Colossians 3:5-6, 9-10, 12-14

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming… seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Your mind is focused right now. On these words to be specific. However, at some point today, perhaps even within the next few moments, your mind will drift. The flow of your fears, hopes, or desires will sweep your thoughts downstream towards the shore of either chaos or peace. Death or life. Wrath or love. Growing up in the Lord means knowing how to recognize the flow of that river.

Is this stream of thought taking me towards impurity and idolatry? Is this my old self?

Desires leftover from our former manner of life can be deceiving. Like static electricity, they cling to us. Nag at us – pulling us away from compassion, humility, and harmony. Francois Fenelon, a French pastor from the 17th century, once told his friend, “[Don’t] dishonor true love by supposing it is concerned about the insignificant things that continually occupy your attention.”

Take off. Renew. Put on. This is the Christian life. A daily crucifixion and a daily resurrection. A steady cooperation with God who is forming us in love into the likeness of Jesus.

What do you need to put to death today? What do you need to put on? And where is the Spirit nudging you back toward the shore of holiness?

PRAY

Ask the Lord to help you discern the flow of your thoughts today – revealing where old desires, fears, or idols are pulling you off course. Ask for strength to put those things to death.

Pray that the Holy Spirit would renew your mind and cloth you in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love.