What Can We Do Practically to Help Set Our Minds on Heavenly Things?

November 23, 2007 | by John Piper | Topic: Devotional Life

The following is an edited transcription of the audio.

What can we do practically to help set our minds on heavenly things?

The first step is to recognize our need for setting our minds on things above. We must recognize that there are many competing claims upon our minds and our attention, and we must resolve to find a time and a place where we will not be bombarded by TV, radio, the telephone, or the internet.

Instead, we should give ourselves to our Bibles and to the living God in a little safe and quiet space. We must give ourselves to setting our minds on things above by meditating upon and memorizing Scripture.

Likewise, as we read the Scriptures we ought to pray, "O Lord, open my eyes to see yourself and the wonders that you are and the wonders that you promise." These are the things of heaven. And in this way we will become more heavenly minded because we are saturating our minds with the things of God, the words of Scripture.

It is very simple in the end. Find a time and a place where you have a season of solitude and quiet. Open your Bible and read slowly, and as you read turn every sentence into prayer. And saturate your mind. Ask questions. Ponder. Ask how it relates to your family, your children, your singleness, your job, your leisure, so that all of your life takes on a Godward focus, a Bible saturation, and an exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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