An excerpt from the book “Navigating Towards Success: In Pursuit of Fulfilment”; [In Pursuit of Fulfilment]: We are creatures with thoughts, and our lives are shaped by our thoughts. Your mindset is the most important factor that influences and determines your success in life. The mind is a powerful force that literally has the power to create your reality. It plays an important role in the pursuit and fulfilment of your divine purpose and destiny. It dictates your life and outcomes. How you perceive God’s purpose [which is your divine purpose] is the key. It will determine your success or your failure in life.
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts – Proverbs 4:23 GNT.
Your behaviour and actions are a reflection of your thoughts. They are shaped by your thoughts that in turn, bring results. If you consciously fill your mind with positive thoughts that are in line with the principles of God’s word and God’s way, they will put you on the path of success.
Your mind is the game-changer here!
This is the reason why you need to meditate on the word daily and consciously observe your thoughts to keep them on the right path, because then you will make your way prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8).
Subconscious Mind:
Your “subconscious mind” is the innermost part of the mind which you are not fully aware of, but it influences and determines your true reality. Your subconscious mind has to do with your “spirit-being” and not your “physical-being.” You only become aware of this when you are born again [born of the Spirit], and the Holy Spirit reveals and illuminates your understanding to this spiritual consciousness so that you can live according to the order of this spiritual realm in Christ.
This part of the mind is mostly unexplored and under-utilized because we live in the flesh [though we are of the spirit – spirit-being] and we are more susceptible to the natural consciousness of the mind, than of the spiritual mind. However, when we yield to the Holy Spirit, we become more inclined to our subconscious mind – the spiritual mind.
• The natural mind is earthly.
• The natural mind is Adamic.
• The natural mind is carnal and brings death.
• The natural mind is only conscious of the things of the flesh.
o The spiritual mind is heavenly.
o The spiritual mind is Christ.
o The spiritual mind is of the Spirit and brings life.
o The spiritual mind is only conscious of the things of the Spirit.
You can see the contrasts of both minds.
The attracting force behind all your experience in life is as a result of your dependency on the consciousness of these minds – being aware of and responsive to them. This is why we are admonished to have the mind of Christ, which is the spiritual mind, rather than the carnal mind.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth – Colossians 3:1-2 NLT.
We are to SEE things from His Perspective, and PURSUE the things over which Christ presides.
We were born into this natural world with an unconscious mindset of our original identity of; who we are, where we come from, and why we are here. Medically this is called “amnesia” – a partial or total loss of memory, but biblically we consider this to be the result of the fallen nature of man, the Adamic nature, which was caused by the sin of disobedience to God. Thus, we became estranged and alienated from God and became enemies in our mind, but by means of salvation [God’s redemptive plan through Christ’s intervention] we are now reconciled, and being restored.
And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled. In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister – Colossians 1:20-23 KJV.
It is imperative to note what the Bible says; “it is in our minds that we became enemies of God – alienated and estranged from Him” because of our evil behavior and wicked works of sin, but Christ’s intervention has brought reconciliation; and as we continue in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the Good News [the gospel] we will remain reconciled and restored [in our mind].
The unspiritual mind has lost connection with the mind of Christ, from where the revelation of our divine purpose and true identity is revealed. You need the Holy Spirit (The Connector) to reconnect and activate your mind, so that you can receive the right frequency from the throne room of heaven. Everything about the mind revolves around frequency pertaining to our physical and spiritual realm.
Clearly, we can see why the mind needs renewal and transformation, so that we can have a regenerated mind [which is the mind of Christ – the spiritual mind].
It is often said, “the mind is the battlefield,” and anyone who controls the mind will control your life.
A regenerated mind will have the capacity to embrace God’s truth in the inward part, and to know Him. This is why the message of Christ and His apostles began with the word “Repent” – Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:37-38. The Greek word for “Repent” is “metanoeó,” meaning “change of mind.” If your way of thinking is not changed, then it’s impossible to know God, or to understand His purposes. No one living in his old nature can know God, because as sinners, we cannot discover God. It is only possible when the mind is enlightened in Christ.
The whole principle in this book, and your pursuit of divine purpose and fulfilment, will be worthless except your mind is realigned to Christ and His purposes. This is why a change in your mindset can lead to success and the ultimate fulfillment of your divine purpose – your mind being regenerated and accurately aligned to God’s purpose for your life.
Now that you are saved, let’s consider some Required Applications and Principles that can help you change your mindset to be in accord with Christ’s purpose:
1. Be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind – [This means you are to RENOVATE your mental attitude and REFORM your way of thinking].
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind – Ephesians 4:23 KJV.
This would require that you tear down the old mindset in order for a new thinking attitude to be formed in you. You need to see yourself the way God sees you and function from that point of view.
Perception is belief – Your perception greatly determines your belief.
When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with Him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!” He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw – Matthew 9:28-30 MSG.
You are a product of your thought. You Become What You Think On. Your perception [the way you think] affects your belief system, and ultimately how you receive from the Lord to become what He wants you to be.
Wrong thinking will produce unbelief and doubt which will rob you of God’s purpose, His miracles and His blessings. Jesus couldn’t perform many miracles and do greater works because of the perception of His people towards Him – Matthew 13:54-58.
More importantly, you need to “think KINGDOM” in all things – Matthew 6:33. Be kingdom minded. I once read this quote, “Water Your Mind To Grow Your Soul” – Author Unknown. This means, you are to fill your mind with heavenly thoughts to manifest heavenly realities.
2. Be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind [You are to metamorphose – CHANGE].
A transformed mind brings an accurate understanding of God’s purpose for your life, as you are able to prove what is His perfect will and recognize what He wants from you.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God – Romans 12:2 KJV.
A. Spiritual transformation is a product of a renewed/reformed/renovated mind. The transformation of your mind is the transformation of your life. True change always begins in the mind. “Until you change your thinking you will always recycle your experience.”
B. It is the internal work of the Holy Spirit that is accomplished in us through the revealed Word.
C. The process of CHANGE is a vital part in the mind of a growing believer/leader.
Your transformed mind is the secret key to successful Christian living, because if the mind is messed up, everything will be messed up.
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your worldly culture [or the culture around you] that you fit into it without even thinking. They will always drag you down to its level of immaturity and futility. Instead, fix your affection and attention on God. The thoughts of God bring the best out of you, and they develop a well-formed maturity in you to be able to fulfill your divine purpose.
3. Put on the mind of Christ.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus – Philippians 2:5 KJV.
A. Every New Creation believer has the mind of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:16.
B. It is only through your mind that you can serve Christ and His law, it is by the flesh you serve sin [the fallen nature] – Romans 7:25.
When you put on the mind of Christ you will know the things of Christ, which are heavenly things, and you will be able to do what is required of you as your divine purpose in life.
How To Renew And Develop Your Mind:
1. Meditate daily on the spoken and revealed word of God – Your commitment and dedication to constantly meditate [think] on the word of God is the key to successful Christian living – Joshua 1:8.
2. Receive and Study [Research] the Word – Be like the Berea Christians – Acts 17:10-12.
3. Be filled, Be open, and Be led by the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is the agent of change that brings transformation. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.
4. Spend quality time in the presence of God, in prayers and constant worship – You can’t receive anything of rich value if you are too quick in His presence and not dwelling in Him.
To succeed in life, it’s not enough to know and set a path for your personal goals. You must also know how to navigate this path. It is your accurate perception of God that will guide you through this. This is why you must make an investment in your mind to accurately gain spiritual knowledge.
When your mind is rightly aligned with God’s purpose, your mouth will speak positive confessions that will create your world.
If you are going to succeed in life, then you must stop the negative confessions, and always remember, God is still in control of everything. Learn to always “speak life” and the realities of what you want and desire to see. There is immense power in the words we say. The tongue is a tool that can be used to create your world for good or evil.
“From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” – Proverbs 18:20-21.
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Copyright © 2020 by Israel Onoriobe
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