Tag: life

Choose To Set Your Mind

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

When you became a Christ lover and believer, everything changed. Even if your feelings and thoughts did not catch up immediately. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3, “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is.”

That single statement carries the power to reframe your entire life. You are no longer bound by the world’s old patterns, priorities, and thought systems. You have been resurrected into a new way of living and with that comes a new way of thinking.

A Call to Intention

Paul gives two clear commands. We must set our hearts and set our minds on things above. These are not passive statements. The word set implies discipline, direction, and decision. Just as a thermostat does not change the temperature until someone sets it, your thoughts won’t drift toward heaven by accident.

You have to decide what fills your mind. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is an ongoing process not a one-time event. Every day, we get to reset our focus and renew our thinking through God’s Word.

Setting your heart and mind on things above is an act of worship — it’s saying, “Lord, You have my attention. You direct my thoughts. You lead my desires.”

The Battle for the Mind

Let us be honest it is easy to let our thoughts settle into the dust of earthly thinking: worry, comparison, materialism, fear of man, or self-preservation. The world is loud. Screens, schedules, and headlines constantly shout for our attention.

But our faith will never soar if our thoughts remain tethered to the ground. Scripture calls us upward not into escapism, but into alignment with heaven. Romans 8:6 says, “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

When we think from a heavenly perspective, we do not ignore our responsibilities, but we simply see them differently. Every obstacle becomes an opportunity to reflect Christ. Every conversation becomes a chance to share His love. Every challenge becomes a place for His peace to rule.

A New Way to Live

Romans 6:4 declares, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” That new life is not just about behavior, it is about belief.

We start seeing through God’s lens. We remember that our worth is not tied to performance or appearance but is anchored in being “hidden with Christ in God.” You are not your past, your failure, you are in Christ, and He is your life. Check out Galatians 2:20 too!

That phrase changes everything: “Christ, who is your life.” Jesus is not just part of your life, He is your life. The more that truth roots itself in your heart, the more your mind shifts. You will see yourself through His eyes forgiven, chosen, and loved. And you will begin to see others not as interruptions or irritations, but as image-bearers of God’s grace.

Anchored in the Eternal

When you set your heart and mind on things above, peace begins to settle in. You anchor yourself to what is unchanging, holy, and eternal.

Earthly things, both the blessings and the burdens, are temporary. But things above? Those are forever: Love. Grace. Truth. Holiness. God’s promises.

These are the truths that stabilize your mind and direct your heart.

A Daily Reset

So today, before the world has a chance to fill your mind, you must set it yourself.

Before the worries come, before comparison creeps in, before distractions flood your day choose to lift your thoughts higher.

Let your prayer echo Romans 12:1–2:

“Lord, I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. I refuse to conform to this world. Transform me by the renewing of my mind.”

Every time you set your heart and mind on Him, you are aligning with your true identity, the one raised, redeemed, and renewed in Christ.

Ask yourself What’s been setting the temperature of my thoughts lately? The world, or the Word?

Heaven is calling. Set your heart and mind there today. 💗

Truth In Love

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

In the day and time we are living in, we cannot afford to water down the Gospel. More than ever, we are called to speak Truth in love. Culture celebrates tolerance, approval, and acceptance at all costs, but the Word of God calls us higher. Real love does not look the other way. Real love does not stay silent. Real love carries the courage to tell the truth, even when it’s unpopular, even when it costs us something. You can have love, or you can have acceptance, but you cannot stand for both.

When you ask someone to really love you, you’re not asking them to simply accept you or approve of everything you do. You’re inviting them into your life. You are inviting them into your story, your victories, and even your struggles. And that means real love will sometimes bring disagreement, correction, and even aggravation.

Love carries responsibility. If I see you walking toward danger, making a destructive choice, or drifting into unhealthy places, then love requires me to step up and speak truth. Speak even if it risks offending you. Silence in those moments is not love at all.

But when we ask for acceptance or approval, what we’re often asking for is an easy, conflict-free relationship. No challenge. No accountability. No pushback. And while that may feel comfortable for a time, it leaves no room for growth. Approval says, “Everything about you is fine. Do not change. Do not question it.” Acceptance says, “I’ll stay quiet no matter what.” Neither is true love.

To demand only acceptance or approval is to ask someone to stop caring. To stop investing. To step back from responsibility in the relationship. And that is not how God designed love to work.

Love, on the other hand, is deeply risky. It is willing to confront. It is willing to endure. It is willing to walk with you through the pain and mess, even when it costs something. That is why 1 Corinthians 13 tells us love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Notice it does not say love “accepts all things” or “approves of all things.” Instead, it calls love to something greater. Love is something that requires sacrifice and truth.

Acceptance leaves you stuck. Approval leaves you unchallenged. But love calls you higher.

Acceptance says, “I won’t bother you.” Approval says, “I’ll cheer you on no matter what.”

Love says, “I care too much to leave you here.”

And the greatest proof of this is Jesus. He did not simply accept or approve of us in our sin. He loved us enough to bear it, to endure it, and to redeem us out of it. That is why He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). That’s why Scripture calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Love is always superior to acceptance or approval. And if we want to follow Jesus, we must be willing to choose the harder, riskier, truer path. The path to love enough to tell the truth. At the end of the day, the Word of God is the only truth. Culture shifts, opinions change, feelings come and go, but God’s Word never fails. It is the standard that defines love, the foundation that sustains life, and the light that guides us through every season. If we are going to love well, we must love according to the Word, because real love and real truth can never be separated.

My dad, Pastor Gregory Pope showed me this image and I hope none of us have dust on our Bibles!

Relationship breakthroughs

Posted on by Allison Bramlett

Relationship breakthroughs normally happen at breaking points. We are given the opportunity to have a breakthrough or a breakdown. Most of this is happening when disagreements are present in our relationships. It is so important to learn to disagree without being defensive. All Covenant relationships that last are set on a foundation of commitment. A lifetime of commitment and pursuit. We may disagree on issues but must always agree to never quit. We can show support and disapproval in words and actions. It takes more than just words to show honor and respect to others. Actions must be used and words should align with them.

In a disagreement there is normally a default response which is similar to our trauma responses. People tend to fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Fight is when we have aggressive outburst that are negative and critical. Flight is when we run away from the disagreement by escaping into work, hobby, activity, and being obsessive compulsive. Freeze is when we have a brain fog, depressions, isolation, and putting off making decisions. Fawn is when we people please, are codependent, lack of boundaries, and avoid conflict. Sometimes we may demonstrate a mixture of these reactions. The point is think about what it is like to be in a disagreement with you.

The Word of God wants to help you get unstuck, set goals, cast vision, move toward your God purpose, and live out your potential. It helps you work through your trauma, pain, disagreements and process healing, resolve issues, and communicate without defense. The Word gives you emotional and physical breakthrough, get revelation of God’s Love, gain wisdom and understanding. You can SPEAK TRUTH in LOVE.

Great relationship and breakthroughs happen not just based on desire but also emotional disciplines. It is so important to learn what you are dealing with is not who you are. Your confession locks in your identity and your confession over others is how you identify them. The person with the most hope actually has the most influence. Remember IT IS NOT WHAT OTHERS CALL YOU, IT IS WHAT YOU ANSWER TO that identifies you. So negative minds, words, and conversations do not give you a positive life. Your conquering is how you answer your calling. This means your best relationships bring out the best in you. BEST FRIENDS is not just one person but it is the group of people that influence your life the BEST.

Obstacles in you relationships should not prevent connection but should make connection more powerful and purposeful. Obstacles are opportunities to prepare us for more. Be yourself. Own your zone. Be present. Have courageous communication by speaking the Truth in Love.