I wonder if you ever realize how much power you have in your mind. You could go to any number of motivational speakers who will tell you that if you really set your mind to something, it can be achievable. Others will tell you that the reason you are not achieving more is that you are thinking too small. The world seems believe that there is great power in the human mind and will. You can do anything.
The motivational speakers of our day have got it partly right. Our minds are indeed powerful. God created them that way. But the motivational speakers of our day seek to place the power of our minds toward our selfish ambition rather than the glory of God. In that way, our minds are weak - weakened by sin. Weakened to pursue our own glory rather than God's glory. Weakened to be satisfied only in our own desires and will rather than God's. Our minds seek to rob us of true joy found in the wonder of pursuing a fuller life in Christ.
Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi, and it has often been described as the letter of joy. He often speaks about the joy of knowing and following Christ and the joy of having a Christ focused life. Because of that kind of joy, Paul can say that his joy is found in Christ even over the security of his own life. Philippians 1:21-25 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith. The concept here is that Paul's most eager priority is Christ, and his joy will be found in Christ, and he wants to impart the joy of pursuing Christ to those in the faith in Philippi. To progress in the faith is to experience the joy of faith.
Paul also goes on to have various explanations of the joy of faith, even in the difficult circumstances that he suffers in writing the letter from prison. He desperately wants the Philippian church to live in the joy of that faith like he does. It does not then surprise me to see that when we get to the end of his letter, Paul appeals to the power of their mind to help them think the right way so that they might live the right way and experience that joy.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
When Paul is giving them a list of virtues to think through, they are not disconnected from the rest of his letter that always points to everything being defined in Christ. Paul's whole life was defined in Christ and now he is asking this church to think about words that define our life in Christ. And then he asks them to put them into practice as they have seen it in him.
Your mind is powerful in its capacity but weakened by sin. If you are in Christ, then you have the power of the Spirit within you as you retrain your mind to find joy in trusting Christ. Instead of allowing your own selfish pursuits and desires to take over and allow you to soar in your own temporal glory, step back and think like Paul as he thinks of Christ. You will find a power that turns you toward true and eternal glory.