S(Colossians 3:1,2) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.... Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
O
Having seen both the Lord and heaven numerous times (2 Corinthians 12:1-10), Paul's thought processes and content was forever changed. His message to us from Jesus is that we can begin to experience heavenly life--even in the darkened spiritual pollution of earth. He's saying our brains can begin to experience heaven before our spirits and resurrected bodies get there.
A (Personal)
I've often wondered how long I'd have survived in Eden without eating the forbidden fruit. Now I can find out: God has told me where I should occupy my thought life, where I should fence it in so it can thrive and roam without hurting others. And once I get to heaven, I won't have to fear being hurt by others who live outside, where immoralities, greed, and malice roam freely.
A (Psychological)
Repairing damaged thought-lives is the central task of our key psychological models: REBT, CBT, ACT, Narrative, DBT, Positive Psychology, etc. In their classic book In Quest of the Mythical Mate, Bader and Pearson suggest a 30-day plan for helping couples reprogram their thoughts and responses to each other (p. 181-185 ... I can send you a hard copy of this worksheet). By projecting their imaginations into carefully planned agreements about how they would prefer to live, many couples have successfully shifted their thoughts and behaviors from positive fantasy to positive reality. Evidently, where we park and exercise our imaginations is very important to our mental and social health.
P
O Jesus! How I long for heaven! Forgive my for sometimes sending my thoughts into errant and unheavenly swamps. There, Your clear voice is drowned by unhappy moaning and whining. Oh, how I love Your voice!
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