Fruitful Living

25 ways to set your mind on things above (Part 2)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:6

INTRODUCTION

Today we bring you the final part of 25 Ways To Set Your Mind on Things Above, which we ended on number 13, last week.

The apostle Paul told us to set our minds on“things above,” that is, heavenly things, not on things on the earth,” that is, earthly things – Colossians 3:2. We need to be intentional about the information we feed our minds with and what we process with our minds.

SETTING OUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE.

MAKE PRAYER AND BIBLE READING A DAILY HABIT

Scripture teaches us everything we need to know about God and His will so we can live a new life. It shows us the good things that should occupy our minds to pursue holiness. That’s why we must have quality time on a daily basis meditating in the Bible and praying to the Lord, asking Him to help us put what we are learning into practice Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Matthew 6:6.

MEMORISE BIBLE VERSES

Committing excerpts from the Word of God to your memory is a great way to keep your mind on heavenly things. The first step is to select verses from Scripture that will help you remember what God has done for you, who He is, and the promises He gave to all of us. Use memorisation techniques that best suit you, and make sure to practise every day. Keep bringing verses you’ve already memorised to your mind throughout the day, so you don’t forget them Psalm 119:11.

ASK GOD TO SEARCH YOUR HEART

It takes courage to do that. We know that there are many things even in a believer’s mind that displease the Lord. Our sins come from them. But sin itself blinds us to our wrong ways. That’s why we need to ask the Lord to:

Search our heart, our inner being Psalm 139:23.
Show us the things we do that grieve Him Psalm 139:24.
Help us sanctify our minds and change our ways Psalm 51:10.
CONFESS YOUR SINS AND ASK FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS DAILY

This is a critical habit that will bring major changes to your life and your relationship with the Lord. So, here are a few things that will help you pursue a heavenly mindset and a holy life:

Think about your day.
Ask God to help you remember the sins you committed and the things that you shouldn’t have done.
Confess them to God.
Ask Him for forgiveness, believing that Jesus has already paid the price at the cross.
Ask Him to help you fight temptation and not fall into those sins again.
Thank God and believe you’re forgiven Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9.

Make it a daily routine in your life.

FLEE FROM TEMPTATION

During trials, we must persevere. But, when it comes to temptation, we can never overestimate our strength to resist it Matthew 26:41. We must flee from the situation right away Genesis 39:11-12; 1 Corinthians6:18.

The more we allow our eyes, ears, and thoughts to be exposed to such things that tempt us, the highest the risk that we may fall. We must protect our minds and not give opportunities for the devil to tempt us Ephesians 4:26-27.

CREATE STRATEGIES TO BRING YOUR MIND TO GOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY

You need to be intentional to bring God’s Word into your mind during your daily life. Here are some suggestions:

Thank God for every good thing that happens (a good meal, a beautiful sunset, a fast commute, a pleasant conversation, a problem solved, a good idea you had, etc.).
Pray quietly for people you meet.
Use your breaks or waiting time to read a portion of Scripture or talk to God.

Use your imagination and think of other good ways to keep connecting to God at all times.

AVOID INDULGING IN EARTHLY PLEASURES

Most sins don’t happen unexpectedly. They begin with little temptations that we give in, thinking that it’s no big deal. But it is. Every sin is a huge deal Romans 6:23. So, we must learn to resist every temptation that draws us to do something that will feed our earthly urges and bring us self-centred gratification. We need to pursue the will of God and resist any impulse that can lead us to sin James 1:14-15.

PRACTISE FASTING

When we fast, we give up something we need (usually food) to dedicate time and energy exclusively for the Lord Matthew 4:4. Whenever you can, take some time to fast, pray, and seek the presence of the Lord. The discipline you learn through fasting will help you control other urges of your body and mind that may lead you to sin 1 Corinthians 9:27.

BE THANKFUL TO GOD

Even during difficult times, we have a lot of reasons to be thankful to God. The Lord has done so much for us; He has shown His great love for us in many ways:

He gave His son to pay for our sins Romans 5:8.
He forgave us (1 John 1:9).
He adopted us as His own children John 1:12.
He gave us eternal life with Him John 3:16.

And much more. We don’t even notice most of the blessings that He gives us every day. So, make sure to take a moment to thank the Lord for all He does for you daily Psalm 145:9; James 1:17. Be specific and let each reason you mention sink in your mind and lead you to worship the Lord for His kindness.

LEARN TO THINK INTENTIONALLY

All humans have a sinful nature. It means that it is natural for us to sin. So, thinking about heavenly things is not natural for us. We need to practise it intentionally. If we let our minds wander freely, most of the thoughts that come to us are usually not heavenly thoughts. So, avoid letting your mind wander without purpose. Feed it with good content. For example, if you’re tired and need to relax, instead of letting your thoughts run freely, put on some good music that helps you think about godly things while you rest.

BEWARE OF YOUR PRIDE

Pride is a threat that lives inside every one of us. It tempts us to think that our good works are somehow making us better than other people or that we are worthy of the kindness of God. Don’t let worldly thoughts like that creep into your mind. Do this instead:

Remain humble James 4:6.
Consider others better than yourself Philippians 2:3.
Keep in mind that you don’t deserve any favour from the Lord Ephesians 2:8-9.
Remember that the good things you do also come from the Lord James 1:17.

PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD

When we decide to live our lives for God, we face all sorts of resistance, including from our own earthly nature. We need to do our best to fight temptation and focus our minds on heavenly things. And we need to trust God that He will take care of what’s beyond our reach Philippians 4:13. Trust Him with your needs, your circumstances, your future 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Put your hope in Him and Him alone Romans 15:13.

The apostle Paul gave us a bold challenge. Discipline and intentional actions will help you keep your mind connected to the word of Christ Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of God in the heavenly places Ephesians 2:6. Set your mind on the things above, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in the Lord Jesus Christ Philippians 4:6-9.

End note.

If you have not yet confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, this is an opportunity to do so. And when you do, just surrender totally to Him with your eternal future, for He will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5

Stay Blessed!

For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615

Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com

Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org

Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author

Fruitful Living

Islam and the environment (Part 1)

We praise and glorify Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We send salutations upon the best of creation, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the final Messenger of Allah, who taught us to live in balance, justice, and compassion with all creatures of the earth.

Introduction

The preservation of the environment is not merely a contemporary global concern; it is deeply

rooted in divine revelation.

In Islam, the environment is a manifestation of Allah’s signs (Ayatullah) and a trust (Amaanah) given to humanity. Unfortunately, modern civilisation, driven by profit, exploitation, and ignorance, has led to climate change, deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and global warming.

Islam’s holistic worldview offers timeless ethical principles that advocate environmental protection, making it highly compatible with international frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As Muslims, safeguarding the earth is both a spiritual duty and a social responsibility.

Definition of Environment and the Islamic Perspective

The environment is broadly defined as the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live.”

In academic terms, it includes all external physical, biological, and chemical factors influencing living organisms (Miller & Spoolman, 2011).

From an Islamic standpoint, the environment is the creation of Allah entrusted to humanity to use with responsibility and moderation.

Allah says: “And do not cause corruption on the earth after it has been set in order, and invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Surely, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.”

(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:56)

This verse explicitly commands humans not to destroy the balance (mīzān) that Allah has

established.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) further reinforced environmental

ethics through his actions and sayings, encouraging tree planting, animal welfare, cleanliness,

and the preservation of water sources.

Components of the Environment in Islam

The environment encompasses various ecosystems and natural elements, including:

• Dry and fertile lands – used for agriculture and housing.

• Forests – sources of oxygen, biodiversity, and medicine.

• Water bodies – such as rivers, lakes, lagoons, seas, and oceans, essential for life.

• Ramsar Sites and World Heritage Areas – designated for ecological protection due to

their unique natural value.

Islam values every element of nature. For instance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as charity.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2320)

By Imam Saeed Abdulai

Fruitful Living

Why Should I forgive others? (Part 1)

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION

CONFLICT is never easy—especially when it happens within the church. Many believers can relate to the heartache of strained relationships, misunderstandings, or even church splits.

Though these moments don’t make us lose our salvation, they often test our faith deeply. At times, the discouragement can feel so intense that quitting the Christian walk seems like a tempting option.

Yet, in Christ, we are called into a new kind of family—a family transformed by grace. We are to be peacemakers, reconcilers, and forgivers because we ourselves have been forgiven so completely.

Scripture doesn’t just call us to live in peace; it calls us to reflect the heart of Christ, the One who gave Himself for His enemies. The brief but powerful letter to Philemon offers timeless wisdom on this topic.

Living in grace

The Apostle Paul’s letter to Philemon is only 335 words in the original Greek, yet it carries profound lessons about grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Paul writes not as an authoritarian apostle but as a loving brother in Christ, appealing to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus—a runaway slave who had since become a believer.

Paul gently urges, “Though I could be bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you…” (Philemon 1:8–9). He pleads with love, not law. He even offers to pay any debt Onesimus owes: “If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to my account” (v. 18).

This is not “forgive and forget.” This is a real reckoning of wrong, met with real grace. Paul illustrates what Christ has done for all of us—He takes our debt and pays it with His own life.

Our identity in Christ

Paul emphasises that Onesimus has undergone a radical transformation. Once “useless,” he is now “useful” (v. 11)—a beautiful play on the meaning of his name. The point? In Christ, our identity is changed. We’re not defined by our failures or past offenses. We are made new.

Philemon, a slave master, is being asked to receive Onesimus not as property, but as a brother in Christ. This is a powerful call to the Church: we must see each other through the lens of our shared redemption. Grace transforms social structures, erases labels, and redefines our relationships.

By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee,
the author