Day 12

Get Set. Go! (Colossians 3:2)

I remember a commercial for a college fund that was popular in the 80s. The tagline would famously say, “Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” 

In our passage today, Colossians 3:2, Paul challenges us to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Of course this is our whole intent of our fast, right? We are trying to steal away from things that may be mitigating our walk with Christ so that we can be closer to Jesus. And often this means just what Paul is saying—we are setting our minds on things that are above. 

But just how does one do this? After all there’s a LOT on our minds! Work. Relationships. Kiddos. Grandchildren. Money. Fear. Money. Physical Health. Did I mention money? Just how do we detach ourselves from such things? Well a few verses later Paul gives us the answer. And you’ll be shocked by how he puts it. In verse 5 he says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” 

Paul says if you wanna set your mind on God—put every vice threatening that pursuit to death. The Puritans called this the doctrine of mortification. It was a deliberate and conscious effort to eliminate every seed of temptation and vice from the heart and mind of the believer. The idea was this—you and I get too casual with stuff that weighs us down spiritually. We just get used to risqué conversations that employ gossip and slander. We just get used to questionably content that we watch from time to time. We get used to stuff. And before you know it our minds are wasted. 

But be encouraged friends. THAT IS WHY WE ARE FASTING! We are teaching ourselves how to put stuff to death that threatens to damper our walk with Jesus. And it is worth every ounce of effort we’ve invested into this season. Because on the other side of this y’all there are breakthroughs coming. There is healing coming. There is renewal coming. Just keep honoring God with this season. I know He will move mightily in your life!

Pastor Rick