AN INTENTIONAL MINDSET: THE MIND OF CHRIST

03/16/2026|Marcella A Spence Love Foundation Ministry|

Opening Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has known, understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord to guide, instruct Him, give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah), do hold the purposes of His heart.”

Introduction

An intentional mindset is not talking about positive thinking.

It is not talking about self-help psychology.
It is about a divine mindset—the mind of Christ.

In a world full of noise, confusion, offense, fear, and distraction, God is calling His people to live intentionally, to think intentionally, and to walk intentionally—with the very mind of Christ shaping how we respond, how we endure, how we live, and how we serve. (Read the box below)

Text Box: What does it mean to be intentional? To be intentional means to act with purpose, making deliberate, conscious choices that align with your values and goals, rather than letting things happen by chance or autopilot; it's about being thoughtful, focused, and taking action towards a desired outcome. It involves setting clear intentions, planning, and then purposefully moving forward, even when things don't go perfectly. Paul asks a powerful question:
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Who can instruct Him?
Who can advise God?

And then he makes a stunning declaration:
“But we have the mind of Christ.”So, what does that mean?

That means the believer is not left guessing.
We are not powerless.
We are not without direction.

Through Christ, God has given us access to His purposes, His heart, and His way of thinking.

An intentional mindset begins when we stop letting the world shape our thoughts and start letting Christ renew our minds.

I. WE ARE GIVEN THE MIND OF CHRIST

The mind of Christ is not earned—it is given.

Text Box: Therefore, if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Cor 5:17When you came to Christ, you didn’t just receive forgiveness.
You didn’t just receive salvation.
You received a new way of thinking.

The mind of Christ allows us to:

  • Discern God’s will (identify)
  • Understand Spiritual Truth (Jesus)
  • Respond with wisdom instead of impulse (the Valuable Knowledge of God)
  • Choose obedience instead of reaction (the prompting of the Holy Spirit)

But here’s the reality: having access to the mind of Christ does not mean automatic use.

You can possess the mind of Christ and still live like the world if you do not live intentionally.

Which brings us to the next scripture.

II. A MIND THAT CHOOSES TO SERVE GOD OVER THE FLESH

Romans 7:25

“O thank Jehovah Father! He will! through Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, our Lord! So then indeed I of myself with the mind, the heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.” (read box)

Paul is honest here. [heart, soul, mind, strength]
He acknowledges the inner conflict every believer faces.

Text Box: 1. Paul says in verse 15: For I do not understand my own actions. I do not practice, accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe which my moral instinct condemns. 2. We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately & knowingly] practice sin, but the One Who was begotten of God (Jesus) carefully watches over, protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him, touch him. 1 John 5:18

The mind desires God.
The flesh desires comfort, control, and self-gratification.

But notice what Paul says:
“With the mind, I serve the Law of God.”

AN INTENTIONAL MINDSET IS A DECISION.

You don’t drift into holiness.
You don’t accidentally obey God.
You choose—with your heart and mind—to serve Him. Every day, we must decide because life tends to move fast:

  • Will my thoughts be led by truth or emotion?
  • Will my reactions be governed by Christ or by the flesh?
  • Will I surrender my mind, or will I let it wander?

Victory is not found in denying the struggle—it is found in choosing Christ in the struggle.

III. REMOVING THE VEIL: RENEWED UNDERSTANDING IN CHRIST

2 Corinthians 3:14

“In fact, their minds were grown hard, calloused, they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding; for until this present day, when the Old Testament is being read, that same veil still lies on their hearts, not being lifted to reveal that in Christ it is made void, removed.”

Paul now speaks of a dangerous condition:
a hardened mind.

A veiled mind cannot see clearly.
A dulled mind resists truth.
A hardened heart hears Scripture but does not understand it.

Text Box: Veiled - not openly or directly expressed; camouflaged (ex. Is the tulle that a bride wears on her head that covers her faceBut the good news is this:
In Christ, the veil is removed.

When we come to Jesus:

  • Spiritual blindness is lifted 
  • Understanding is restored
  • Truth becomes alive

An intentional mindset requires ongoing renewal.

Church attendance alone does not remove the veil.
Religious activity alone does not renew the mind.

Only Christ can do that.

That’s why we must stay in His presence, in His Word, and in submission to His Holy Spirit—so our minds remain soft, teachable, and aligned. (I spoke in the last video of Trusting the Plan of Jehovah Father who sees our distresses, pains, miseries and discomforts, and promised a  Covenant within us to empower us with a Spirit Who writes the Law of God on our heart and put His Words in our mouth and He will be our God Whom we will know and have personal experiences with. From the weakest of us to the greatest of us and he will forgive our wickedness and will no longer remember our sin. Isaiah 59:21) And Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Trust and hold on to the promises of God. They are real and true.

IV. ARMING THE MIND WITH CHRIST’S PURPOSE THROUGH SUFFERING

1 Peter 4:1

“So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought, purpose, patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God. For whoever has suffered in the flesh having the mind of Christ is done with intentional sin, has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God.”

This scripture challenges us deeply.

Peter tells us to arm ourselves with Christ’s mindset.

That tells us something:
The mind is a battlefield.

Christ did not suffer aimlessly.
He suffered with purpose.
He suffered to obey God.

An intentional mindset says:
“I would rather suffer faithfully than live comfortably in disobedience.”

When we adopt the mind of Christ:

  • We stop living to please ourselves
  • We stop excusing intentional sin
  • We stop chasing worldly approval

Suffering does not destroy the believer—it refines the believer when the mind is aligned with Christ. A surrendered mind produces a surrendered life.

V. GUARDED HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST’S PEACE

Philippians 4:7

“And God’s peace which exceeds all understanding shall remain watch over your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:15

“And let the peace (soul harmony) from Christ have dominion in your hearts [settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds] as to which [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called and be thankful giving praise to God always.”

The reward of an intentional mindset: peace.

Not temporary calm.
Not emotional avoidance.
But peace that guards.

God’s peace stands watch over your heart and mind like a soldier at the gate.

And Paul says, let that peace rule. Give God’s peace control over your life.

Peace is not automatic—you must allow it to govern your thoughts.

When Christ’s peace rules:

  • Anxiety loses authority
  • Confusion is settled
  • Division is silenced
  • Gratitude increases

An intentional mindset chooses peace over panic and praise over pressure.

VI. LIVING AND STRIVING WITH ONE MIND FOR THE GOSPEL

Philippians 1:27

“Only be sure to conduct yourselves, your manner of living, worthy of the good news of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit, purpose, striving side by side, contending with a single mind for the faith of the Gospel.”

Paul closes with a call to united intentionality.

The mind of Christ is not just personal—it is shared.

When believers share one mindset:

  • Unity replaces division
  • Purpose replaces distraction
  • The Gospel advances

The church is strongest when it strives with one mind, focused on Christ and committed to His mission. Finally, all should be of one, the same mind united in spirit, sympathizing, loving each other as of one fellowship, compassionate, courteous and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

In Closing

The question today is not do you have the mind of Christ

As Scripture says you do.

The question is:
Are you living intentionally with it?

An intentional mindset:

  • Chooses obedience over flesh
  • Allows Christ to remove every veil
  • Embraces suffering with purpose
  • Walks in guarded peace
  • Strives faithfully for the Gospel

It’s time to surrender our thoughts anew.
It’s time to align our minds with Christ.
It’s time to live intentionally—for His glory.

Prayer:
“Dear Jesus, will You renew my mind? Will You remove every veil that hinders me from being intentional in obedience to You? Will You please guard my heart with Your peace and teach me to think, live, and walk with the mind of You? In Your Holy name, Amen.”

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