Keep Your Heart and Mind on What Matters Most

“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

Have you ever thought about what you would want your final words to be?

I have.

Now, I know this isn't the last time I'll be communicating with you, but it is our final day of No Shame November, and I've been thinking a lot about what I want to leave you with.

I've loved sharing these past 21 days with you, and there are so many things I hope you'll remember. But something happened recently that helped me decide what I wanted this final message to be about.

I was riding my bike and listening to a Christian teaching when something the speaker said really caught my attention.

It brought me right back to Colossians 3:1–2, where Paul tells us to set our hearts and minds on things above.

Notice that Paul makes this point twice. First, he tells us to set our hearts on things above, and then he tells us to set our minds on things above.

I think he's making sure we understand just how important this is!

What we allow to fill our hearts and minds has a tremendous influence on how we live.

And I believe this is one of the most important things we can understand if we want to experience more joy, more peace, and less shame.

But what does it actually mean to set our hearts and minds on things above?

Does it mean we spend every waking moment reading our Bibles, praying, or listening to worship music?

Of course not!

It means we intentionally make Jesus the center of our lives and allow His truth to shape how we think, what we value, and the choices we make.

Remember the plant illustration I shared during our live teaching?

We talked about how the things we believe, whether they're truths or lies, influence our thoughts, feelings, and ultimately how we live.

If we're constantly listening to what the world tells us about our worth, success, appearance, or accomplishments, it's easy to start believing things that aren't true.

And those lies can lead to comparison, insecurity, fear, and shame.

But when we fill our minds with God's truth, we begin to see ourselves and our circumstances differently.

Romans 12:2 says:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

I love that God doesn't just tell us to change our behavior. He wants to transform the way we think!

Because when our thinking begins to change, the way we live can begin to change too.

For me, keeping my heart and mind focused on Jesus starts with spending time with Him.

I read my Bible, talk to Him throughout the day, and listen to music and teachings that help me grow in my faith.

I also try to make conversations about faith a natural part of my relationships and look for opportunities to show God's love to the people around me.

And please hear me when I say this: I don't do any of this perfectly!

I still get distracted. I still worry about things I should be trusting God with. I still have thoughts that aren't consistent with what I know to be true.

But deep in my heart, more than anything, I want to know and love Jesus. And I want the people around me to know and love Him too.

The more time I spend with Him, the more aware I become of the things that pull my heart and mind away from Him.

I find myself asking questions like:

What am I believing right now that isn't true?

Am I allowing fear, comparison, or shame to influence my decisions?

What does God want me to know about this situation?

How can I respond in a way that reflects His love?

And here's something I really want you to understand as we finish this challenge:

Freedom from shame isn't about becoming a person who never makes mistakes. It's about becoming someone who knows where to turn when you do.

When Jesus is at the center of your life, you don't have to let your failures define you. You can acknowledge them, learn from them, receive His forgiveness, and keep growing.

You don't have to spend your life trying to prove you're good enough, because your identity is rooted in who you are in Christ.

And you don't have to live controlled by what other people think of you, because God's opinion of you matters most.

Now, I want to ask you something.

What would it look like for you to become more intentional about keeping your heart and mind focused on Jesus?

Maybe it's starting your morning with Scripture instead of immediately checking your phone.

Maybe it's spending more time in prayer, being more selective about what you listen to or watch, or surrounding yourself with people who encourage your faith.

Or maybe it's letting go of something that's been taking up too much space in your heart and mind.

Whatever it is, I hope you'll make a commitment to take that next step.

Not because you need to earn God's love, but because you want to grow closer to Him and experience more of the life He's calling you to live.

One Final Encouragement

Before we finish our 21 days together, I have one more thing I want to share with you.

I've recorded a short video with some final thoughts and encouragement that I really hope you'll take the time to watch. It is in the lesson below.

My prayer is that what you've learned during No Shame November won't just be something you think about for a few weeks, but something that continues to influence the way you see yourself, relate to others, and walk with Jesus.

Something to Think About

As you look back over these 21 days, what has God shown you about the shame you've been carrying?

Are there lies you've started to recognize, beliefs you need to change, or burdens you're finally ready to release?

And most importantly, what is one thing you can commit to doing differently so that Jesus becomes more central to your everyday life?

Take a few minutes to write down your commitment. Be specific, and make it something you can realistically put into practice.

I want to leave you with this:

You don't have to have everything figured out. You don't have to be perfect. And you don't have to keep living under the weight of shame.

Keep seeking Jesus. Keep filling your mind with His truth. Keep allowing Him to change you from the inside out.

And when you have a difficult day or fall back into old patterns, don't give up. Turn back to Him and keep going.

Thank you for being part of No Shame November. I pray these 21 days have helped you understand more deeply who you are in Christ and how much He loves you.

My hope is that this isn't just the end of a challenge, but the beginning of a new way of living, with less shame, more freedom, and Jesus at the center of it all.