Where Is Your Mind?
Do you ever wake up in the night panicking that you forgot to grade your child’s math assignment, that tomorrow you might forget to grab the teacher appreciation gift you left on the dryer, that you didn’t remember to buy the deodorant your husband asked you to yesterday…? I don’t know how the dark hours of the night can make small things seem like giants. I can wake up in the night thinking about some small matter as though I were the President of the United States and I missed a meeting with Jalal Talabani! It’s ridiculous. Our cares and worries are just that, cares and worries. When matters of the day keep me tossing in the night, it is a sure sign that I have not been walking in the spirit of God.
God promises, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
Where is my mind? When my mind is on the things of God, I am seeking how I can please and serve Him. I am looking for opportunities to obey Him and share His word with others. Scripture is floating through my mind. When temptation comes I think, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and I go on victorious over the enemy.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” What a wonderful promise, NO condemnation!
Those the Bible calls enemies of the cross of Christ, keep their mind on earthly things.
Where is my mind?
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)
Notice these people’s god is their belly. Are any of us led by our desire for food? That is a topic for another day, but notice, those who walk in the spirit do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That includes the lust for food.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:16)
When my mind is on heavenly things, the things of earth fall into place without me worrying them there. Have you ever noticed the days you take time to pray, are the days you look back and wonder how you got it all done? God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Let’s claim the promise of perfect peace God has freely given us, and not let the cares of this life choke us out that we become unfruitful. (See Mark 4)
God promises, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
Where is my mind? When my mind is on the things of God, I am seeking how I can please and serve Him. I am looking for opportunities to obey Him and share His word with others. Scripture is floating through my mind. When temptation comes I think, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and I go on victorious over the enemy.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” What a wonderful promise, NO condemnation!
Those the Bible calls enemies of the cross of Christ, keep their mind on earthly things.
Where is my mind?
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)
Notice these people’s god is their belly. Are any of us led by our desire for food? That is a topic for another day, but notice, those who walk in the spirit do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That includes the lust for food.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:16)
When my mind is on heavenly things, the things of earth fall into place without me worrying them there. Have you ever noticed the days you take time to pray, are the days you look back and wonder how you got it all done? God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Let’s claim the promise of perfect peace God has freely given us, and not let the cares of this life choke us out that we become unfruitful. (See Mark 4)
Blessings in Christ,
Cindy Palen
