by Todd Elder at Exploring Creation
To have a frame of mind means to have a point of view from which one works and operates. This typically comes from our perspective and understanding of life. It can be temporary or long term. It helps us determine what we do and how we do it. For example, if I am driving down the road looking for a gas station, I will miss the many shops, grocery stores, and other things to be seen but my mind will notice the many gas stations to be found. Likewise, our mindset on life and what life is drives our perspective and views throughout life.
One of the most important parts of life is just knowing who we are and who we belong to (and what that makes us). If we accept that we are created beings, and we accept that there is a Creator who not only made us but wants to have a relationship with us, then that carries with it quite a few things that direct our perspectives on life. If we read through the scriptures and learn how He wants to have relationship with us, then we should recgonize both a need and a desire for those ways.
We should also recognize that we are not of this world (the physical fleshly world). If we have accepted Yahshua as Savior we are become His and we are in a new kingdom and His Spirit is within us. Therefore, our focus should not be on the physical desires of this world, to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, nor should it even be in the things of our mind (wordly knowledge and abilities). Instead our focus should be on the things of our soul and spirit. Our mindset should be focused on The Almighty and His ways.
I had a very definite frame of mind as I went through college. As I was exiting high school, I was beginning to question the world and what was happening around me. I had grown up attending church on sunday, but it was not an active part of my life. I had some knowledge of the Scriptures, but in my mind I questioned things like the literalness of the opening chapters of Genesis which explain His creation. I was being trained in society with evolution and the scientific theory ... mankind seemed to know so much. When starting college, I got heavily into philosophy ... mostly as a means to explore and understand the world and to find out what is true and correct in life. I ended up primarily studying Epicureanism ... in fact for several years I can say I followed this general philosophy. This was my mindset. However, epicureanism is a philosophy. It is not Scriptural. As with any philosophy, it is man-made and it has flaws. Any philosophy ever made is based on premises (something assumed to be true). If the premise is incorrect, then every conclusion based on that premise will also be incorrect which is what happens with all philosophy and most of science.
A simple example of premises and conclusion is this: Premise 1: man likes to procrastinate. Premise 2: as time goes down to zero, effort goes up to infinity. From these two premises we could draw the conclusion that: nothing would ever get done if it were not for the last minute. This example can draw a laugh, but sadly there is a certain truth to this ... but it is not all truth either.
In Epicureanism, the biggest downfall is that they believe that there is no god and that when we die, that is the end for that person. There is no soul and no spirit which go on for eternity. Without this, one suddenly finds that there is no meaning to life. This is probably a great philosophy for evolutionists .... It is terrible for those who Believe in the One Most High and His Creation and who desire to be in His eternal Kingdom. He calls us not to happiness as epicureanism pursues, but to peace and to love and to a contentment with life that has meaning and richness (not monetary).
Under this frame of mind, I spent years pursuing man's wisdom [which is foolishness], trying to accomplish what I could humanly accomplish [which is not much without Him in my life], and was just generally being selfish with any activities I was active in. This is where the ways of man lead. It is a mindset that leads to death. Turning away from all that and placing my life and my thoughts On YHVH changes everything. Now I have hope, meaning, assurance, and peace in my life. And though I still have to fight the selfishness of the flesh, my mind and my emotions are less on selfish things and more on goodness and helping others. What a difference. Now instead of seeing the difficulties and the evils of man in the world, I see the love and the beauty of YHVH in the world. It really does depend on what you are looking for ... ultimately you find it.
In the last few years, I have been turning away from man's knowledge to pursue that of the Almighty's. I now decidedly believe in a literal creation account. I believe the evidence in the world around us supports it ... and actually disproves evolution. I believe in a loving Creator. Philosophy, all philosophies, are basically junk which take us away from the Almighty's perfect ways. We need not go to man's logic or science which is finite in amount. His wisdom is infinite.. He has given us His Spirit and His Word to bring us to Him and to know His ways. This perspective changes many things in life. Most of all, it makes one go to Him for guidance and counsel and not to man whether it be science, philosophy, or psychology. Following in His wisdom brings faith. Following man's wisdom brings pride ... a great evil.
We are called to be His people. For us, His commandments should not be viewed as a task to be performed for a master much like how we do our jobs today. Instead it should be loving kindnesses for Him and His kingdom ... it should be opportunities watched for not rules to be obeyed. His rules and guidelines are there to not to seperate us from other people, but to set us apart to Him and to surround us with peace and safety. Do we go that step to focus on His ways so that we act in His ways? When we shop, speak, and act the way the general population does are we any different? Our dress, our shopping habits, what we watch, what we talk about, and how we speak all demonstrate what we believe ... or the lack of decisions on what we believe. If we blend in with society, are we appearing and acting like a called out people? A people set apart to YHVH? Admittedly, it is a higher standard we are held to as believers ... how many of us consciously try to work for that standard? How many of us compromise because it is easier to meet the worlds standards?
When we focus on Him and when we set our minds on His ways, the world becomes less important. Even our own desires and dreams are less important. When our frame of mind is on doing His work and on worshipping Him, the cares of the world (money, power, pride, etc) melt away. When our point of view from which we operate in our life becomes more like His, then we can see more clearly what is truly important and just how awesome He is. After some time with this mindset, the cares of the world even become strange to us because we get accustomed to the great peace and beauty of His ways. Then going back to the ways of man are unsavory.
Our minds are to be on things above. We are to be focused on purity and honor ... not partying and hanging out with the gang. Focusing on purity, even if we cannot reach it in this age, brings drastic and amazing results. Our mindset becomes one of ignoring many temptations because they take away from the quality of our lives. It makes us see things in more of a black and white way rather than seeing the 256 shades of gray the world uses. What is white is good and takes us closer to YHVH, what is black takes us away from Him. There is no gray that says the end justifies the means. If it cannot be done properly (according to His word) then it should not be done at all.
When we focus on The One Most High ... when we truly say that we want to be His people, we are saying that we will submit to His ways. This means putting aside our own desires and learning what He wants of us. It is not complicated. The commandments given in the Scriptures are not that many. He asks of us to do what is just (righteous) and fair as well as to worship Him in the way that is pleasing to Him. He really does not ask much of us ... especially when you compare it with the work load that the world wants to give us.
In short, when we set our minds on YHVH and Yahshua, the things of this world become unimportant. When we make our perspective on life following His ways and doing His will, then we become free of the will of man. Our whole life changes ... not because our life changes, but because our focus is different.