The Mind

The Mind

My dad told me this as a small child in regard to sports and letting the circumstances of the competition and the actions of the other team get to me,

"Son, don't let them get in your head; if you let them get in your head, they've won."

Wise words. Later this statement was transferred into when I had trouble at school and was bullied (it happened a good bit). Naturally I took this wise lesson into many other circumstances in my life and it has served me well. Sometimes parents, we wander if the things we say to our kids get through -- I can attest to the fact that the important things stay with us (Prov.22:6). I thank my Dad for his wisdom, it has helped me through some difficult times and it still does even today; I plan to pass these wise sayings, rooted in God's truth, on to my own children.

We must stand a vigilant guard over what we allow in to our minds in this life. To let evil things in is to be consumed and beaten. Consider,

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Phil.4:8)

There are so many directions one's mind can go on any given day. Sometimes our minds can go places it shouldn't and at other times it can go to places that give us pause, bring us peace, give us comfort, and enriches our lives. We might, at times, think that this mind of ours is like an untamed beast that just wanders about from place to place; however, that does not have to be the case with us.

Think about the fact that this life is the only one each of us has. This, right now, is our one chance to go to heaven. When we begin from that perspective and then look at our lives and the things which we expose ourselves to and the things we think about, devote our minds to absorbing at any given point, then isn't it true that we can have control over this aspect of our own life? To say that we have no control is to say that God has given us no choice as His Creation. It would be like saying God is toying with us and our eternal destination is not up to us, but rather it has already been decided. To say such a thing is to impugn God, to remove the fact of His mercy and grace, and instead labels God as a twisted being that gets satisfaction over watching us struggle.

On the contrary, the God whom we serve is a merciful and loving God who has gone to the furthest extent possible in order to give us access to eternal life. He has given His Creation, mankind, the opportunity to be restored to Him and be in eternity with Him by the Perfect Sacrifice of His only Begotten Son. To be wronged by His own Creation, after giving each of us life and sustaining us, to be spat upon and mocked by His Creation, to come to save them only to be beaten and murdered by their very hands...to go through that, and then turn around and offer forgiveness to them - to us - and say to this Creation "I love you, come and serve Me, lay your burdens upon Me, obey Me, and I will give you life. I forgive you, child." (Matt 11:28-30)

Are we not overwhelmed with the weight of such a blessing?!! Who are we (Psalm 8)?!! Yet God did this for you, friend. For me and for every soul that has ever been and ever will be as long as time exists. What love!!!

When we think of the God who created us and the blessings He has bestowed, can we truly say we have no control over our thoughts, over this incredible mind He has given to us? This intellect and reason that gives us the ability to know His word and make the choice to obey it? What depth there is to this mind of ours; shall we not make the most of it and put it to use in glorifying our God, our Master, our Creator, our Merciful and Loving Heavenly Father?

What we allow to enter our minds sticks there and it will, in most cases, comes out in some form or another in our lives; those thoughts manifest themselves by our actions. It is because of this fact that we must be wary of what we allow to enter in. What we expose ourselves to in the form of our music, our companions, our entertainment, our conversation, our surroundings -- it all plays a role and it all contributes to the thoughts we have.

What are we inputting and what will be the output? Consider this wisdom from God:

"My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil."(Prov.4:20-27)

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor.10:4-6)

Take control friend, eternity demands it! Win the battle for your mind today and turn it over to the pure things of God (Jms.4:6-8). Let God's word have control and live those thoughts today (1Pet.4:11-16; Rom.1:16; Heb.4:12-13; Heb.12:1-2)!!

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