Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2
Sometimes my thoughts wander like a browser with too many tabs open. I’ll be in the middle of making breakfast, and my mind is already scrolling through yesterday’s worries or tomorrow’s deadlines. When I catch myself doing that, I remember Colossians 3:2 — “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
This verse isn’t telling us to ignore life on earth. It’s an invitation to lift our perspective. To step back from the swirl of what’s temporary and remember Who holds it all together.
There was a season when my mind lived in constant overdrive. Between work stress, finances, and relational tension, I would wake up already braced for battle. What shifted everything was learning that I could actually choose what my mind marinated in. That small truth became the beginning of renewal.
Choosing the Higher View
Paul’s reminder in Colossians isn’t passive. “Set” means to fix, direct, or aim intentionally. In modern language, it’s like aligning your GPS before a long drive. You decide your destination before the distractions of traffic pull you off course.
When I intentionally shift my focus upward, toward gratitude, prayer, or simply noticing beauty, the mental noise softens. Philippians 4:8 captures this mindset perfectly: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… think about such things.”
Author Dallas Willard once wrote, “The first freedom we have is the power to choose where we will place our attention.” That power is spiritual muscle memory; the more we practice it, the quicker we realign.
I remember one morning at the beach when I was juggling emails on my phone while trying to pray. The waves kept rolling in, but my focus was on the inbox. Then a pelican swooped so close I literally had to look up. That small nudge from creation reminded me that the sky was wider than my screen.
Replacing the Earthly Loop
Every time we “set” our minds above, we must also reset what drags us down. Old thoughts rarely leave quietly. Romans 8:5–6 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Peace begins where our mental soundtrack changes. When fear whispers, “You’re falling behind,” the heavenly response is, “You’re right on time in God’s plan.” When comparison says, “You’re not enough,” truth replies, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
C.S. Lewis once said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” That’s exactly what Paul meant. When our minds anchor to heaven’s reality, love, hope, endurance, we become freer and more grounded at the same time.
Soul Insights
1. Direction Determines Peace.
Every day, our minds are steering us somewhere, often without us realizing it. When we drift into worry, we unconsciously set our sails toward turbulence. But when we choose to aim toward gratitude, hope, or trust in God, the waves may still come, yet we move through them with steadiness. Peace doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the natural byproduct of intentional direction. The moment I decide where to fix my focus, I’ve already decided how peaceful my day will be.
2. Renewal Is a Daily Choice.
Transformation doesn’t occur in a single breakthrough moment; it’s built in small daily renewals of thought. I’ve learned that the mind forgets easily, which is why Scripture calls us to “renew” rather than “replace.” It’s about remembering who I am in Christ, again and again. Some days, that means pausing mid-afternoon to breathe and realign my heart. Renewal is not an event but a rhythm, like resetting a compass before another stretch of journey.
3. Attention Reveals Affection.
What I consistently think about exposes what I love most. My attention shows where my trust really lives, whether in God’s stability or in my own control. The more I meditate on fear, the more power fear gains. But when I fill my mind with truth, I remind my heart of what’s eternal. Redirecting my thoughts becomes an act of worship, saying with my focus, “You, God, are worthy of my attention.”
4. Perspective Changes Energy.
The energy I carry into a situation is shaped by how I perceive it. When I view challenges through the lens of frustration, I drain myself; when I view them through the lens of growth, I gain strength. Perspective is the quiet translator between circumstances and emotion. A heavenly viewpoint doesn’t erase human pain, it infuses it with purpose. The more I see life through God’s higher story, the lighter I move through the day.
5. Focus Fuels Hope.
Hope thrives on what it feeds upon. If my focus is constantly on what’s broken, hope starves; if I look at God’s promises, hope multiplies. Hope is not wishful thinking, it’s anchored awareness that something good is unfolding even when unseen. Every time I refocus on God’s faithfulness, I feel my creativity and courage return. The mind that learns to look up becomes a magnet for divine possibility.
Self-Reflection Questions
What occupies most of my mental space throughout the day?
How quickly do I notice when my thoughts spiral into fear or negativity?
What practical habit could help me lift my perspective: morning prayer, gratitude list, scripture card on my desk?
Final Thoughts
Our minds are the steering wheels of our lives. Setting them on “things above” doesn’t mean escaping reality; it means living from a higher one. Each time you look up, whether it’s toward the clouds, the cross, or simply a moment of gratitude, you practice the art of renewal.
As Isaiah 26:3 promises, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” May this first week be your practice ground for steadfast peace.
Action step for the week:
Each morning, whisper this short prayer: “Jesus, set my mind on things above today.”
Then notice how your inner landscape begins to shift.
© 2025 Amelie Chambord
Soul Path Insights 
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