Hey, sit down for a while.
Breathe. Have a coffee here on this blog.
Ever feel distracted? Overwhelmed with worries? Not sure where to begin or which direction to go? Sometimes, we find ourselves consumed by so many things. We feel pressured by goals we haven't reached yet and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Maybe your graduation is fast approaching, and what comes next makes you anxious. You want to make your parents proud. You want to stand on your own feet and earn your income. Or maybe you’ve already started your own family and are doing your best to hold things together without falling apart.
I don’t have all the answers. I can’t give you a perfect formula for smoothly pursuing your dreams or growing into the person you hope to be. But this morning, I read something worth sharing.
Lately, I’ve been using this workbook called The Mind of Christ. It has been such a breath of fresh air. It’s not about rushing through the Bible or memorizing all the verses in one go. It’s about digging deep, taking it slow, and truly letting the Word shape me. I'm learning that it's okay to chew slowly and grow slowly.
We live in a world that demands instant results: instant peace, instant maturity, and instant success. But sometimes, the process itself is the answer to our prayers. The waiting, the pain, even the quiet and uneventful days; God uses them all to mold us. We’re told to fix our eyes on Jesus and to set our minds on things above. We do this not to live our “best” life in the way the world defines it, but to live the life that God Himself has designed for us.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Peace begins in the mind. I just learned this verse today, a simple yet profound truth if we’ll just live by His Word. In a world overflowing with information: endless tips, guides, and self-help books promising the best version of you, I’m learning something simple but profound. You don’t need to attend a fancy training program to become the person God called you to be. You just need to open your Bible and fix your mind on Christ.
Over time, you’ll see the change. Not because you forced yourself to become someone else, but because you are slowly becoming more like Him. And that is the real goal. That’s what God desires to become like His Son because our destiny is to be like Christ.
But how can we do that when we’re still struggling with sin? When we carry secrets no one knows? When we’re just trying to survive one day at a time? When are we overwhelmed by the world’s standard? When we’re just starting out our career and our relationship with the Lord?
The workbook I mentioned, The Mind of Christ by T.W. Hunt and Claude V. King, outlines three stages in developing the mind of Christ:
- The Beginning Stage: The Will Principle
This is where everything starts—with your will. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” You have to set your mind. It’s a decision. Not everything depends on how you feel. While you can’t always control your emotions, you can choose where your thoughts go. Too often, we let our minds wander without direction, dwelling on what people say, on trends, gossip, on our issues, or our feelings of inadequacy. But God offers peace to those who are steadfast and intentional in setting their thoughts on Him. Philippians 4:8 gives us a filter: think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. - The Growing Stage: The River Principle
This stage is about the renewing of the mind. Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by renewing our minds. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me... rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). Not ponds, not puddles—rivers. Yet many of us live like stagnant ponds. We stop growing. We stop flowing. But real growth requires constant renewal. Just like the body constantly produces new cells, our spirit also needs to be refreshed. Jesus grew in wisdom and favor, and we’re called to grow too. - The Qualified Stage: The Readiness Principle
This is about preparing your mind for action. 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed... be holy, because I am holy.” It’s a stage of readiness, training, shaping your mind to reflect His holiness. This is not a holiness that takes away joy, but one that helps us put to death our cravings for things that do not satisfy. And in doing so, we find real joy come alive again. Holiness strengthens us when we face trials. It prepares us to say “no” when temptation comes. Jesus was ready when the enemy tempted Him. Are we? (This is just an excerpt, I sum up in one lesson, try to read the workbook too. )
Developing the mind of Christ takes time. It costs something. But here’s the good news: God is the one doing the work in us. He began the process, and He will bring it to completion. You will face discouraging moments, but take heart. You’re not the one who has to carry it all. Jesus is.
So if today, you feel consumed by pressure, fear, uncertainty, or comparison. Take a moment to pause. Breathe. Redirect your mind. Let the thoughts that weigh you down be replaced by the truth that lifts you. You don’t have to figure everything out right now. You need to fix your eyes on Jesus. That is where peace begins. That is where true growth starts. And that is where your story continues to unfold—not in chaos, but in Christ. Set your mind on the things above, renew your mind, gird up your mind for action, and then you’ll free your mind.
