Sound Mind Set

These are the words of Jesus:Mark 12:30-31“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.We are told by Jesus to love God with all of us - heart, soul, mind and strength. That is not possible if we are living a fragmented and splintered life. If we not take care to integrate all those facets of our lives - our mind, our heart, our soul and strength we are not bringing our all to Him.To integrate our whole self requires a discipline of self-care - to know all those parts of us. That is why we check in with ourselves every day in our time together to know ourselves so that our Father can know us.Jesus goes a step further in this passage, in two words that we very often overlook.Listen carefully as I read Jesus words to us again.‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’Loving yourself is foundational to loving others. Not loving yourself in a superficial way, but in a holy way.Psalm 139You shaped me first inside, then out;   you formed me in my mother’s womb.I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!   Body and soul, I am marvelously made!Do you see yourself the way Gods sees you? Can you recognize the beauty He sees in you? Because He does - and He wants you to see it too.Let's use this Psalm to pray:Father, You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! And with all that I am, I love and worship you. As above, so below.

Today, we will be looking at the words of Jesus and what He had to say about money. Regardless of our financial circumstances, we can find some peace and hope in this often volatile area of life.The wording of Matthew 6:19-24 in the New Life Bible is intriguing. Listen to the words of Jesus … “Do not gather together for yourself riches of this earth. They will be eaten by bugs and become rusted. Men can break in and steal them. Gather together riches in heaven where they will not be eaten by bugs or become rusted. Men cannot break in and steal them. For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also. The eye is the light of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. If your eye is bad, your whole body will be dark. If the light in you is dark, how dark it will be! No one can have two bosses. He will hate the one and love the other. Or he will listen to the one and work against the other. You cannot have both God and riches as your boss at the same time.Now, Jesus is not saying that it’s wrong to have a savings account. That’s not the point. The concept here is not about our bank account, but our motives and focus. It’s interesting to think of money as a boss. In fact, we will often put up with a lot in our lives in work with actual bosses because money is our ultimate boss. But Jesus is saying that mindset easily competes with God’s place in our lives.If you are honest with yourself right now, what tends to be the boss in your life right now? What drives your actions and attitudes? Security? Money?Verse 21 is a great litmus test to constantly evaluate our lives:For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also.The converse is also true: Whatever has your heart, that’s also where your riches will be found.What has your heart right now? What or who is your mind set on?We put our efforts into what we love most. Money, security, self reliance all can be rusted or eaten away by things beyond our control. Only God’s riches and security are reliable. So, let’s let that love be our driving force—where our riches, our treasure, our hearts, are.Let’s pray: “Heavenly Father, please help me to keep money and security in perspective—a heavenly perspective. I want you to be my security. I give my self reliance and confess that you are my security, my treasure and where my heart is. As above, so below.”

Luke 10:38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”So many of us like Martha can be so consumed with all the details of life that we neglect the source of all things, including a Sound Mind Set.In this passage it is also admirable that Martha speaks up out of her authentic feeling and points out the stress and comparison she is experiencing by essentially saying, Jesus, shouldn’t someone be helping with all these details.Notice Jesus’ response was compassion with correction “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed, only one.”What are you worried about today, what details are causing a bit of stress?What might it look like for you to let go of worries and just be present? Making a choice to pause for self-care can be surprisingly difficult when we're used to chasing all the details. We may feel guilty or anxious about not getting everything done.Pausing actually takes a lot of courage in the face of all that needs to be done throughout our days.Let’s personalize Jesus’s from His response to Martha from this passage.(Say your name then repeat Jesus’s words, to you), you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed or indeed only one.Let’s pray: “Jesus, help me to let go of the things that I worry about and be present in your care. Thank you that you just call me to sit at your feet and soak up your love and strength. Help me to prioritize letting go of thinking I have to get everything right all the time. Help me relax and know that your presence is all I need. As above, so below.”

One of the most fascinating conversations recorded in Jesus’s life was with the “rich, young ruler,” evidently a young man that “had it all.”Matthew 19:16-22 NLTSomeone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.This young man’s life was all about what he had, what he had done, and what he hadn’t done. His focus was on behavior, not his heart. How things looked to others, not how things actually were. Jesus knew his treasure was not in pleasing God, so He challenged the man to find a greater, more valuable life than the one he had.For many of us, we treasure how things look, how we are perceived and how we measure up to others. Imagine this conversation is with you and Jesus asks you to let go of all worldly possessions and perceptions...How do you respond?What comes to mind as the hardest thing to let go of?You are not alone... in our current culture, how we look, what we have, and what we want can be more important than a relationship with Jesus.For our purposes in this time together, let’s close with a focus on Jesus’s words: “You will have treasure in Heaven when You follow Me.” Can we be satisfied with that? Will you allow His treasure be enough today?Let’s pray: “Dear Father, I am grateful that when I first encountered You, I said ‘yes’ and didn’t walk away. But help me every day to keep saying ‘yes’ to You, to put You before money, stuff, and the things of this world that distract and attract. Help me to keep selling out for You and following You. As above, so below.”

Luke 5:15"Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."This passage is in the middle of describing many things that were happening in Jesus's ministry. Healing leprosy, a paralyzed man, teaching crowds, and ministering to tax collector over dinner.Then right in the middle of all the activity it says “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”.No doubt you have many things going on in your life right now. When was the last time you removed yourself from the daily grind and prayed? Maybe that is what you are doing now?If this idea of sequestering oneself to an isolate place, a lonely place was important enough for Jesus to do, paying attention to our capacity, our 'tank', so to speak, and making room to refill it, is vitally important to self care.Listen again to the this passage about Jesus paying attention to self care, for the sake of pouring Himself out.But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.Let’s pray. Father show me how to withdraw myself when I need to. I admit, I don’t do this enough. I need you to refill what gets depleted. You are the only source that can refill me with what I need. As above, so below.

Today, we close out our meditative walk in worship through the Psalms. Psalm 91 is popular for its incredible promises of God’s protection. Satan even quoted a verse from this passage in his temptation to try and get Jesus to jump off the top of the Temple to prove God would save Him. Whether we consider some of these phrases as literal or metaphor, the reality is that the greatest power we have in our lives to protect us is God Almighty. I want to encourage you to take in every word. Don’t just hear them, but listen to the love in them. Right now, sit before Your Savior and trust these words to be true of you, and for you.Psalm 91 NLTThose who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.His faithful promises are your armor and protection.Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.… The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”Did you notice the certainty in the words, in the phrases like “will find” and “will cover” and “will shelter”? Words of trust and faith that God does and will answer, rescue, reward, and honor the obedient heart of His followers.What is one way God has rescued or protected you recently? Will you thank Him for that right now?Pray with me: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your refuge, Your shelter, Your safety, Your covering. You don’t promise us that trouble won’t come, but thank You that You do promise to be with me when anything threatens. I worship You as my Lord and My God. As above, so below.”

Today, we will experience Psalm 40, another transparent and poetic text from King David. Let’s experience God and His Word together in worship.Psalm 40 NLTI waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.… I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.… Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.For troubles surround me—too many to count!My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.… may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.These words reflect a grateful heart that recognizes the reality of being rescued. The confession of being poor and needy is met with help from a Savior.Where are you today? Waiting? In need of rescue? Or grateful that God’s help did arrive? No matter where you are, He is near. God is ever-present. You are in His thoughts.Listen again to David’s words from the opening of this passage. Let’s personalize them say them out loud as a reminder of our God being close to us right now.You lift me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.You set my feet on solid ground and steady me as I walked along.You have given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to my God.Let’s pray together: “Father, thank You that You will hear our cries and lift us out of our self-laid traps. Thank You that You will then give us a new song and a new life to have the freedom to tell others about what You have done for us. Thank You for Your tender mercies, unfailing love, and faithfulness. As above, so below.”

Continuing our week solely focused on worship, today we will experience Psalm 34.Be present. Be all in on this moment. No distractions. Listen with your ears and your heart. Let’s experience His Word and our worship together.Psalm 34‚ NLTI will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!Turn away from evil and do good.  Search for peace, and work to maintain it.The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles.The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.… the Lord will redeem those who serve him.Just as David did here, when was the last time you bragged on God?When was the last time you shared with someone what He has done for you?Listen again to the final words of this passage as I personalize David’s words for us.The Lord hears me when I call to him for help.He rescues me from all my troubles.The Lord is close to me when my heart is broken; he rescues me when my spirit is crushed.I may face many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.Let’s pray just as we have worshipped: “Father God, thank You for being our guard who surrounds and defends. Thank You that You watch over us and hear us. Thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted and though we face troubles, You will rescue like the good Father You are. As above, so below.”

Today, again, we will spend time in worship. Simply focusing on God and His character. So, invite His Holy Spirit to pour over You with His presence. Listen intently as we experience His Word together.From Psalm 33 The MessageGood people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising.Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano!Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare.For God’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out.He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb-line true.Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction.… bow before God; … down on your knees!Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.God takes the wind out of Babel pretense, he shoots down the world’s power-schemes.God’s plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last.Blessed is the country with God for God; blessed are the people he’s put in his will.He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.Can you add your personal thoughts of worship to these words from david?What about God are you in awe of?How has God rescued you?Will you praise and worship him for the personal way He has shown up recently?Let’s personalize the last lines of Psalm 33:I’m depending on You, God; You are everything I need.What’s more, my heart brims with joy since I’ve taken for my own Your holy name.Love me, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what I’m depending on.Pray with me: “Heavenly Father, Thank You that I don’t have to worship, but I get to worship. You are a Gentleman who never forces His way, yet loves in such a powerful way that invites a response of gratitude. Thank You for loving me with all You’ve got. As above, so below.”

This week we will spend time in simple, quiet worship. Let’s simply focus on God and His goodness. Breathe deep and allow your spirit to connect to His Holy Spirit.Psalm 29 from The Message — A Psalm of David Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power.Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him!God thunders across the waters,Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—God, across the flood waters.God’s thunder tympanic, God’s thunder symphonic.God’s thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars.The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.God’s thunder spits fire.God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”Above the floodwaters is God’s throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace.What words, what phrases stood out to you?What games of God moved your spirit to worship?Listen once again to the final verses:We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”Above the floodwaters is God’s throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world. God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace.As you walk through hardships and the challenges of your life, remember that Your God is the God of the thunder, of the rain, and of glory and power. He has you. He holds you. To make you strong. To give you peace.Let’s pray: “Father, I realize Your power. I recognize Your glory. Today, in this quiet moment, I worship You. Thank You for Your strong arm that protects my life. Thank You for Your gentle Spirit to give me peace. As above, so below.”