Day 37: Get Your Heaven On!
Adam Graves (Matt 11:12)
Some have said it is possible to be “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.” However, when you look at the history of the church, it was those who were the most heavenly minded who did the most earthly good. Listen to what Christ said: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matt. 11:12).
The people who forcefully grabbed hold of the kingdom of heaven are the ones advancing it. Having a heavenly mindset is crucial for you in advancing God’s kingdom in your life and in the world around you. It is for this reason that the enemy is always attacking your mind with doubts, fears, worldly thoughts, etc. The enemy wants to keep you from focusing on what really matters, and that is God and his kingdom. Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).
1. Heavenly Thinking Produces... Heavenly Peace
In Scripture, those who practice right thinking receive tremendous blessings. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” It can also be translated, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you” (ESV). When your thoughts are consumed with God and his kingdom will have perfect peace instead of anxiety and worry. If you find yourself anxious or worried, you can be sure that you have lost your God–centred focus. Paul says thinking on the right things and practising them brings the God of peace—the very presence of God in your life (v. 9). Many are missing the manifest presence of God in their lives because they have ungodly thinking, which eventually leads to ungodly practice. Keep your head clear and focused, and you will have peace.
Paul makes it very practical: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4: 8-9 Choose today to use your mind for heavenly thoughts and the goodness of God. See what difference it makes.
2. Heavenly Thinking Produces... Heavenly Perspectives
A Heavenly Mindset Is Developed By A Focus On Our Resurrected Position
Paul says believers can develop a heavenly mindset by understanding their resurrected position in Christ. When Christ died, you died with him, and when he rose again and went to heaven, you went with him. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1).
When Paul says, “seated us with him in the heavenly realms,” he is primarily referring to “authority” and “rulership.” See how Paul uses a similar phrase in relation to Christ in Ephesians 1:19–22: “And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.”
Paul, in talking about the power that is in you and was at work in Christ in the resurrection, says this same power placed Christ in his heavenly position, which is far above all authority, power, and dominion. God placed all things under his feet. This is crucial for you to understand. Since we are seated with Christ by this same great power, we need to recognise that you have authority and position in Christ. You are rulers with Christ over all things. The incredible thing about Christ’s rule is that you rule with him. Romans 8:17 says we are “co–heirs with Christ.” Everything that is his is yours. Paul says your thinking should reflect your resurrection in Christ, the one who is seated at the right hand of God and will rule all things. In fact, Paul uses this same argument at Corinth, where the believers were arguing and suing one another. Look at what he says: Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! (1 Cor. 6:2–4).
3. Heavenly Thinking Produces... Heavenly Intimacy
When our hearts are set on Heaven, we position ourselves for encounters with heavenly activity. Some of the most profound times in the Presence of God where angels visited and ministered, were times when my mind was fixed on Him and Him alone. Paul was a man who was fixed upon Jesus and as a result, he saw inexpressible things in the third heaven. John, too, was a man who had cultivated deep levels of intimacy with Jesus during His life on earth and later in his prayer life. Later in his life, John was raptured into incredible heavenly encounters with the glorified Jesus, angelic beings and was able to prophesy the apocalypse. He demonstrated what it was like to have such an intimacy with Christ in the heavenly realm that even his earthly sufferings were interpreted from a prophetic perspective. Everything that was happening in the physical realm regarding persecution was a direct representation of what he saw in the spirit. In other words, when you’ve got your head in the right place, you can handle anything that this life throws at you. In short, heavenly thinking allows you to overcome the issues and trials of this world. You’ve got this. Go get your Heaven on and boss it!
Reflection
What is one area of your life where you need to “boss it from heaven” instead of reacting from the earth?
How can you remind yourself daily that your life is hidden with Christ in God and that He is your life, authority, and peace?