Tag: Romans 12:2

Year In Focus: Thinking

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)

Yesterday during worship we had a time of anointing and prayer. During our congregational time of sharing, a family member shared, from a broken heart, a desperate need of a family member. I felt nudged in my spirit to focus on the need, the individual, and the family.

As I began to pray, I sensed a childlike spirit—more like a self-centered, spoiled child wanting to demand my way. I didn’t understand what God was thinking, why he was allowing this horrible suffering and grief. My first thought was to tell God what he needed to do in this situation.

Now here’s one of the difficult things for me as I pray publically: even when I am aware of leading others to the throne of grace, I get there first and at times God starts working on me—and that’s what I felt happening.

Trust me.

But God…don’t you understand?

More than you’ll ever know.

So I don’t have to tell you what’s happening.

No. But I care about what you’re feeling. Go ahead and pour out your heart.

SELAH (Pause, reflect, and connect)

The truth is: we don’t naturally think like God or see things from his perspective. Can we? Will we ever?

I really don’t know to what degree we will, but here’s what I do know: God is in the business of transforming our thinking, maturing our understanding. And I know this because he tells me in his word:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2, NIV).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5, Berean Study Bible).

Jesus extended this invitation to those weary from trying to “do” religion, trying to understand God—those who were ready to give up:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Is your situation confusing? Overwhelming? Having trouble finding the mind of God? Stop trying to make sense of things with your limited knowledge…trust the heart and mind of God. He is gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls.

SELAH

 

 

Lenten Thoughts: Mindfulness

 

I read an article in Prevention magazine several years ago about the benefits of mindfulness. Did you know:
-A study showed in 140 binge eaters mindfulness reduced binging 75%.
-Mindfulness eases anxiety by 44% and depression by 34% while increasing immunity.
-Mindfulness improves physical functioning and reduces pain.
-Mindfulness results in significant improvement in memory.
-Mindfulness strengthens relationships. (Prevention Magazine, January 2008)

mindful wordcloud.jpg

Pretty impressive. Pretty good reasons to consider being mindful. What does it mean? According to dictionary.com, mindfulness is defined as: attentive, aware, or careful. I am of the opinion that this word, concept and practice, is very biblical.

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Paul told the Romans to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (12:2) and directed the Philippians to think on what is “whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” (4:8). A search of “take care” brings up 117 references in the Old and New Testaments.

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So it behooves us to “pay attention” in life. What have you been noticing as you race through life? What have you heard? What have you felt? There was a tissue commercial where a woman was going through her day with a “touch, touch, touch, touch…feel” experience. The point was: we bump through life barely aware of the things we touch and that touch us. When the woman finally came across the best tissue, it caused her to feeeeeel something more deeply. We can know that kind of depth as we come into the presence of the Almighty. Talk about feeling!

In Psalms we find the assurance that God neither slumbers nor sleeps. David is overwhelmed by God’s attentiveness and questions in Psalm 8: who are we that you are mindful of us? Nothing happens in our lives, but God is aware. He knows when we are up all night. He knows when our job is about to phase out. He knows what the doctor just told us. He knows. And he is mindful, attentive and caring.

Today, don’t just bump mindlessly through your appointments, contacts, or even your shopping. Yesterday, we were invited to look. Now, we are invited to be mindful of the one who is mindful of us.

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Checking the Brain Wires

WP transformed mind

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV)

I did a goodsearch on “brain transformation” and learned about the interesting and extensive science dedicated to this concept: brainwaves and rebuilding after traumatic brain injury.

I followed that up with a goodsearch of “renewing your mind” and was taken to a multiplicity of sites focused on the biblical passages associated with changing thought patterns and attitudes.

The Message tells us: Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.

I like the Phillips translation: Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.

So from this I glean the world wants to shape us, and wants that shape to be so natural we respond without even thinking. And what is our best defense against this?

WP wiring plans

The renewing of our mind. Letting God do the rewiring work. Work that is from the inside out.

One of the first things we need to allow God to show us is the lies we have believed. If we are to know the truth that sets us free, we have to identify the lies we have allowed to shape us.

Here’s the biggest problem with those lies: they sound like truth. Consider the lies the serpent told Eve. The serpent twisted what God had told Adam just enough to make it sound logical…just enough so Adam would doubt what he knew. He bought the lie and we’ve been paying ever since.

WP lies we believeDefinitely not funny “haha”…

So our challenge today is to start the process of not living in the lies.

PRAYER: God who wires us and wants to shape us, forgive us for our easy believism, our willingness to trust the lie without testing it or taking it to you. Will you begin to show us the lies we have bought in to…and rewire and mould us to you. AMEN.