Get Your Mind Right

in Rob's Blog

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Philippians 2:1-11

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.” – Jesus (Matt. 20:26 MSG)

My desire, your desire, and the desire of every Christian is to be more like Jesus. Above all, Jesus was a servant. His compassion, tenderness, love, and commitment were seen in every thought and action. His focus was on other people, not Himself. To live the Jesus life is to live the way Jesus lived… serving.

If we are going to live the Jesus life, we need to get our mind right. How we think is important because the mind is the seedbed for action. How we think determines the course and direction of our life. Our mind is in many ways the rudder of our life: as we think… so we are.

Here are 3 WAYS to get your mind right:

  1. Choose each day to think like Jesus. (Phil 2:1-2,5)
    • Commit yourself to Jesus each day, realizing there is a battle for your mind.
      • We need to be mentally strong because there is a battle for our mind. We need to be focused and committed to live like Jesus, which means we first need to THINK like Jesus.
    • Pray daily for the mind of Christ.
      • Choose each day to be a servant and to be selfless. (Luke 9:23)
      • We may not be asked to die for Jesus, but we are asked to live for Him. How can you grow in your servanthood?
    • Fill your mind with Scripture.
      • God’s Word is God’s Will. You want to find the will of God? You want to do His will? Fill your mind with the Word of God.
      • God’s Word will lead you to do God’s Will.
  2. Choose each day to think “humility.” (Phil 2:3-4, 6-8)
    • Pray for Christlike humility/servanthood.
      • Humility means to be free of hubris, arrogance, and pride. Conversely, it is to be full of Christ, full of concern for others, and full of compassion.
      • To be humble is to be like Jesus.
    • Practice the 8 characteristics of Christ like humility/servanthood.
      • Be selfless
      • Die to arrogance and pride
      • Make humility your default
      • You before me
      • Your interests over mine
      • Minimize my own importance
      • Humble yourself
      • Servanthood is obedience
    • Practice the 8 Characteristics by living like Jesus in your marriage, family, other relationships, and in ministry through your church.
  3. Choose each day to think Jesus first, others second, and self third. (Phil 2:9-11)
    • Jesus is our Lord.  He is our Commander in Chief.
    • Being a servant is about making Jesus Lord of our life.
      • The goal is to first accept Him as Savior, then follow Him into Servanthood.
      • Sometimes I feel like we are running out of time. If you have put it off, receive Him as your Savior and Lord. If you have already professed your faith in Jesus, it’s time to evaluate your life and take the next step into servanthood.
    • Who is the Lord of your life? Seriously?
      • Most of the time it’s YOU. You know why I know that? Because I know that about ME.
      • It doesn’t mean you don’t love yourself. You need to have a proper and healthy self–image, but only after you get clear that He asks you to follow Him into servanthood.
    • Here are some practical ways to put this into practice:
      • Turn the other cheek.
      • Don’t demand your own way.
      • Decide you don’t always have to be right.
      • Realize that you don’t have to have an opinion on everything.
      • Show compassion toward others.

Jesus said, “I did not come to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45)  Over these next 4 weeks leading up to Easter, I want you to join me as we place our life on God’s anvil and ask Him to fashion each of us into the image of Christ. That means allowing Him to turn us into true servants!