Ephesians 4 is a calling to live a sanctified life. We are to “live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1), exhibiting godly character, moral courage, personal integrity and mature behavior. In order to have actions and words that represent Christ and his love for humanity, we need to have a thought life that is honorable to Christ. Verse 23 of Ephesians 4 prompts us to continually renew the spirit of our minds and put on the new self that is created in the image of God, thinking of things that are righteous and holy and true, and being thankful to God for all he has done for us.
In Philippians 4:8 it says
“Finally believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.”
For us to live a life of joy and peace, we must think of things that are true and lovely to God.
My mind is prone to anxiety, doubts and a lack of self confidence. It is easy for me to play the “what if” game in my mind and not trust God with my future. I start to think about worst case scenarios and worry about my finances, health, or relationships. However, God calls me to control my thought life and think about his plan and purposes and peace. So now, when I begin to get anxious I think about the character of God. Psalm 86:15 describes God as a loving, compassionate Father who is slow to anger and is always faithful. This reminds me that even when I do face hardships, God will be there with me to provide comfort and He will never give more than I can handle. To think continually on the things of God, I need to have a healthy prayer life and be in constant communication with Him. Later in Philippians 4, it discusses how not to be anxious about anything, but to pray about everything. It is easy for me to depend on my own strength to get things done. Instead, I should be dependent on the Lord and seek his wisdom and guidance.
In my own power I cannot live a godly life with God-filled thoughts. I am a depraved human that is made new by the power of the Holy spirit, who dwells in me. He is the great counselor and helper who directs my thoughts as I submit to Him. He transforms me into the image of His Son and purifies my mind. He knows my thoughts from afar. We cannot flee from his Spirit. He is the still small voice inside of us prompting us to think how He would think, say what He would say, and do what He would do. So how do we live a sanctified life? We get to know the Spirit better, be in tune with Him, spend time with Him, worship Him, have conversations with Him and be sensitive to where He leads.
Romans 8:5-6 states
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. For to set the mind that is set on the flesh is death, but to set their minds on things of the Spirit is life and peace.”
About the Author
Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.