Perspective Shift: Student EditionSample

The joy Paul wrote about and lived out originated in his mind and then flowed through his heart. It wasn’t how he felt, but how he thought. How you think affects how you feel. This is the primary key to Christianity—you cannot change your heart, but you can change your mind. Conversely, God can change your heart, but He won’t change your mind. So if we choose to change the way we think about a given situation, God will change our hearts to follow. But, if we don’t change our thoughts, God cannot change our hearts. So, when Paul says in Philippians 2:5 to have the “mind of Christ,” he was challenging the Philippian church to channel Christ’s humility and selflessness. A joy mindset sees the bigger picture in the same way Jesus did. Joy's not about the outside—it's an inside job!

• Recite this week's memory verse: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5, KJV).
• What are some external factors that you've allowed to negatively influence your joy?
• How can you have the "mind of Christ" when it comes to these areas?