Rachel sat at her kitchen table, scrolling through her phone. Social media notifications buzzed constantly, emails from work flooded her inbox, and her to-do list stared at her from the corner of the table. She sighed, overwhelmed by the chaos of life.
Her days felt like an endless cycle of busyness, work meetings, errands, social obligations, and the occasional Netflix binge to unwind. Yet, despite staying busy, Rachel felt empty. Something was missing.
That Sunday, during church, the lady pastor read from Colossians 3:1-2:
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Rachel froze. The words struck her deeply. She realized she had been so focused on the temporary things of the world, her career, her possessions, her image, that she had lost sight of what truly mattered: her relationship with God.
That evening, Rachel sat quietly in her living room, reflecting on the verse. She thought about how much time and energy she devoted to things that wouldn’t last, scrolling through social media, chasing career goals, and worrying about what others thought of her.
Her Bible sat unopened on the coffee table, a silent reminder of how much she had neglected her spiritual life.
“God,” she prayed softly, “I’ve been so distracted by the things of this world. I’ve been chasing after temporary things and neglecting You. Help me to set my heart and mind on things above. I want to refocus on You.”
Over the next few weeks, Rachel began making small but intentional changes in her life.
- Starting Her Day with God
Instead of diving into her phone first thing in the morning, Rachel began spending the first 10 minutes of her day in prayer and reading Scripture. She found that starting her day focused on God gave her a sense of peace and purpose. - Filtering Her Social Media Use
Rachel decided to limit her time on social media. She unfollowed accounts that made her feel anxious or overly focused on material things and began following pages that shared uplifting, faith-based content. - Focusing on Eternal Impact
Rachel started asking herself, “How can I use my time, energy, and resources to glorify God?” She began volunteering at her church’s food pantry, helping those in need. She also became more intentional about sharing her faith with coworkers and friends. - Gratitude for Eternal Things
Each night before bed, Rachel wrote down three things she was thankful for things that reflected God’s eternal blessings, like His love, grace, and faithfulness. This practice helped her shift her focus from temporary frustrations to eternal truths.
One day, Rachel faced a challenge at work. A major project she had poured her heart into was rejected by a client, and her boss wasn’t happy. Rachel felt the familiar pull of anxiety and frustration creeping in.
But instead of spiraling into negativity, she remembered Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
She took a deep breath and prayed, “God, this situation feels overwhelming, but I know it’s temporary. Help me to handle this with grace and to trust You with the outcome.”
That moment of prayer didn’t immediately fix the situation, but it gave Rachel a sense of calm and clarity. She realized that her worth wasn’t tied to her job performance, it was rooted in her identity as a child of God.
Over time, Rachel noticed a shift in her perspective. She still worked hard at her job and enjoyed spending time with friends, but those things no longer consumed her. Her heart and mind were focused on God, and that focus brought her a sense of peace and purpose she had never experienced before.
One evening, as she sat on her porch watching the sunset, Rachel reflected on how far she had come. She smiled and whispered, “Thank You, Lord, for helping me set my heart on You.”
Rachel’s story reminds us that it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and distractions of life. But as followers of Christ, we are called to focus on things above, on God’s eternal promises, His love, and His purpose for our lives.
When we shift our focus from earthly things to heavenly things, we experience peace, joy, and clarity. The things of this world are temporary, but our relationship with God is eternal.
May you set your heart and mind on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. When life feels overwhelming, may you find peace in knowing that your hope is in Him. And may you live each day with purpose, focusing not on the temporary, but on the eternal.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me to set my heart and mind on things above. Forgive me for the times I’ve been distracted by the things of this world. Help me to focus on Your eternal promises and to live each day with purpose. Teach me to seek You first in all I do and to trust in Your plan for my life. In Jesus Amen.
May you find peace and purpose as you set your heart and mind on things above!
