How You Can Put On the “Christ Mind”

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Reflections

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Posted On August 19, 2024

Your Journey of Inner Transformation

In Philippians 2:5, St. Paul invites us to “put on the mind of Christ.” He encourages us to adopt the mindset and attitudes that Christ embodied, emphasizing humility, selflessness, and unconditional love.

In Helen Schucman’s A Course in Miracles, putting on the mind of Christ means listening to our Inner Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

As we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit—which always seeks our highest good—we align our thoughts and actions with the Christ Mind.

The Christ Mind is a universal state of perfect love, peace, and unity with God. It’s the true, unaltered state of mind that reflects divine wisdom and understanding, devoid of ego-based thoughts, fears, and illusions.

The concept of putting on the mind of Christ as St. Paul and the Course invite us goes beyond a spiritual ideal. Embracing the Christ Mind is a practical, transformative journey that redefines how we see ourselves and the world.

But what does it mean to put on the mind of Christ, and how can we embody this practice in our daily lives? Here are some tools you can use to put on the mind of Christ.

Seeing with Christ Vision

Imagine waking up every day and seeing the world through the eyes of unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness. This is what it means to see with Christ vision. It’s about recognizing the divine essence in everyone, even amid conflict and chaos. When we put on the mind of Christ, we see beyond the illusions of separation and fear that the ego perpetuates. We see the truth of our interconnectedness and shared divinity.

Living in Alignment with Truth

Putting on the mind of Christ involves aligning our thoughts, perceptions, and actions with the divine truth that Christ embodies. This means living in a way that reflects love, peace, and oneness. It requires a deep commitment to making choices that resonate with these values and consistently seeking to align our will with God’s life-giving will. It’s about becoming a living testament to the principles that Jesus taught, not just in word but also in deed.

Letting Go of the Ego

The ego’s thought system is rooted in fear, guilt, and the mistaken belief that we are separated from God. To put on the mind of Christ, we undertake the courageous work of releasing our ego-based thoughts. This isn’t always easy because the ego clings to its illusions. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can replace fear with love, guilt with forgiveness, and separation with unity. This shift from ego to spirit is the essence of spiritual awakening.

Practicing Forgiveness

At the heart of the Christ Mind is the practice of forgiveness. True forgiveness goes beyond letting go of grievances. It involves recognizing those grievances are illusions, born of the ego’s misguided perceptions. By forgiving, we heal our minds and restore our awareness of our shared divine nature. Forgiveness becomes a powerful tool for dismantling the barriers the ego builds and re-establishing our connection to God and each other.

Experiencing Inner Peace

Putting on the mind of Christ brings inner peace, which is independent of external circumstances. This peace arises from realizing our true identity as extensions of God’s love. It is a joy that remains steadfast despite life’s challenges and transcends understanding. By aligning with Christ’s mind, we access this wellspring of peace, our natural state.

Miracle-Mindedness

When we adopt the mind of Christ, we become vessels for miracles.

A miracle occurs each time we shift our perception from fear to love.These shifts reflect the natural state of a mind aligned with Christ and serve as expressions of divine love in the world. By embracing miracle-mindedness, we allow ourselves to be instruments of healing and transformation, spreading love and light wherever we go.

A Personal Story

Several years ago, I found myself at a crossroads in my spiritual journey. I was grappling with feelings of unworthiness and guilt, unable to see beyond my own flaws and mistakes. The ego’s voice was loud. I felt increasingly disconnected from divine love and peace.

One day while reading, I came across the idea of putting on the mind of Christ. I realized my true self was not defined by my perceived shortcomings but by the love and light that God created me to be. This was a turning point.

I began to practice seeing with Christ vision, starting with small acts of forgiveness and kindness towards myself and others. I began to respond rationally to life’s ups and downs instead of overreacting.

When a former business partner sent a late-night text filled with half-truths and false accusations, instead of firing back an angry, defensive response, I asked God to help me put on the mind of Christ; to give me the grace to turn the other cheek and let go of my ego; to realize I didn’t need to defend myself because God knew my heart.

After pausing for several minutes, a wave of compassion flooded my body. I offered a prayer for myself and my accuser. Then I deleted the text, knowing any response would simply feed the fire.

A Life-Long Practice

Putting on the mind of Christ is a life-long journey of inner transformation.

It invites us to see the world through the lens of love, to live in alignment with divine truth, to let go of the ego’s illusions, to practice deep forgiveness, and to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding.

As we embrace this path, we become channels for miracles and reflect the boundless love and light of Christ in our everyday lives.

May we all find the courage and commitment to put on Christ’s Mind, and in doing so, awaken to the truth of our divine nature and the unity of the One Mind that connects us all.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.com

PS–Get into the Divine Flow by picking up a copy of my latest book, Finding Flow–Spiritual Practices to Reclaim Inner Peace, Balance, and Wholeness.

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Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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