Psalm 91 is rich in the encouragement and comfort that comes from abiding in our Heavenly Father. The choice before every living person is that of where they will live and abide. This living and abiding place isn’t pertaining to our earthly residence but our spiritual residence. God tells us that we can live gloriously in Him. We can have our minds and hearts always in that heavenly spiritual place, because that is our real home. Psalm 91:1(NLT) says, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” We are spiritual beings housed in a body, while physically living within the earth, but through Jesus Christ we can spiritually live in God 24/7. We can continually abide in the glory of His safety, peace, joy, love, and power. There, we can have confidence that His goodness will permeate everything that we do.
2Corinthians 4:18(NIV) says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” The earth is decaying and has been since sin entered it. Romans 8:22(NLT) tells us, “For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” It’s true that the earth is our temporary dwelling place, but we should never devote all our focus on the things of this world. Jesus Christ said in John 14:2(NIV), “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” Christ made it possible for us to live, abide, and rest in, and this is the glorious secret place of God, and we can abide in God through Jesus Christ forever.
Through Christ, we are interdimensional spiritual beings. Again, our bodies are alive on earth, but our minds and hearts should be always focused on God, because where He lives, we live. To remain focused on God is to stay our minds on Him. Isaiah 26:3(NKJV) tells us about something that God does for His people. This verse says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” God has given every human being free-will choice. We can think however we choose to think, but our Heavenly Father makes it known that if we keep our minds stayed on Him, His perfect peace will take us over as we trust in Him continually. There’s nothing greater than this, and we should be so thankful to our Heavenly Father for giving us this assurance.
There are many systems of believing within the New Age movement that teach meditation, and some Christians have subscribed to them without being led of the Holy Spirit. This is a very dangerous thing for any individual. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9(NKJV), “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” We must know this truth in the deepest part of our hearts. Jesus Christ is the only door to God, but there are many doors to the realm of satan. When people meditate without the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit, they can enter these doors to the realm of satan. They give him access to their minds and to possess their souls. So, we don’t want to mess around when it comes to our minds. We want to choose Jesus Christ, the right door, and enter into God’s peace and rest.
God has given you and me the responsibility of taking authority over our minds. Many people don’t think about this responsibility. They think whatever and however they want to think and never discipline their thought life. 2Timothy 1:7(NIV) says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” This means that we have the capacity to guard our hearts and minds as God instructs in Proverbs 4:23. Many of us have spent years incubating thoughts of self-doubt and insecurity about ourselves. We put ourselves down and underestimate our worth. God commands us in Ephesians 4:23 to renew our minds by changing the way think. Our thoughts should line up with the mind of Christ so that we live through God’s love and love others and ourselves His way.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18(NIV) tells us, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This is a privilege that God has given us. It’s His direction for taking authority over our minds and teaching them to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, because these are the practices that keep our minds stayed on Jesus. Most of us walk around wondering what we’re supposed to do with our lives. Some are asking what God’s Will is for them. We want to know our career path, the right person for our lives, and how to advance our agendas for life. God’s Will is that we rejoice, pray, and give thanks. This is the way we keep our minds stayed on Jesus, and once we begin to live that way, everything else will fall into place. ■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Stay Your Mind on Jesus”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2023. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.