Colossians 3:1-3 “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Today's episode reminds us to set our minds to things above. It reminds us that even though the Lord tells us this often our focus is on things of this world. So, what do we do about this? How do we shift our focus? Music:"Adding the Sun" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Set Your Minds On Things Above
Colossians 3:1-3 “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
When I read this verse this morning, what stood out to me was when it said, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This seemed to jump off the page for me. I think the reason for this is because Tony and I have been watching a new series lately. Well, it is actually an old series, but we just started watching it together recently. It is called The Mentalist. It is a really good show that we both really like. The problem with me getting involved in watching a series that I really like is that is all I want to do. I just want to watch the show all the time. However, that isn’t good when I have a job and a house to take care of. Tony and I did a good job of getting out of the house and doing yard work on Saturday. But then we were exhausted and watched about 4 hours of TV after that.
I don’t think watching TV is bad.I think we could all use a break from life at times to just sit and watch something that takes our mind off of life. However, I wish TV was like it was back in the old days when you could watch one episode a week and then you had to wait a week for the next episode. I feel like that lends to moderation much better than streaming does. If you are streaming a show, it is so easy to get addicted and just watch that show and do nothing else for a week or longer. This last time I got COVID, I was stuck in my room for more than a week just to make sure I didn’t get the rest of the family sick. Tony was super sweet and made all the meals and took care of driving the boys to wherever they had to go
The first few days, I was pretty sick, and I had to sleep a lot. I was able to watch some TV, but mostly, I needed to sleep. However, once the first few days passed, I felt better, and I could have used that time in quarantine to get a lot of work done on my book or on something else. I could have cleaned the attic, which always seems to need cleaning. However, I just watched TV the whole time.
I had gone to visit my brother in FL a few weeks earlier, and he and his wife were watching a TV show that looked really good. I thought it was just a few seasons, and I thought it had about 10-12 episodes a season. However, I was wrong. It has six seasons, with most seasons having 20-22 episodes. Each episode is 45 min long. Once I get started in a show, I get so involved all I want to do is watch the show. So, instead of doing something productive while I was sick, I just watched TV from when I woke up to way after I should have been asleep.
I say all of this to explain why I think the words “Set your mind on things that are above” jumped off the page at me. Although I don’t think there is anything wrong with watching TV in moderation, I do feel binge-watching TV for hours upon hours is not good for us. Also, I think what we watch is important too. For instance, if I was binge-watching The Chosen or some TV show/movie about the Saints, then I think it would be better because it would help me grow closer to the Lord. Tony and I went to see the first few episodes of The Chosen, season 4, in the movie theater. We both really enjoyed it and yet we have yet to finish watching Season 4 because we are busy watching other things. Things that are not helping bring us closer to the Lord.
There was a time several years ago when I was very disciplined. I made up my mind on something, and I would follow through. I seem to struggle with that these days. However, back then, I had decided I was watching too much TV, and it wasn’t helping me to be the person I wanted to be. The person God wanted me to be. So I decided I wouldn't watch TV or movies unless it was helping me grow closer to the Lord or unless it was spending time with my family.
This was hard for me as our family was going through some very hard times and there were lots of times when I wanted to escape life and just veg in front of the TV. However, I had made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to do this. I started watching movies, or episodes on the streaming platform called “Formed.” It is like Netflix, but it only has religious movies or shows. A lot of parishes will purchase a subscription for their whole parish so that all the parishioners can get a code and use it for free. I listened to some great audio teachings, and I watched some great movies about the Saints. It was a really good use of my time and it helped me grow closer to the Lord.
What is the thing that is keeping you away from the Lord? Or, maybe it’s not keeping you away from Him, but it is keeping you from being as close as you could be to Him. Is it keeping busy, filling your schedule with so much stuff that you don’t have time to spend with the Lord? Is it Facebook or other social media platforms? Is it spending too much time out and about with friends and family that there isn’t time left for God? I think this verse is a good reminder for us today that our focus needs to be on things above and not on things of this world. The things of this world will all perish one day, and they will no longer exist. This world is fleeting when we compare it to the eternity we have after we leave this world. Let’s focus on what matters, the things above.
I know that my thing is probably not your thing. The thing that gets in the way of me coming to God is probably something different from what is getting in your way. However, I am willing to bet there is something getting in your way, something distracting you from growing closer to the Lord. Something taking up your time so that you don’t have as much time with the Lord as you would like. Today might be a great day to spend a few minutes to stop and talk to the Lord about what is getting in the way of your relationship with Him. Ask Him what is coming in between you or what is distracting you. If you sit and listen, He will answer you. He will help you to see what is getting in between you two. Then, ask Him what He would like you to do about it. Ask Him how He would like to help you overcome this thing that is getting in the middle of you two. For me, I can already feel Him telling me to stop trying to escape with TV. I can feel Him telling me to spend that time with Him instead. So, I am going to do my best to obey. How about you? What is He calling you to do or to stop doing?
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, you are amazing, and we are sorry that we are focusing on things of this world instead of focusing on things above. We are sorry we are letting things of this world come in between us or distract us from you. We ask for your help, Lord. We ask you to show us anything that is coming in between us, and we ask that you help us to correct it. We want to grow closer to you, Lord. We want to be in union with you, help us figure out how. Help us put you above all else. We love you, lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’s holy name, Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you want to join us for mentoring tomorrow night, check it out and see what it is all about, email me and I will send you the Zoom link. Catherine@findingtruenorthcoaching.com. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you, just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in May 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “Trust more, surrender more, love more, and I will make you stronger.”