When going through difficult times, it’s hard not to focus on yourself. What is going to happen to me? What am I going to do? These questions can weigh heavy on your heart. But when you put on the mind of Christ, everything changes.
Doing this allows you to endure hardship well, knowing there is so much to look forward to. It reminds you that Christ is powerful, and worthy of it all.
You will be able to rest in the truth that he will take care of you. That he is greater than this problem and there is a bigger picture where he is working.
You will know he sees you and that he is with you. You will know without any doubt that he loves you and has the best for you.
Your circumstances might not change, but when you put on the mind of Christ your attitude can change to get you through this time well. The journey makes all the difference and yours can be filled with peace.
What Is the Mind of Christ?
It’s important to know that you have the mind of Christ, which means you think like he does.
Confidently proclaiming “I have the mind of Christ” is the first step to know how to put on the mind of Christ and start thinking like Jesus. This is how you let the mind of Christ be in you, and not let the enemy’s lies and schemes, the world, or the thoughts of the flesh win out.
Doing this will help you get through this hard time. Fix your mind on him—only he can change things for you, so living for him is all that matters.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8, ESV)
Keep your focus on the promises of God in the Bible, and your eternal inheritance: heaven. Think about the things above, not about acquiring things on earth. This is not your home.
This season is only temporary. Instead of worrying about yourself in this hard time, keep your thoughts on God, and only him, to have the mind of Christ. Jesus focused on the Father always. Do the same by focusing on Jesus always.
How Do We Renew Our Minds?
Renewal of the mind is essential to put on the mind of Christ. This happens when you read the Bible and memorize scripture. You need to stay in the Word and learn to apply Bible verses to your life in order to change, too.
You don’t need to feel overwhelmed by this—the Holy Spirit will help you. The Holy Spirit will show you where you need to change your thinking, where you are believing lies, so you can instead believe the truth. He will also bring up verses when you need them.
Fight the lies, fears, and insecurities in this hard time with Bible verses to renew your mind. The enemy is not in control of your mind. You don’t have to let these thoughts win out. Take them captive and replace them with truth from the Bible.
Related: Winning the Battle in Your Mind: 7 Keys to Victory
Remember to say to yourself “I have the mind of Christ!” This helps you to remember to think like Christ and focus on him, not your problems. Some scriptures about the mind of Christ include:
- You have the mind of Christ:
“‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16, ESV)
- Think like Christ in suffering, having his viewpoint/attitude, and act as he did—wanting God’s will above your own:
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2, ESV)
- God has given you “understanding” so you can love him with your whole mind:
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20, ESV)
What Does Having the Mind of Christ Mean?
Having the mind of Christ means being like minded with Christ. It is being transformed into the image of Christ and walking in righteousness in how you think and act, and in your heart.
“… that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11, ESV)
Agree with his will, think about other people, focus on who he is: this will all bring him praise. It will allow you to do what the Bible says. Even if you don’t understand, agree with him because he is a good Father who has the best for you; he has a plan and sees the bigger picture.
Aim to think like he does and your actions will follow. You won’t need to think about yourself because when your mind is on him you feel joyful, even in the hardest of times. Thinking like Christ allows you to think about others, not yourself, in this hard time.
Put On the Mind of Christ
It’s hard not to think about ourselves in challenging circumstances. We have the mind of Christ as children of God, but we need to learn the characteristics of the mind of Christ to put it on. It is not a natural thing for any of us.
You can do the “mind of Christ” Bible study by looking at different passages and individual scriptures to learn how to develop the mind of Christ. It’s a journey, but the more you put on the mind of Christ the better you will weather hard times in your life.
Below, you will find verses from the book of Philippians where Paul speaks about being like Jesus to the believers in the church who were struggling and thinking about themselves in their hardships.
Paul encourages them to be unified as Christ wanted them to be, in one mind. These verses will also help you in your difficult season to put on the mind of Christ and to follow the greatest commandment by loving God, loving others and loving yourself within this.
Putting on the mind of Christ allows you to follow this commandment completely. You will get through this as you think like Christ.
1. Remember Jesus’s Comfort, Love, and Power
In hard times, you can forget who Christ is and what he did for you. You can forget his power and authority.
Paul reminds the believers in their hardship about who Christ is and what their salvation grants them; this can serve as a reminder to you, too.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…” (Philippians 2:1, ESV)
God will comfort you with his love in your difficult seasons—as his child you can be assured he will get you through this, as you have the power of the Holy Spirit within to help you. This means you will greatly prosper.
In these hard times, be encouraged by who Christ is and the great blessings you have as his child to put on the mind of Christ. You will get through this and in turn can encourage others by your testimony of what he will do for you.
Keep your mind on things above. Start now, by remembering other testimonies of what he did. Tell other believers to put on the mind of Christ as well—to remember who he is—and the blessings you all have as his children.
2. Have Jesus’s Attitude in Hard Times
Jesus endured so much in his life, but he didn’t complain or grumble. He continued to speak about the goodness of God and his truth, and followed him faithfully to death. You should aim to respond in this same way.
This starts in your mind, and then will transfer outwardly as you show others Christ and his greatness. Paul encourages the believers to do this as the body of Christ.
“…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2, ESV)
You should have an attitude like Jesus by having one mind. You should remember the power of Christ and that suffering with him yields to great rewards both on earth, such as character growth, and in heaven.
Put on the mind of Christ by starting the day with praise; this can help change your attitude to be like Christ in this hard season. Read the Bible to remember who Christ is, so you can have a viewpoint aligned with his in this hard time.
3. Think About Others’ Problems
When you obsess over what is going to happen to you, it doesn’t change anything; it only allows your fears and anxiety to escalate. Paul tells the Philippians in their struggle to instead be humble, thinking about others.
You can likewise do this when you know God cares about you and sees you. When you remember who he is. Make your problem known to him and then let it go to him. You need to do this in your mind.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3, ESV)
God knows your hardship; don’t think it is bigger than what he can handle. Obsessing inwardly about your hardship keeps you self consumed, but when you let it go to him you can put on the mind of Christ to think about others and help them with their troubles. That is freeing.
Give your problems to Christ and free your mind to think about others. It will bless you so much. This starts with always remembering who God is and the blessings you have as his child.
4. Help Others
As your thoughts turn to thinking about others, you can practically find ways to help them.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
This can practically mean bringing a meal to someone in need who had a baby, buying food for someone struggling financially, or helping someone move.
When your mind is aligned with Christ outwardly—even in your hardship—you can help others, which will bless you as well in your difficult time. Put on the mind of Christ to be able to practically serve others.
We all think about ourselves when we are in a hard time, but this only makes things worse. It is not loving God or people, or even truly yourself—knowing how to have the mind of Christ is.
You can put on the mind of Christ by remembering Jesus’s comfort, love, and power; by having Jesus’s attitude in hard times; by thinking about others’ problems; and then by helping them. These are characteristics of the mind of Christ. This in turn will bless you so much and change things for you. Your circumstances might not change, but your journey in this hard time will.
