Galatians 6:3 nails self to the cross. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Verse 7 says, “But made Himself of no reputation…” Verse 8 says, “…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

All sin is pride based. James 4:6 says, “…God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Resist means to stand against. Picture it like the Lord laying one obstacle after another in front of you. 

Proverbs is full of verses about the proud. Proverbs 13:10 says, “By pride comes nothing but strife…” In Proverbs 8 wisdom was speaking. Verse 13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

Mindsets are like houses of established thoughts. They determine our actions and attitudes. Prejudice is a mindset. God is not a respecter of persons. When we align our core beliefs with the truths of Scripture, our thoughts, actions, and attitudes will please the Lord.

Romans 12:16 says, “…Do not set your mind on high things…” 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” A high thing is pride in self-effort.

As I meditated on high things, my mind went back to Isaiah 57:15. It says, “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in a high and holy place…”

Let’s add Colossians 3:2. It says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Pride is satan’s weapon to entrap us. Lucifer fell from heaven. Isaiah 14:14 says, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”

As we continually renew our minds from the truths of God’s word, we will thwart the enemy’s plans to entrap us in pride through the lure of self. Anything that we do apart from God is rooted in self-reliance. Galatians 6:3 says, “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Philippians 2:2 says, “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” Sincere means without hypocrisy or pretense.

I have a new mentee that lives in another country. She asked me to not judge her or pity her. She wants me to accept her as she is. Living in harmony requires us to not judge. Matthew 7:1 warns us, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” Romans 2:1 says that when we judge we are condemning ourselves because we practice the same things.

Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Titus 3:2 says, “To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

I started to meditate on Romans 12:16. It says, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” As I was considering ‘of the same mind’ I thought of Acts 1:15. It says that there were about 120 in the upper room.

Verse 14 says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Now in my imagination, I have always wondered about this gathering.

During their time together praying, did the Holy Spirit bring up unresolved issues? Remember in Matthew 20 the mother of James and John asked Jesus to favor them. Verse 24 says, “And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.” Did they still carry an offense?

With one accord means: being unanimous, having mutual consent, being in agreement, having group unity, having one mind and purpose. That is a perfect description of what it means to live in harmony.

Hebrews 11:25 in the Amplified says of Moses, “(Motivated) by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him who is invisible.”

We are in a race. Hebrews 12:1 in the Amplified says, “…let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us…”

1 Peter 1:13-14 says, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves in the former lusts…” Romans 12:2 says to not be conformed to this world’s ways.

The enemy of our soul looks for chinks in our armor. Unresolved issues are past tense. Remember, five minutes ago is our past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that old things have passed away. Our past is passed. It cannot be changed. Paul set us an example. Philippians 3:13 says, “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward…” Faith in action is proactive.

There are so many scenes in Scripture where Jesus told His disciples to do something. He got into Peter’s boat. Luke 5:4 says, “…Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Peter explained to Jesus that they had fished all night but caught nothing. Follow his words in verse 5. It says, “…nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” The result was such an abundance of fish that their net was breaking.

Think of the folks in Hebrews 11. Verse 7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not seen, moved with godly fear…” Abraham was told to leave his country. Verse 8 says, “Abraham obeyed when he was called to go…And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Peter saw the Lord walking on the water. He asked Him to command him to go to Him on the water. The Lord just said ‘Come’ and Peter climbed out of the boat. He walked on the water until he took his eyes off of Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 is our instruction.

Romans 12:3 says that we were given a measure of faith. 2 Peter 1:5-7 says that we are to diligently add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.

Verse 8 says, “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 3 says, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him…”

We get to know a person by spending quality time with them. We get to know the Lord in the same way. John 15 calls it abiding in the Vine. In the above verses we see the connection between faith and fruit that is generated and borne through our getting to know the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” I encourage you to read A. W. Tozer’s book: Knowledge Of The Holy. We become partakers of His nature as we dwell in His Presence.

The moment that we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were baptized into His death. Ephesians 1 uses the words ‘in Christ’ several times. We were united with Him through death, and raised with Him into newness of life. United. One. He gave us His righteousness. 

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Established. Fixed. Immoveable. Steadfast. I love Philippians 1:6. Great promise of established faith. It says, “Be confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:8-9 says, “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” The end? read Jude verse 24.

Colossians 2:7 says, “Rooted and built up in Him and established in faith…” Temptations come to undermine our faith. Trials are designed to expose and remove any dross-lies that the enemy planted.

Psalm 112 was written about the righteous. Verse 7-8 says, “He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.” The Hebrew for establish means to lean upon.

That is what faith does. By faith we lean on the promises found in God’s word. They are eternal. Titus 1:2 says that God cannot lie. Hebrews 6:13 says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.”

Isaiah 40:25 says, “To whom then will you like Me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.” 2 Peter 1:4 says that it is through His promises that we become partakers of His nature. Hebrews 11 uses the words, ‘by faith.’

James 1:13 says, “…for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” That’s really clear. Why then do believers get tempted? Verse 14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”

1 John 5:18 says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” Keep means to guard. What do we guard? Our heart which is our belief center. 

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Issues are unresolved situations from our past that keep us ensnared, or unconfessed sin that dogs us with shame.

When we walk in the Spirit, He empowers us to resist the devil’s lying temptations. He brings Scripture up from the reservoir of our heart. Like Jesus, we declare the truth of His word in the face of each temptation. James 4:7 says, “…Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”