7 Ways to Live Every Day with an Eternal Mindset

Spiritual Life

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By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com

It’s so easy to get swept up in the stress of life in this fallen world that at the end of each day, you may find yourself wondering where the time went and if any of it truly mattered. But what if you could live differently? What if, in the middle of dealing with all your daily responsibilities and challenges, you can be sure that you’re making the most of every day?

God invites you to live every day with an eternal mindset. That involves seeing each part of your day – from your work to your relationships – through the lens of God’s eternal plan. The Bible encourages you in Colossians 3:1-2 to have an eternal mindset: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Setting your mind on “things above” transforms every part of your day for the better, because it keeps you focused on what has eternal value. It helps you invest your valuable time, energy, and resources into what matters most, from God’s perspective. That will help you enjoy life to the fullest and serve in all the ways God wants you to contribute to the world. Here are seven ways to live every day with an eternal mindset.

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1. Start your day by connecting with God.

Soon after you wake up, before you check your phone or let the day’s worries rush into your mind, connect with God in prayer. The first few minutes of your day often set the tone for the rest of it. If you start your day by diving into the world’s demands, you’ll likely spend the day reacting to temporary pressures. But if you begin by connecting with your eternal God, you can move into the rest of your day with an awareness of God’s presence with you and a plan for living into God’s purpose for you. Your morning prayer time can be as simple as lying in bed for five minutes, asking God to help you see the day ahead through his eyes, and then listening for whatever insights God gives you. The goal is to orient your heart and mind toward God before the noise of the world gets too loud.

David’s prayer in Psalm 143:8 is a beautiful model for this morning time with God: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” When you start your day this way, you’re essentially telling God that you will make it a priority to follow his guidance and let his eternal perspective shape your thoughts, words, and actions during the day ahead. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, when you “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” all the other details find their proper place in your life.

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2. See every person as a beloved eternal soul.

One of the most significant ways to lift your perspective to focus on what matters most is to start seeing people as God does: as eternal souls who he loves completely and unconditionally. Every single person you interact with today was created in God’s image and will exist forever, either with God or apart from him. Jesus died to pay for their sins because God loves them so much that he wants to spend eternity with them. This reality makes it important for you to treat every person you interact with like the beloved, eternal souls they really are. Every day, remind yourself that everyone you interact with that day is someone God loves.

Seeing people with this eternal mindset can motivate you to choose to love them, no matter what, by being kind and giving them grace and mercy (just as God does for you). This perspective can help you live out God’s greatest commandments: to love God and to love other people. The Bible points out in 1 John 4:7: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” When you make an effort to see the eternal value in others, you can start to treat people not based on what they can do for you, but based on who they are in Christ. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40 that when you care for others, you’re also serving him: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Imagine how your day would change if you saw the face of Jesus in every person you met!

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3. Use your unique blend of God-given gifts.

God has given you your own distinctive blend of gifts, and he wants you to use them to contribute to the world in ways only you can do so. The abilities God has given you naturally can point you in the direction of the opportunities God has for you to do good works in this world. Ephesians 2:10 is clear that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Your job, your hobbies, and your roles as a family member and friend are all platforms for the good works God has designed for you. The Bible encourages you in 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” So, discover your personal strengths and ask God regularly how you can use your specific talents and skills, in your specific circumstances, to bring glory to God and be a blessing to other people. Viewing your daily tasks through the lens of how God wants you to contribute can give even your most ordinary work eternal significance.

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4. Practice generosity.

Everything you have is a gift from God. This fallen world encourages accumulation, but an eternal mindset calls for generosity. So, rather than worrying about trying to get more money and possessions, switch your focus to how you can wisely manage the resources God has entrusted to you. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Every time you choose to be generous – such as by giving financially to your church or volunteering your time – you’re making an eternal investment by sending treasure on ahead to heaven. This mindset frees you from the anxiety of materialism. When you see yourself as a steward rather than an owner, you can give freely and cheerfully as God leads you, because you know that your ultimate security isn’t in your bank account or your home, but in your relationship with Jesus.

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5. Develop a thankful heart.

Gratitude is a powerful spiritual discipline that changes your focus from the temporary frustrations of this world to God’s goodness. It’s nearly impossible to be burned out by the stress of living in this fallen world when you have a thankful heart. Every good part of your life – from the air you breathe to the grace that saved you – is a gift from God. The Bible doesn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances, but it does say to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Even when you’re dealing with challenges, you can still be thankful for God’s presence, for his promises, and for the fact that he is working all things together for your good. So, develop an attitude of gratitude. Every day, write down three blessings you’re thankful for, and thank God for them before you go to bed each night. Say a silent prayer to thank God for anyone or anything as soon as you notice yourself appreciating them, so it becomes a habit to thank God often. This habit will pull your attention away from your temporary problems and focus it on God’s eternal character.

6. Discover and enjoy the wonder of God’s work.

You can become so busy that your life shrinks down to the level of your to-do list, causing you to rush past the wonder of God’s work in your life every day. Yet, God has filled the world with wonder that he wants you to discover and enjoy. Psalm 65:8 says to God: “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” When you develop an eternal mindset, you become more inspired to slow down so you can notice and enjoy God’s wonder around you. You can find wonder in nature, which reflects God’s wondrous creative work and character.

You can find wonder in music that moves you, in learning about something new, and in countless other ways – especially through how God answers your prayers and how God’s love works through your relationships. You can even find God’s wonder by looking at yourself in a mirror, because you’re God’s masterpiece. Psalm 139:14 celebrates that when it says to God: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” When you discover and enjoy the wonder of God’s work, your soul becomes full of awe and joy, which are what you will experience for eternity in heaven!

7. Look forward to heaven.

The final key to an eternal mindset is to remember that this world is not your home. You’re a citizen of heaven, just passing through this earthly life on your way to your ultimate destination. When you look forward to heaven, you can see beyond the temporary successes and failures of this life to what really has eternal value. Your identity isn’t wrapped up in anything less than your eternal identity as one of God’s beloved children.

The apostle Paul, who endured tremendous suffering during his earthly life, points out in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” You can live with the confidence that your true life is as a citizen of heaven, so the best is yet to come. Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Living as a citizen of heaven helps you focus on what has eternal value while you’re here on earth.

In conclusion, living with an eternal mindset is a daily choice to lift your perspective from what is just temporary and focus on what matters for eternity. It’s the secret to making the most of not only the next life, but this one as well. So today, remember that you’re an important part of God’s eternal kingdom, and live this day in ways that will matter forever!