A Wandering Mind

Modern psychology has discovered that our minds naturally wander, and that most often a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Unfortunately, our minds often drift toward unhealthy places—the past, the future, our desires, relationships, and fears. Left unchecked, these patterns produce shame, anxiety, insecurity, selfishness, and despair. Long before neuroscience, Scripture recognized this reality. Rather than allowing our thoughts to drift aimlessly, the New Testament repeatedly commands believers to "set your minds on” holy things in an effort to combat mental drift.

When our minds drift:

To the past, we set them on Jesus, 

To the future, we set them on the things above,

To our desires, we set them on the Spirit,

To our relationships, we set them on God,

To our fears, we set them on things that are praiseworthy.

The Christian life is not passive surrender to intrusive thoughts but active participation with the Holy Spirit. By God's grace, believers possess both responsibility and authority over what occupies their minds. A wandering mind becomes unhappy because it wanders into darkness. But a mind fixed on Christ becomes filled with life and peace.