Spiritually Minded

Continuation of excerpts from "How to be Spiritually Minded" by John Piper


Remember Jesus’ warning about what chokes spiritual life: cares, riches and pleasures of life.

Those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14)

The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)


Ponder what smells good to God and what he delights in!

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

For we are the aroma of Christ to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15)

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10)


Be friends with spiritually minded people.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)


Read God-besotted, spiritually minded writers.

For example, read the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and John Owen in Volume Seven of his Works, On Spiritual Mindedness. Here are some sample sermon titles from volume 25 of the Yale edition of Edwards’ Works, just to give you a flavor how different things were in those d
ays:

"The Great Concern of a Watchman of Souls"
"The Beauty of Piety in Youth"
"The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God"
"Yield to God’s Word, or Be Broken by His Hand"
"Saving Faith and Christian Obedience Arise from Godly Love"
"The Peace Which Christ Gives His True Followers"
"Men’s Inhumanity to God"
"Christ Is to the Heart Like a River to a Tree Planted by It"
"God Is Infinitely Strong"


Ponder your life that will very soon be without a body.

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

How attached are all your joys to your body?