“Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.” 1 Chronicles 22:19 ESV
Our lives are filled with engaging, targeted, and almost irresistible distractions. We live at the mercy of our technology devices, which know us in frighteningly intimate ways.
In a simpler time, our distractions had limitations. The telephone was tethered to the kitchen wall or sat on an end table in the family room – rarely both. Television offered a limited number of stations and hours of operation. During drive time, billboards might grab our attention for a few short seconds. Cars offered radios with few static-free stations and frequency-proximity limitations. Limited, but distractions all the same.
Distractions of some sort have always been around, and as mortals who get bored easily, we often welcome distractions like old friends.
Today, we live in a time of unprecedented distractions. Every moment of every waking hour is susceptible to becoming a victim of any one of a multitude of distractions if we are not actively guarding our time and protecting our minds. More than innocent diversions and time-killers, the distractions can become addictive, isolating, mind-numbing, and, at their worst, debilitating.
Jesus told his disciples to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:27). Notice that Jesus quoted God’s command to the Israelites (Deut. 6:5) but replaced the word “might” with “mind.”
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit focuses not only on our speech, behavior, attitudes, and heart—the mind must also go through the sanctification process. God wants every part of our being to be fully surrendered to Him and focused on Him.
God promises peace of mind and heart to those whose mind is focused on Him (Isa. 26:3). Focused reliance on God is a trust indicator. The more you focus on God, the easier it is to rely entirely on Him in every area of your life.
But it is difficult to maintain the focus required to keep our minds on God, especially when the enemy and the world’s distractions do their best to draw us away from Him.
Peter learned his lesson the hard way when he pulled Jesus aside to tell Him to stop talking about being crucified. Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23 ESV).
A God-pleasing, sanctified mind does not happen by accident. It requires:
- Focused reliance on the power of God’s Holy Spirit and the cleansing power of Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:6)
- Intentionality, determination, and persistence to grow in relationship with God and His Word. (1 Chron. 22:19).
- Allowing the Holy Spirit to do His sanctifying work in you. (Rom. 8:6)
- Surrendering your heart, soul, and mind to the will of the Father. Seeking Him first in all things. (Matt. 6:33)
- Do not pursue the things of the world or conform to its standards. (Rom. 12:2 ESV)
Don’t allow the distractions of the world pull you away from the things of God.
Stand firm in your salvation purchased by Jesus Christ.
Surrender your mind to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Know that when your focus gets blurry because of the world’s distractions, you can confess your sin, repent, brush yourself off, refocus, and move forward.
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 ESV