Importance of Kingdom Mindedness

Romans 8:6  NKJV  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Again and Again being kingdom minded is where it is at.  Stay focused on the kingdom.  Stay focused on what God's Word says about your situation.  Renewing your mind by feeding on the Word of God.  Hearing it again and again and letting it roll around in.  Life and peace - yes sir - that's the good stuff.

I really like Romans 12:1-2 out of the The Message Bible:

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Be counter-cultural.  What does this world want from you?? - to eat you up, chew you up and spit you out when it is done with you.  What does God want?? - He has a plan for you.  The Word says it is a plan to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a future and a hope (expected end). 

It's funny, as I type this I'm reminded of something a co-worker said when referring to what to consider when choosing your allegiance to a particular upper level manager.  He said that I should choose carefully who I "hook my wagon to" because as that person goes so do you.  I gotta tell you, "hooking your wagon" to God - REALLY GOOD IDEA!!  He is definitely going places, oh yeah.

But, Eric, what will people say or think or do when they find out that I am being counter-cultural.  You know, at first, your choice might make them pretty uncomfortable with you.  You don't have to be deceived into compromising to make them feel better.  As God continues to promote and prosper you, you will become a lifeline in your world.  You will find doors opening all along your path to share the good news about what is happening in your life.  You will be hope to others and someone that can share with your friends and family, etc.  What a blessing to be a blessing.  OK, so what is today's/tomorrow's kingdom assignment?  Let's get after it!