Illuminations | The Mind of Christ: How Your Attitude Changes Everything

In Romans 13, we are told to “put on Christ.” But what does this actually mean? Are there practical ways we can do this seemingly impossible act?

The answer is yes. “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”—1 Corinthians 2:16.

The reason we can put on Christ and have the mind of Christ is due to the Lord placing the Holy Spirit in us and equipping us to do so.

But there’s another reason—because His Word provides practical teaching and instruction. The Beatitudes Jesus spoke in Matthew 5, gives instructions on the attitude we are to have in order to walk in alignment and blessedness in every area of our lives.

These aren’t just words of encouragement; they are declarations that, when understood, transform your mind, heart, and attitude from the inside out in order to be a witness of God’s power to those around us.

Jesus Fulfills the Law…

Jesus begins His discourse on a sloping hillside next to the Sea of Galilee. He spoke from a mountain, just as Moses did to provide teaching and revelation of the Law. In Hebrew, the law means ‘instruction’ and Messiah means ‘Anointed One.’

Therefore, the anointing power Jesus gives us through the Holy Spirit equips us to fulfill His instruction. His power will manifest in us, and His glory will be seen as signs and wonders.

He says we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The salt brings preservation and light brings revelation. You have this power in you, declares the Lord! You are blessed!

Blessed are Those Who…

When Jesus began His teaching, saying, ‘Blessed are those who…,’ He wasn’t talking about those who are happy, as we might think of one described as ‘blessed’ today. ‘Blessed’ here refers to the ultimate joy and richness of our salvation.

Jesus speaks to the attitudes in the heart more than the actions we take, because He knows our actions are reflections of the heart.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the eviltreasure of his heart brings forth evil. For outof the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”—Luke 6:45

God has sent Himself to sanctify and cleanse our minds and attitudes so that our hearts will be pure.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”—Matthew 5:8

8 Ways We are Blessed in the Lord:

1. “Blessedare the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:3

• In your natural human state, before you are born-again, a spirit of poverty covers you. Not necessarily in the sense of the lack of “things,” but a lack of joy. You pursue your selfish interests, yet are left empty.When you walk in deeper revelation of the meaning of this verse, you see that when you are completely poor in spirit you realize the need for Jesus to fill you up. And when He fills you, you are blessed.

2. “Blessedare those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”—Matthew 5:4

• When you cry out to the Lord during your pain and mourning, He promises to comfort you. Pour out the tears of hurt in your heart and ask God to refill you with His restorative power. This spiritual refilling may take time, but have faith in the promises of God.

3. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”—Matthew 5:5

• Being ‘meek’ should not be confused with being weak. Meekness is an exhibit of self-control. When you take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), you allow the Holy Spirit to equip you with the power of self-control in your life.

4. “Blessedare those whohunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”—Matthew 5:6

• Did you know that when you realize that the wages of sin is death, you become blessed? The Bible says we are all sinners; not one of us is righteous, and we have all turned from God in our natural state (Romans 3:10-12).However, those who humbly empty themselves, through Godly repentance, are immediately filled. You become like a new wineskin that is ever expanding with the faith and glory of God.

5. “Blessedare the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”—Matthew 5:7

• Mercy, in Hebrew, is rachum. The meaning is likened to: “a seed sown is a seed received.” Essentially what this verse tells us is that when we extend mercy, we receive mercy.When you are wronged and choose not to embrace the natural reaction of becoming angry, judgmental and revengeful, you are given mercy in return. Remember it is God’s responsibility to avenge, not yours (Deuteronomy 32:35).Although it’s not in our nature to extend mercy, when we soak in the forgiveness and mercy of God, it becomes easier to show it to others. There is a realization of the depth of forgiveness that is extended to you.

6. “Blessedare the pure in heart, forthey shall see God.”—Matthew 5:8

• When you become utterly and completely devoted to God, you trade your broken heart for His pure heart. Your heart is no longer divided but committed. It becomes aligned with Him as you receive His instruction with readiness. The Lord says He puts His law in your mind and writes it in your heart (Jeremiah 31:33).

7. “Blessedare the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”—Matthew 5:9

• When the Lord anoints you to bring peace to those around you, you experience the blessing of He will use you to reveal His peace that transcends all understanding.

8. “Blessedare those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds ofevil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for greatisyour reward in heaven, forso they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”—Matthew 5:10-12

• Sadly, our culture doesn’t value many of the characteristics Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes, but these are the characteristics of those in the Kingdom of God. You are called to be set apart and holy. God wants to reveal His power and purity to those around you. You can rest in His promise of citizenship in Heaven.

We pray that this visitation of the Beatitudes brings an impartation of joy, peace, and blessedness into your attitude. Rejoice in the release of the blessing and receive thanksgiving today!

If you would like to read more from our Illumination series, check out these articles:

• What’s My Purpose in Life
• How Faith Grows
• How to Have Devotional Time with God
• Why Does God Allow Us to Go Through Trials and Tribulations

Or, get the full audio and video teaching directly from the Holy Land [HERE]! Your heart will be forever touched as you are drawn deep into the personal stories of Jesus and His beloved disciples.