The Mind of Christ As wonderful as the reality of who we’ve become in Christ is, true transformation into His image begins when our thoughts are brought into alignment with His. Until our thinking identifies with His thoughts and His perceptions, what He has provided for us remains out of reach. It’s in the mind that the battles of faith are won, and it’s there that we become firmly established in fulfilling His purpose for our lives. For all things to become possible as we take our rightful place in representing Christ, our mind—its identity and function—must reflect and reveal the nature we’ve received in Him. Every expression of the new creation life flows from a mind that is no longer consumed with worldly concerns, but is set on higher thoughts shaped by His Word and cultivated in His presence. Feelings of inferiority or superiority that come from life’s experiences yield to a new perspective found only in Him. As every word and thought comes into submission to what is pleasing in His sight, the way opens for us to fully live in our identity and experience the transformation that His Spirit enables. Notes Identity requires participation Acknowledgment enables participation Philemon 1:6 (AMPC) 6 [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory]. Acknowledging – acquiring accurate truth and understanding in its transformation 1. Hearing, declaring, changing There is no access to God’s thoughts apart from a new nature in Christ. Isaiah 55:9 (NLT) 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. It’s in the mind that transformation for all areas is enabled. Romans 12:2 (NLT) 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. To be in Christ is to receive His Spirit of Truth John 16:13 (TLB) 13 When the Holy Spirit, who is truth, comes, he shall guide you into all truth, for he will not be presenting his own ideas, but will be passing on to you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. John 14:26 (NLT) 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. Words and meditations – either acceptable or unacceptable in His sight. Psalms 19:14 (NKJV) 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. His mind requires our letting Philippians 2:5 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, What is impossible from a worldly mind is more than possible in the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NLT) 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. What we let defines who we are and how we live. Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. We Let by Setting – knowing, declaring, and demonstrating Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV) 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. The mind that is set is trusting – knows peace Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Though given His mind, in setting ours, we identify with His. Philippians 4:6-9 (TPT) 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. 9 Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things. Overview The Mind of Christ Transformation Begins in the Mind True change starts when our thoughts align with Christ’s. Until our thinking agrees with His, what He’s provided remains out of reach. The mind is the battlefield where faith is won and transformation takes root (Romans 12:2). Participation Through Acknowledgment Identity in Christ requires participation. When we acknowledge and declare what is ours in Him, it becomes active in our lives (Philemon 1:6). Hearing truth, declaring it, and adjusting our thoughts releases transformation. Access to God’s Thoughts Only the new nature in Christ gives us access to God’s higher thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Through the Holy Spirit, we receive His truth, wisdom, and revelation (John 14:26; 16:13). We now have His Spirit—and therefore His mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). Letting and Setting the Mind We must let the mind of Christ rule us (Philippians 2:5) and set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). What we allow in our thoughts determines the life we live (Romans 8:5–6). A mind fixed on Him is a mind kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Living From His Perspective The mind of Christ gives us heaven’s viewpoint—free from fear, pride, and confusion. As we meditate on what is true, pure, and praiseworthy, His peace and presence govern our lives (Philippians 4:6–9). Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the new life and identity I have in Christ Jesus. You have given me His Spirit, His nature, and His mind. Today, I choose to align my thoughts with Yours. Let every idea, imagination, and meditation in me be shaped by Your Word and purified in Your presence. Renew my mind, Lord, and transform the way I think. Deliver me from every pattern of fear, pride, or confusion that belongs to the old nature. Help me to see life from Your perspective — higher, purer, and full of peace. Teach me to let this mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus. Holy Spirit, Be my guide into all truth. Remind me of everything Jesus has spoken. Guard my thoughts and fill my heart with wisdom, understanding, and rest. Let my mind be stayed on You, that I may live in Your perfect peace. I declare that I have the mind of Christ. My words and meditations are acceptable in Your sight. My thoughts are anchored in heaven’s truth, and my life reflects the image of Jesus. In His name, I pray — Amen. Declarations: The Mind of Christ I have the mind of Christ—I think His thoughts and see through His perspective. My mind is being renewed daily by the Word of God and the Spirit of Truth. I do not think as the world thinks; my thoughts are aligned with heaven’s thoughts. I set my mind on things above and walk in peace that surpasses understanding. Every word and meditation of my heart is acceptable in His sight. I refuse thoughts of inferiority or pride; I see myself through the eyes of Christ. The Holy Spirit teaches me truth, guides my thoughts, and reveals the deep things of God. I let the mind of Christ govern my emotions, decisions, and responses. My identity in Christ defines my mindset, and my mindset reveals my identity. I live from the higher life of the new creation—transformed by the renewing of my mind.