome this sinful habit.
-I will always be depressed and anxious; it runs in the family.
-I don’t have purpose or value.
Over the years, I’ve believed many of these statements myself, but this mindset always robs us of God’s peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Having a steadfast mind means you continuously realign yourself with God’s truth, trusting what He says over what the world says.
In 15 Prayers for Peace of Mind to Calm and Comfort Your Soul, it says, “We cannot always control the things that rob us of peace of mind, but we can control how we respond.”
My friends, we respond by taking every lament to Jesus. We ask Him to bear our burdens with His yoke of gentleness and ease. We embrace His gift of peace daily, remembering it is a peace unlike anything the world has to offer.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”
A peaceful mindset rests in the ways of the Lord, trusting Him in all things. And from this mindset, our response is a gentle answer of truth in the face of falsehood.
A Prayer to Embrace A Peaceful Mindset: Lord, please fill my mind with Your indescribable peace and help me respond rightly to others.
Not many people approve of using the words “right and wrong” these days but would rather lump everything into gray areas of compromise. Unfortunately, this is leading to more confusion than ever, turning our minds into a web of conflicting thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” What a beautiful remedy for the mindset of confusion that has overcome the world!
Biblical truth is like a healing balm that cures the deepest wounds. It upholds the righteousness of God in the loveliest of ways. Not only are the Scriptures noble, they are living and active, “Sharper than any double-edged sword… dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Like a surgeon who carefully removes what doesn’t belong, God’s Word removes wrong thinking and replaces it with everything excellent and praiseworthy. Having a right mindset comes from the truth of the Scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Spirit who helps us take every thought captive.
In the devotional, Choosing Your Thoughts, Alexis A. Goring says, “I’ve learned (and am still learning) that if we make a choice to take captive our negative thoughts and make them obedient to our Savior (Jesus Christ), He will help us win the battle of destructive habits that hurt us more than help. I speak from experience when I say that it is not easy to do! But in Christ, we find freedom.”
In John 17:16-17, Jesus prayed for His disciples, saying, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” His petition to the Father was that the Word of Truth would sanctify His followers, guarding them against false narratives and setting them apart for God’s glory.
Our brains are complex organs created by a loving God who never intended for us to absorb endless amounts of toxic messaging. He fashioned our minds to be filled with all that is lovely and pure, noble and true. Let your mind rest in the Lord today and meditate on all things worthy of praise. Mindset matters, and there’s nothing like the peace of mind found in Christ alone.
A Prayer for a Biblical Mindset: Holy God, please change my mindset from worldly thoughts to heavenly promises. I trust You for peace of mind today, in Jesus’ precious name.
More resources for your journey:
3 Keys to a Hope-Filled Spiritual Mindset
How to Develop the Mind of Christ
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Frank McKenna