Learning to Focus My Mind on the Right Things

In review of Hebrews 12:3 it say, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

Bottom Line:

When your up against bad situations, think about Jesus example, He held on.

What this means to me:

Jesus provides an example I can focus on and follow. He held on even in the worst of situations.

I need to run with endurance the race (life) God has set before me. I do this by keeping my eye on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because the of joy awaiting him, he endured the cross disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. I can consider all of the hostility he endured from sinful people. When I do, then I won't become weary and give up.

Living for Christ involves some hard work. It requires that I give up whatever endangers my relationship to him, and run with endurance, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, I must keep my eye on Jesus. I will stumble if I look away from him to either stare at myself or at the circumstances. I should be running for Christ, not myself, and I must always keep him in sight.

When I face hardship and discouragement, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. But I'm not alone; there is help. Many have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than what I am experiencing. Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops mt patience and make my final victory sweet.

Additionally, for mental health, I must focus my mind on the right things — including these three specific things.

1. Think about Jesus.

“You become what you think about most.” If I want to become more like Jesus, I need to fill my thoughts with him. Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

2. Think about others.

The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB). This is extremely countercultural. Everything in the world teaches me to think about myself and nobody else. But Jesus was counter cultural, and when I think about him, I’ll more easily think of others.

3. Think about eternity.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When I start focusing on truths like that, all of my problems are going to seem inferior compared to the glory, the joy, and the pleasure of the things I have to look forward to in eternity.

My mind is my greatest asset and also the greatest battleground. Today I ask God to help me make the choice every day to feed on His Word, to free my mind of destructive thoughts, and fill my mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then, I’ll have won the battle.