Tag: mind

What’s Normal?

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Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11

Ever heard the phrase “the new normal”?

Usually means something bizarre is becoming commonplace.

Normal used to mean a two parent family with a few children, living in the same house for decades.

Normal used to mean church anchored the neighborhood, threading lives together as one.

Normal used to mean children knew their place and it wasn’t in charge of adults.

While we can sit here and debate “normal” social behaviors, I was wondering something completely different.

How often do you think about God?

Does He fill your thoughts most of the day? Or just when there’s nobody else to turn?

Do you talk with Him once a day, maybe as your eyes close?

Or do you talk to Him in a constant chatter about this or that, basically whenever anything comes to mind?

Do you wake with His song on your lips?

What’s your music choice? Whatever it is demands space in your head.

Sometimes I think I’m not normal.

I adore worship music. It’s all I listen to, with the exception of occasional classical music.

My head is filled with God because of it. I regularly wake with His song on my lips.

I think of heaven, too. Life is incredibly short and I hope I’m helping others see the importance of God.

Do you feel an urgency to align your heart to God’s?

What if you don’t wake up tomorrow?

Or what if you have only today to share God with another?

God takes our life seriously. So seriously that He rescued us from eternal separation by sending His son, Jesus, to take our sin for us.

If we really thought long and hard, we’d prioritize filling ourselves with worship to God, seeking His face. We owe Him everything.

So, in the end, normal for Christians should be our never-ending focus on God.

Putting Him first.

Above all else.

And that means above you and me.

As we live God’s purpose for our lives, may we consistently place Him first as we seek Him in all we do and say.

Photos by Doncoombez, Jeremy Thomas, & Taylor Cole on Unsplash

Casting off the Flesh

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Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14

What do you think Paul was talking about in this passage?

Thinking of putting on Jesus, what comes to mind?

Armor of God. Holy Spirit’s influence. Listening to God instead of the enemy’s lies.

It’s intentional. Notice Paul asks us to literally do something. To put on Jesus.

Do you? Do you choose to invite Jesus to fill you each day with more of Himself?

Do you open your Bible to hear the words of God?

Do you worship him on any day besides Sunday?

With what are you filling your mind?

Paul continues to say we must put our flesh beneath us. To make no provision for it.

Why? Because our fleshly desires tend to rule over us.

They tend to take over, don’t they?

They take our focus off of Jesus, putting it back on ourselves.

Our needs. Our wants. Our desires.

Yes, we need to take care of ourselves. So how does it move to gratifying the flesh instead?

Choosing to be lazy instead of exercising or moving.

Choosing to eat junk when we should honor our body with health.

Choosing to spend mindless hours on digital games or social media when we should be reading our Bible, reading books, or learning something new.

Going to substances that numb the world’s pain instead of walking with God to freedom.

A couple of verses before, Romans 13:12 says this: Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Casting off works of darkness is not gratifying the flesh.

Putting on the armor of light is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because our flesh is often so loud, Paul thinks we should make no provision for it.

Gratifying the desires of the flesh should never usurp what God has called us to be.

And the enemy often comes in sneaky ways, taking an inch at a time.

Today we should take inventory of how our life looks. How we spend our time. What our mind dwells upon.

Is your flesh in charge or is it God?

Cast off the flesh. And put on God.

Photos by Ingmar &  Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Setting the Mind

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For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Where do you set your mind?

The things of this world?

Things like your bank account, career, and politics?

Or the things of the Spirit?

Things like love, joy, peace, and strength?

Romans 8:6 says death comes from setting your mind on the flesh.

Know why?

Because it’s never enough. Your bank account, expectations, and self-acceptance.

Assigning your mood to our sinful world brings disappointment.

Counting on this world to meet all your needs never lasts.

And these are just when times are good.

Imagine the death in your mind when things go south.

The chains that bind you when choosing the world over God.

Trading your soul for temporary pleasure, like drinking too much, drugs, or stealing.

Romans also says life comes from setting your mind on the Spirit.

Life and peace to be specific.

Why? God is life.

He brings you life.

Life in your mind when He give you HIs perfect peace.

Life in your heart when He gives you His unconditional love.

Life in your body when He gives you His never-ending strength.

Life in your relationships when you serve others more than yourself, modeling after Jesus.

Setting your mind means to focus intently on a goal or decide firmly to achieve something.

To purpose your mind.

What will you set your mind on today?

God’s peace or the absence of it will be your answer.

Photos by Havle Kaya, laura adai, Taylor, &  Humble Lamb on Unsplash

Thinking of You

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How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139:17-18

Before Jesus was born, God was thinking of you.

Deciding to send Jesus to earth, God had you on His mind.

Because God was thinking of you, He sent His son, Jesus, to earth.

For you and for me.

Because He was thinking of us.

He wants us in a relationship with Him.

And because of sin, a relationship with us is impossible.

Except for the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s son.

Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins.

Our sins separate us from God.

But when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are covered by His sacrifice.

Our sins are wiped away.

Completely. Totally. Forever wiped from our record.

Even though you were years away from the time of Jesus, God thought of you before that first Christmas Day.

Over two thousand years before you were born, God thought of you and your eternity with Him forever.

God thought of you when He sent His son to die.

God thought of you that first Christmas morning.

God thought of you when He set the plan in motion.

When Gabriel was talking to Mary, God was thinking of you.

He was thinking of everyone who would be impacted by this earth shaking event.

God thought of you then, and He’s thinking of you now.

You are constantly in His thoughts.

Thoughts for good all the days of your life.

As you embrace this precious Christmas season, turn your thoughts to God.

He’s already thinking of you.

Photos by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Walking From Above

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But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Do you know how God sees you?

Do you know about your assured value?

Daughter of the King. Son of the Most High.

Chosen. Valued. Loved.

Do you live like that matters?

It’s hard on earth, yes?

It’s hard when life is cluttered with noise.

Noise from frustrating situations.

That noise can become louder than the voice of God.

It regularly reduces us to our emotional state of mind instead of relying on our sound mind from God.

Are you shrinking down, low enough to be surrounded by the noise of this earth?

Or are you rising tall, listening instead to the voice of God?

When you look up and remember, the noise of the world fades away as you listen to who God says you are.

Not in an arrogant ignoring your duties kind of way.

But living with renewed purpose.

With a smile on your face.

Because He knows.

He cares, and He is never leaving your side.

Picture yourself in a beautiful gown.

Or if you’re a guy, fitted in a brand new suit.

You are clean and fresh, standing tall in your new clothing.

You stand up. And as you keep your face towards Gods, you grow taller and taller.

Suddenly, the things of this world are tiny as you rise above.

The noise fades and all you hear is God’s whispered words of love over you.

You walk around, barely noticing the cares of this world, as you walk while under His provision.

You are more than the longings of this world.

You are more than the problems of this world.

You are more than the issues you will always need to face.

You are more because you are His.

Stand tall. Rise above.

Photos by Chelsea Bock, Dave Hoefler, Jack Sloop, & Ion Fet on Unsplash

Is It Well with Your Soul?

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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows, like a sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin- oh, the bliss of this glorious thought- My sin- not in part but in whole,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumph shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, “Even so”- it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

God created us with a body, soul, and spirit.

Our body is temporary. No surprise, but we have an expiration date.

Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions.

It’s our human side that generally drives our decisions.

Works in sync with our body.

We decide to eat poorly (our will) because we’re grumpy, and our body is affected.

Then our mind and emotions feel guilty and we pledge to do better until the next time something annoys us.

Then the cycle continues.

Our spirit is what communicates with God.

It’s what is broken when we have not given ourselves to God.

When you continually ask God to fill you with Himself, your spirit can reign over your mind and soul, transforming them according to God’s plan.

Bringing me back to my original question.

Is it well with your soul?

Your mind, will, and emotions?

You can only be well with your soul if you focus on Jesus.

If you give Him your burdens.

If you allow Him to work through you as we cannot do this on our own.

If you allow Him to give you His peace in the midst of a stormy season of life.

It is well with your soul if you can remain calm when attacks come your way.

It is well with your soul if you can continue loving others when instead they cause you harm.

It is well with your soul if you do not dwell on negative thoughts, but instead praise God even if.

The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a Christian, who endured tragedies like Job.

First he lost his son, then his sprawling investments during the Great Chicago Fire, and finally his four daughters on a boat to Europe. Only his wife survived.

While going to rescue his wife in Europe, he wrote the words to the hymn while sailing over the spot his daughters perished.

Enduring the loss of almost everything, his focus remained on God.

His soul was well, meaning his mind, will, and emotions were fixed on God.

Only when Jesus is your single source of peace can it be well with your soul.

Not another human.

Not any circumstance.

Not even yourself.

Only Jesus.

Humans regularly fail us.

We regularly fall short.

But Jesus never has, never does, and never will.

Allow Him to be your all in all as you seek Him first and declare to all it is well with your soul.

Photos by Nani Williams on Unsplash

God or Our Flesh

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So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:25

Can I get a witness?

So true, isn’t it? Our minds long to serve God, yet our flesh longs to serve sin.

Waking up every morning, we once again purpose to walk within God’s plan for our day.

Yet how soon does our flesh rise up to sin?

Reacting with a snarky comment to our spouse.

Thinking of our own needs first instead of others.

Allowing an anxious thought to take root in our mind.

Believing a lie about our identity in Christ.

Lying to get out of a sticky situation.

Ignoring what you know you should accomplish, indulging in your flesh instead.

Becoming grumpy pants whenever things are not going your way.

Dwelling in self-pity or poor me.

Worrying to the point of fear filling your mind.

When we participate with sin, we are serving the law of sin.

Ouch. Do you want to serve sin?

Heck no. I’m not sure we consciously say to ourselves we want to serve sin as we indulge with our flesh.

But that’s what we do when we sin. We serve it. We agree with it because we succumb to it’s temptations.

But God is on the throne, His power to withstand is available to us – we only need to ask and then stand firm. Again and again. And again.

Lord, help us to continue in the mind of Christ, instead of living within the sin of our flesh.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit and help us to remember You with every thought as we go about our day.

Cement in our hearts Your ways, Your peace, and Your presence.

May we long for You more than our flesh.

Only with Your power within us will we ever have a breath of hope.

You are above our sin and we are nothing without You.

You are our God, forevermore reigning for all of eternity.

We praise You for thinking of us, helping us, and wanting us to follow in Your footsteps.

May we live to glorify Your name as we serve you instead of ourselves.

Photos by Karsten Winegeart, Jessica D. Vega, & Silvana Carlos on Unsplash

Hairy Vacuums

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Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Does your vacuum become stuck when hair completely wraps around the spinner thing or is it just me?

Smelly rubber wrapped in junk doesn’t move well.

We must stop and dejunk it. Eww.

Grab a coin to open up the bottom.

Lay the vacuum down.

Taking scissors, carefully slice through the thick hair all the way down.

Pull it off in hunks, repeating the action again and again and again, while tossing it into the trash.

Continue until it’s all gone.

Needed to continue the vacuum’s optimal function. Admittedly a bit satisfying, yet completely gross.

How often do you dejunk your heart? Your mind? Your body? Your soul?

It must be a regular thing.

Like literally regular.

Sin can attach to us, causing us to muck up ourselves.

Attitudes creep up.

Fleshly desires become bigger.

And before you know it, back we are as full of junk as our dear vacuums.

Step back today and assess yourself.

What’s your focus? Your level of anxiety? Your resting face?

Choose to refocus on Jesus.

Allow Him to dejunk your heart once again.

Then choose again to focus on Jesus the next moment. And the next. And the next.

Cleaning hairy vacuums isn’t only completed once. It’s done again. And again. And again….

Just like cleaning out your heart. Choose to refocus on Jesus.

The only difference? It gets easier and easier to choose Jesus.

But cleaning out hairy vacuums? It’s disgusting every single time.

Photos by No Revisions, Corina Rainer, Ryan ‘O’ Niel, & Brian Lundquist on Unsplash

Setting Your Mind

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For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

Do you live according to the flesh? If so, that’s what you focus on.

Do you live according to God’s spirit? If so, that’s the lens you view life.

Literal night and day difference.

A few verses earlier, Paul reminds us Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, which is our flesh. We are free from that law of sin because Jesus condemned that sin to death.

We are free if we have invited the Spirit of God to dwell within us.

Through this, we have freedom from our flesh.

But how do you actually live?

Do you live within your flesh?

The Bible says that brings death. Living in the flesh.

Or do you seek the mind of Christ, which brings life and peace?

Not sure we as Christians ever purposely choose to live within the flesh.

But we do. All the time.

Reaching for more food when your stomach is satisfied.

Watching more television then need be.

Scrolling through your phone, neglecting other options.

Pouring out your bad mood onto unsuspecting family members.

Wanting your way and pouting if you fail to get it.

Choosing first the best of the meal before anyone else gets a chance.

Listening to thoughts that are not of God.

Succumbing to fear believed through lies planted in your mind.

Romans 8 reminds us of our choices: we set our mind on the flesh or the Spirit.

Death and fear or life and peace.

Setting your mind means to purpose.

To go a certain way.

Not sure it means little bumps, as long as you redirect your course back to God.

Finally, verse 9 gives us hope as Paul shares we dwell with the Spirit of God when we belong to him.

The Spirit of God is life. Full of life.

So every time your flesh cries out for itself, remember your are not going to live from within your flesh.

Your goal is no longer to please your flesh.

Instead, set your mind on the Spirit, dwelling within His peace and life.

Photos by Kyle Glenn, Jessica Anderson, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

Worshipping Even If

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We’re all so different.

Different in personalities, the way our bodies work, and our priorities.

While singing in church last Sunday, I observed three distinct differences.

The congregation rose to worship. All but the man in front of me. Why?

The man in front of me was distracted.

He instead was sitting, reading and typing on his phone’s screen.

Not worshipping at all.

A few rows up, another man stood to worship.

Clapping in time with the music, I noticed his clap was different.

One of his arms was useless. Literally.

Yet he was clapping the best way he could by using his arm and his good hand.

He was engaged, giving his best to our Lord.

Near the alter was a third man.

His mind is not whole like mine, yet he is very sincere and kind.

He was worshipping as he knelt, arms spread wide in submission to God.

Three men. Three different responses. Two engaged, one not.

The man sitting on his phone was missing out.

Funny thing is this: he looked “normal” on the outside.

Normal body. Normal mind.

The two men engaged in worship had something “wrong” with their physical body.

But their focus was on God.

The absence of conflict creates complacency.

When our bodies function, our minds work, and we sit in relative comfort, it’s easy to rely on ourselves.

Why would we need God?

But when life isn’t perfect, or causes us to say ouch, back we rely on Him and His provision.

Let’s keep our focus fixed on God, in good times and bad.

Let’s fully rely on Him, instead of our incapable selves.

Let’s follow the example of the men, who embraced worshipping God, no matter what.

My book releases on Tuesday. Epic event in the short life of me.

But I’m like the men who have something “wrong”.

My life has not been what I pictured.

But I’d rather have my scars, because I can witness to you the faithfulness of God.

Because of the choices of others, I can testify of the goodness of God even if.

Even if life sometimes says ouch, God is still sovereign. Good. He’s the calm amidst the storm.

Our testimonies are richer when we walk with God during life’s storms.

Just like the men who chose to worship even though they looked different, let’s also choose to worship God when life looks different.

God is and was and always will be on the throne of life. Embrace Him always with yours.

Photos by Zac Durant, Guillaume de Germain, Joel Muniz, Ben White, Stephanie Klepacki, & Luis Alberto Sánchez Terrones on Unsplash

Battle Scars

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He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Scars are inevitable, yes?

You burn your finger age three and the new skin still looks off.

You scrape up your knee pretty badly and if you look close, it’s there.

Your sibling unknowingly slams your two year old pinky in the wooden door and twenty years later, the finger is still shorter.

You survive brain surgery only to have your hand burned from the leaking IV, requiring a skin transfusion.

You have a baby. Or four. Enough said!

What other types of physical scars do you have?

They could be permanent like the ones above.

Or they slowly fade when healed such as a bruise, blackened eye, or sprained ankle.

All of those scars are physical. Seen by everyone who looks.

But what about the hidden scars?

The ones on the inside of our hearts and minds?

Those matter too, but are not readily seen by everyone who looks.

Trauma produces scars.

Losing a spouse, friend, child, or parent produces scars.

Rejection either real or imaginative we repeat within our minds produces scars.

Even losing a job or custody battle produces scars.

As we all have various physical or hidden scars, let me ask you a question.

Do you let them define you?

When you do, it produces boundaries, placing you in a prison of sorts.

Do you allow the boundaries then produced define your steps, mood, or even thoughts?

Psalm 147 reminds us Jesus heals the brokenhearted. The hidden scars.

And He also binds up our wounds. The physical scars.

Don’t allow your scars to define you.

Jesus is our healer, wanting to bring you into freedom from bondage.

Allow Him to change your scars into the marks of Jesus Himself.

Allow Him to reveal His grace and love while closing your wounds.

You might still have the mark, but when touched, you will no longer wince in pain.

Galatians 6:17 declares, From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

Ask Jesus to heal your scars.

And then live within His freedom from the pain.

Your marks are now badges of honor, touched and healed by Jesus.

Photos by National Cancer Institute, Diana Polekhina, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Running Free

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But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

Are you running into the freedom God has for you?

Running from the lies you have believed?

Running from the temptations that once held you captive?

Running from the ill reactions you normally exhibit?

Malachi reminds us that when you fear God’s name, when you are His beloved child, He will respond with healing.

Healing your mind.

Healing your will.

Healing your emotions.

When you ask Him to change you, freeing you from nasty ingrained responses, He will.

He promises you will not only be free, but you will run like a wild animal.

Uncontrollably free.

Decide to trust Him.

Read His word, worship, and pray.

And run as you are free.

Smile because you are loved.

Rejoice because you are His.

There is no turning back.

Every time you are tempted to return to the pit, align yourself with God and run free towards Him instead.

Run forward with God, never looking back.

Photos by Malik Skydsgaard, sporlab, & lucas Favre on Unsplash

Remembered No More

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For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

As God’s beloved, He renews you.

Renews your mind.

Your thoughts.

Your new self covered under His salvation.

God wants you to live within His freedom from your previous ways of thinking.

The untruths you held dear.

The inadequacy that gripped you.

The fears that wouldn’t let go.

When a thought pops into your mind, do you immediately believe it?

If it tears you down feeling worthless, it’s not God.

God will gently bring you into freedom.

He only wants the best for you, so as you embrace His freedom, you’ll feel better and better.

Science shows us brain pathways can be retrained.

But you must cut the ties with your former ways of thinking.

Your former ways of thinking apart from God.

Cutting your connection with the untruth means you don’t think about it like you used to.

When an old nasty thought pops into your brain, you declare God’s truth instead.

If you’ve suffered from negativity, you begin to thank God for His goodness.

You look for it. Search for it, proclaiming He is good.

If you’ve suffered from fear, you thank God for His protection.

You remind yourself how perfectly safe you are under His wings.

If you’ve suffered from loneliness, thank God for His companionship.

You begin to list all the ways God sees you and knows you.

Start today.

As Isaiah reminds us, the former things will be remembered no more or even come to mind.

Declare the lies you previously believed gone.

The fear previously holding you gone.

Your mind is pure, covered in God’s truth.

Renewed.

Walk in the freedom God has already provided you.

You are a new creation, inside and out.

As you replace the old thoughts with God’s truth, your brain will remember them no more.

Photos by Mike Tinnion, Priscilla Du Preez, &Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Turn Your Eyes

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Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

What else in the world is there?

What could possibly compare to Him?

Look full in His wonderful face.

Gaze your eyes.

Stop everything else, and look.

For the things of earth will grow strongly dim.

Everything else will fade in comparison to the One who created You and all things.

As my grandmother used to say, “From the balcony of heaven, what will it even matter?”

For in the light of His glory and grace, these things simply won’t matter one bit.

Why do earthly things grow dim?

Because of Him.

His power, His glory, and His grace above all.

God created everything.

He reigns over it ALL.

So, we must turn our eyes upon Him, Jesus.

Because He is our everything.

When you allow your mind to settle on things out of your control, people who do not care, or circumstances you wish would change, peace will leave as fear is invited to stay.

As Proverbs reminds us, focus yourself on Jesus. Leave no room to divert your eyes from Him.

Means you will purpose your mind to focus on Jesus and His truth.

You will focus on His love, protection, and provision for each and every little thing.

Focusing on Jesus means you trust in Him fully.

For your everything, today and tomorrow.

Focus on Jesus, the Author of your story, whose steadfast love and faithful presence will remain with you now and always.

Photos by Anita Austvika on Unsplash