Control Your Thoughts

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

As we looked yesterday, Paul reminded the Corinthians of their position in Christ - holy, righteous, and blameless - because he knew their thinking must change before their behavior could be altered. Here is where many fail to overcome unwanted habits. We try to change our actions without our thinking being conformed to God’s truth. We inevitably act the way we perceive ourselves. If we feel like unworthy sinners, then we will usually act like one - guilt-ridden, erratic, and unhappy. Satan points his dirty finger at our actions and accuses us as vile sinners until we finally believe him.

Don’t believe a lie! Don’t yield to the father of lies and the accuser of the brethren who has no truth in him. This is the truth: You are a saint who occasionally sins. However, nothing you did yesterday, today, or tomorrow can change your position in Christ.

When you do sin, even habitually, you are not acting according to your true desires or identity as God’s holy one. You are acting inconsistently with your new nature in Christ. God says you are a saint now that you have received Christ. That is why you can experience victory over all sin. Christ is in you. He will make you more than a conqueror as you know the truth that sets you free.

“...Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me...” Matthew 16:23