“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” -Colossians 3:2 KJV
So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. -Colossians 3:2 MSG
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. -Colossians 3:2 CSB
The KJV uses the word affection set your “affections” on things above (heaven). Affections in Greek using the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance means: phroneó to exercise the mind.
As we continue to read in Colossians it comes to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD.”-Colossians 3:16
When we look up the word Dwell according to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance it means to inhabit…so I took this a step further and looked up the word Inhabit in Greek, meaning, oikeo, which means to properly make a home living “at home” because it’s no ones residence.
Are you picking up what God is laying down?
We are called to exercise our mind on the word of God. What this means to meditate on it like it says in Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2. In Psalm 1:2 it actually says that when we mediate on The Word of God that we will be like a tree planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) in every season and being prosperous in all we do. We should be breaking the word down into the original language, comparing translations, and praying over it, asking Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and understanding of what he wants to reveal to us. Listen to what Holy Spirit wants to say to you. After your quiet time, continue to meditate on what you read. Ask Holy Spirit to show you where and when to implement what you read. We are called to be doers of the word (James 1:22). God tells us to let his word take home in us. That his word is supposed to take residency not only in our mind, but heart and soul.
If the word of God isn’t in you, then what is taking residency? I know personally I do not want anything other than God taking up my heart and mind. I know from the word of God: “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” -Matthew 12:30Â
When we are not dwelling on the Word of God, we are giving the enemy a foothold in our life and residency in our heart. NO THANK-YOU!! You’d be amazed how wonderful it is just to spend time with God. Rebuking the thoughts that aren’t his transforms your whole entire being. I understand life is busy. However, it will always be too busy if you don’t make the time. Have quiet time with God while your using the bathroom instead of scrolling social media or playing words with friends. Nothing is more important than having the Word of God implanted and taking residency in your heart and exercising your mind! It is apart of your armor to fight against the enemy!
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”-Ephesians 6:10-17
If you are struggling with getting in your word, ask Holy Spirit to help you. Take reading the word at his pace, not what you think you should be reading at. When you have Holy Spirit direct what you are reading and meditating on you know it will be perfect for you at this very moment! If you have any questions feel free to message me, comment, or email me! I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to be engaged in your word and to continually think upon heavenly things.
