“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:1–2
Our minds are powerful places.
A single thought can change the direction of our day. One worry can steal peace. One comparison can make us question our worth. One harsh word replayed in our minds can sit with us for hours.
Most of us don’t realize how much of our spiritual life is actually fought in our thoughts.
Paul writes something very intentional in Colossians 3. He does not say simply, “Think about heaven sometimes.” He says set your mind on things above.
That phrase implies action. Training. Direction.
Because if we do not intentionally set our minds somewhere, they will drift somewhere else.
And our culture gives us plenty of places for them to drift.
A World Full of Noise
We live in an age of constant input.
Notifications. News cycles. Social media. Comparison. Opinions. Pressure. The endless scroll of what everyone else is doing, buying, achieving, becoming.
Our minds rarely get quiet.
But the danger of constant noise is that it trains our thoughts to live in the shallow end of life. We start thinking about what everyone else thinks of us instead of what God says about us.
We start measuring ourselves by visibility instead of faithfulness.
We start carrying burdens God never asked us to carry.
Isaiah 26:3 gives us a beautiful promise:
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Peace is connected to where the mind rests.
Not occasionally visits.
Rests.
When Our Thoughts Turn Against Us
Many women walk through life carrying a quiet battle in their thoughts.
Thoughts that whisper:
You’re not doing enough.
You’re not as capable as she is.
You should have figured this out by now.
You’re falling behind.
Comparison feeds these thoughts.
So does fear.
So does the pressure to prove ourselves.
Even strong, faith-filled women wrestle with internal dialogue that can feel relentless.
But Scripture reminds us of something important: we are not powerless over our thoughts.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says,
“We take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
Notice the language.
Take.
Capture.
This is active. Intentional. Strong.
It means when a thought enters our mind, we do not have to automatically believe it, entertain it, or let it shape our identity.
We can bring it before Christ.
Training the Mind
When Paul says, “Set your minds on things above,” he is inviting us into spiritual training.
Just like our bodies can be trained through repetition, our minds can be trained through truth.
Philippians 4:8 gives us a guide for what healthy thinking looks like:
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable… think about these things.”
Think about that list for a moment.
True.
Honorable.
Pure.
Lovely.
How often do our daily thoughts match that description?
For many of us, our minds default to worry, criticism, or comparison long before they default to truth.
Training our minds means gently redirecting them back to truth again and again.
Not with harshness.
But with intention.
Lifting Our Eyes
Setting our minds above does not mean ignoring our responsibilities here on earth.
Bills still need to be paid. Children still need to be raised. Work still needs to be done. Life still happens.
But it means our perspective changes.
Instead of viewing everything through the lens of pressure or fear, we begin seeing life through the lens of eternity.
Romans 12:2 says,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
Transformation happens through renewal.
And renewal happens when truth replaces lies.
When we remember:
Our worth is not based on productivity.
Our identity is not defined by comparison.
Our future is not determined by the opinions of others.
Our lives are hidden with Christ.
Secure. Anchored. Held.
When Life Feels Heavy
Setting our minds above becomes especially important during difficult seasons.
When anxiety rises.
When uncertainty lingers.
When circumstances feel overwhelming.
Our minds naturally focus on what feels most immediate and urgent.
But Scripture gently lifts our eyes.
2 Corinthians 4:18 reminds us:
“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Temporary things can feel enormous in the moment.
A stressful week.
A strained relationship.
A season of waiting.
A difficult decision.
But when we remember eternity, those moments shift in perspective.
They still matter.
But they no longer define everything.
Thinking Like Someone Who Belongs to Christ
Colossians 3 begins with a reminder of identity:
“If then you have been raised with Christ…”
Paul is speaking to believers who already belong to Jesus.
Our thinking flows from who we are.
We are not trying to become loved.
We already are.
We are not trying to earn belonging.
We already belong.
Our minds begin to settle when we remember this truth.
When we know who we belong to, comparison loses its grip.
When we know who holds our future, anxiety loosens its hold.
When we know our life is hidden with Christ, we stop chasing validation from everywhere else.
The Gentle Discipline of Refocusing
Training our minds is rarely dramatic.
Most of the time it is quiet and repetitive.
It looks like noticing when your thoughts drift toward comparison and choosing gratitude instead.
It looks like speaking Scripture over yourself when insecurity creeps in.
It looks like pausing to pray instead of spiraling in worry.
It looks like turning off noise that feeds anxiety.
These small choices may feel simple, but over time they shape the direction of our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 says,
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
What we allow to live in our minds eventually flows into our attitudes, words, and actions.
Guarding our thoughts is not about control.
It is about care.
A Mind Anchored in Christ
When our minds are anchored in Christ, something beautiful begins to happen.
We become steadier.
Less reactive to criticism.
Less shaken by comparison.
Less overwhelmed by circumstances.
Not because life becomes easier, but because our focus becomes higher.
Hebrews 12:2 encourages us:
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
The more we look toward Him, the less everything else defines us.
And slowly, quietly, our thoughts begin to align with truth.
Peace grows.
Confidence deepens.
Security settles.
Because our minds are no longer wandering through every anxious possibility.
They are resting where they were always meant to be.
Above.
With Christ.
Practical Application
If you want to begin setting your mind on things above, try these small practices this week:
1. Pay attention to your thoughts. Notice when your mind drifts toward comparison, worry, or insecurity.
2. Replace lies with truth. When negative thoughts appear, gently answer them with Scripture.
3. Create quiet time with God. Even a few minutes in prayer or the Word can refocus your heart.
4. Be careful what fills your mind. Limit voices or content that stir anxiety or comparison.
5. Lift your perspective. Remind yourself often that your life is hidden with Christ.
Small shifts in our thinking can lead to deep transformation over time.
Prayer
Father,
You know how easily our thoughts wander toward worry, comparison, and pressure. Teach us to set our minds on things above. Renew our thinking with Your truth. When life feels heavy, lift our perspective and remind us where our true life is found. Help our hearts rest securely in Christ so that peace can grow within us. Guard our minds from lies that steal our joy, and gently redirect us to the hope and love You freely give. May our thoughts reflect Your truth, and may we walk each day with eyes fixed on You, not the distractions around us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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