ENGAGING YOUR MIND OF CHRIST
“Who has known the mind and purposes of the LORD, so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Cor 2:11
When you said “yes” to Jesus and decided to trust in the finished work of the cross, the Father vowed to you the inheritance of everlasting life. But as a foretaste, or a “down payment”, if you will, He sealed you with His Spirit (Eph 1:13), who is actively transforming you into greater spiritual maturity by recalibrating your mind to think more like He thinks (Rom 12:2). You become more and more inclined toward the desires of His heart.
In the Old Testament, no one could know the mind and purposes of the Lord. But now, according to the cross, the veil is torn that once separated you from the Spirit who is now at work in the renewal of your mind.
The more you surrender your mind to Holy Spirit, the more you can trust that your thoughts and desires are being tailored to reflect God’s heart.
CO-CREATING GOD’S PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE
Ephesians 1:11 says, “We have received an inheritance, having been predestined according to Him who works everything in agreement with His will.” Don’t let yourself miss this — The One who sealed you with Holy Spirit is the same One who works everything in agreement with His will. And the Spirit who refines your desires is enthroned with the One who delights in working all things in accordance with His will.
While Holy Spirit is transforming your mind to correspond with the mind of Christ, the Father is inviting you to co-create His will with Him. Why? Because not only does He take heed to the desires of your heart (Ps 37: 4-5), but He also has authority to work all things in agreement with His will.
At the end of Romans 12:2, Paul adds that the very reason that Holy Spirit is transforming your mind is so that you would be empowered to discern the will of God. That is, the more that you allow Holy Spirit to renew your mind, the more you’ll be equipped to discern (i.e. recognize, detect, distinguish) the Lord’s will.
“God does not have a plan for your life. He has a million plans to achieve His specific purpose. You cannot miss His purpose.” – Dion Vanstaden
What I am saying: God is transforming your mind so that your desires would become His desires, and is ultimately inviting you to co-create His plans as you achieve His purpose for your life. God has all authority in heaven and on earth. He has ideas for your life that you don’t have the capacity to come up with or comprehend. But His ear is bent toward the desires of those who surrender themselves and honor Him in all they do.
What I am not saying: You get to get to craft your life without consulting God, according to your desires before offering your mind for Holy Spirit to transform.
Divine guidance flows forth from the secret place. The Father is far more eager to get intimate with you than He is to reveal His will for your life to you. Make your primary concern to walk closely with your heavenly Father and He will let you in on His ideas, and even ask you for your two cents.
Check out Philippians 1-2 and Ephesians 1 if you are trying to get free from the paralysis of decision making. I’m also ready to chat and pray with you at any moment. Text, email, comment, DM, etc, etc!