ARE YOU CONTROLLED BY YOUR MIND OR YOUR HEART?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 
(Philippians 2:5)

MEDITATION:
Why do we do the things we do and say the things we say?
They either originate in our mind, or they are an overflow of our hearts. 
If the Spirit of Christ is vibrant and alive in our hearts, 
then we should have a mindset similar to Christ Jesus.

Why? Because God sends us His Spirit directly into our hearts 
to change us internally and externally.
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 
the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)

Just as we receive God’s salvation through faith, 
we receive the Spirit of Christ the same way.
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to 
the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the 
promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14)

James tells us that God provides us with many blessings 
and reminds us that He remains the same at all times. 
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of 
the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

One of His ‘perfect gifts’ is the Spirit of Christ, sent directly 
into our hearts to assist us in developing the mindset of Jesus.
God does not ‘change like shifting shadows’ and when we have His mindset, 
we will discover that we too can remain the same when our emotions fluctuate.

Compare the mind to the heart.

Hugs, gentle touches, kind words, concern for others, encouragement, 
doing things for others with no expectations of anything in return (and 
not obsessing over the lack of appreciation), love, joy, peace, patience, 
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and an 
overall love for others, are all evidences of a heart filled with the 
Spirit of Christ.

Conversely, hurting others, making assumptions about people, actively 
finding faults in others, using people for personal satisfaction, lying, 
discouraging others, gossiping, sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, conflict, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish 
ambition, rebellion, cliques, envy, drunkenness, and orgies, do not 
originate from a Spirit-filled heart, but from the mind; none of these 
are considered components of the mindset of Jesus.

James tells us that the things opposed to Christ originate in our minds.
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil 
desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; 
and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

Paul tells us that we can know we belong to Christ 
when His Spirit lives in us.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the 
Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not 
have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)

He also reminds us that when the Spirit of Jesus is lives in us, 
we can be assured that we will receive eternal life.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, 
he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal 
bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)

The Lord’s Spirit elevates the love in our hearts 
and increases our desire to pray.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love 
of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 
(Romans 15:30)

His Spirit gives us the capacity and desire 
to replace selfishness with selflessness.
And when we do, we will overcome our own mindset, 
which convinces us that everything is ‘all about me’.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility 
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests 
but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

When the Spirit is active in our hearts, 
our mindset is changed so that our words and actions 
will be obvious to others that we are ‘a letter from Christ’.
How great is that? 
We can become a letter that communicates a message from God.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, 
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets 
of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3)
It is not what we say or post on social media, 
but how our lives show the Spirit of God lives in our hearts.

We should not be surprised to see Paul closing his letter to the Philippian 
believers with an encouragement to synchronize their spirit 
with the grace of Jesus Christ.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Philippians 4:23)
For that to take place, they need to have His Spirit living in their hearts 
so that His thoughts will reside in their minds.

ACTION:
Which one is winning the battle in your mind: selfishness or selflessness?
Have you received God’s gracious gift of the Spirit of Christ?
If you have, then you can relate to the content of this devotional 
because you have experienced significant changes in your own life.
You have become a person with the mindset of Jesus 
who is controlled by His Spirit living in your heart. 
In addition, 
others can easily see that you have become a ‘letter from Christ’.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for everything good you provide, including 
the Spirit of Your Son. I want to have His Spirit vibrant and alive in 
my heart so that the mindset of Jesus will permeate all that I say and 
do. Help me to replace my spirit with His Spirit. I pray that when I do, 
others will easily see that Your Spirit has made significant changes in 
my attitudes and actions. Teach me how to allow the love of Christ to 
flow through me.”

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