Sound Mind Set

Psalm 77 Listen to verses 1-3 and 10-13.  I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. … And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? The psalmist says that just when he feels like God has turned His back on him because of troubles, he remembers everything that God has done. All His mighty works. When you feel like your back is against the wall and begin to wonder where God is, where does your mind take you? What are your thoughts about God? With this in mind listen again to the passage Listen to verses 10-13 again: And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? I once read this quote: “What we think about the most is our God.” … Tough but true. How can you “remember God’s wonderful deeds”? How can He be constantly in your thoughts? More than your trouble and stresses? More than your fears and doubts? Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, when I feel like life is coming apart, help me to think about You and what You have done, not what might happen to me because of bad things from the past or what might come. Help me to remember You first and give the problem to You. As above, so below.”

Psalm 139 is well known, often quoted, and emblazoned on Christian art in many forms. Listen intently to verses 16-18: You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Do you ever think that God has you on His mind? Because you are His child and He loves you, just as your children are on your mind because you love them? It’s true. His Word says so. With this in mind listen again to the passage You saw me before I was born. … Every day of my life was recorded in your book. … Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. … How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. … They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! The psalmist states that God’s thoughts about you are precious…they are good thoughts…they are loving thoughts…and there are so many that they cannot be numbered. We can’t even count them. What situation in your life do you feel like God isn’t aware of, like He isn’t seeing how much it affects you? Can you accept that He sees all, and loves all of you and all that you are about… or are facing? Will we trust Him? Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, in our culture we hear “God loves you” more like a greeting card sentiment than a truth. But that’s just not fair. You love me. You love me as Your child. Help me to take that truth in deeper. Help me to think like someone You love. As above, so below.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 is a powerful passage. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, exhale, and listen closely. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” This is not meant to discourage us but rather to provide understanding. God always sees the big picture we cannot. We have to trust that His vantage point allows Him to choose what is best for us. Listening to Him can help us line up with His thinking. Verse 8 in The Living Bible says: “This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours!” The Message Bible gives us this take on the passage: “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.”“For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Think for a moment about something that is happening in your life right now…what is on your mind the most this week?  What might change if you prayed, “Father, show me what You are doing. How are you at work in my life right now? Help me to trust that Your higher ways are at work in my situation right now.” All of our actions and attitudes are driven by our thoughts. What if you chose to “think beyond” what you can see today, handed your situation over to God, and surrendered your thoughts to Him? Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You don’t think like me or work like me. In fact, if you did, You wouldn’t be God. But you are. So help me to trust Your thoughts and Your ways today. As above, so below.”

We talked about Psalm 23 and David calling God the Good Shepherd this week. Today, we look at where Jesus called His followers sheep. This is one of the most intriguing passages of Scripture because the heart of God is made very clear as to what He cares about and what gets His attention. Mathew 25 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ We don’t have to complicate things with religion or laws or rules or theology or any of the divisive issues that have hurt the church for thousands of years. We can simply agree that God would have us feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, help the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and help those in prison. The bottom line: see those who the world does not. Take care of those the world will not. Love those the world says are unlovable. Just like Jesus. Who in your life do you find unlovable in this moment? Listen again to Jesus’s final words of this passage ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to see those You see, hear those You hear, and help those You point me toward. Keep me from religion and lead me deeper into a relationship with You. As above, so below.”

Today, we will return to Ephesians again. Ephesians 4 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Paul offered a list of contrasts to balance, usher in new life, and get rid of our old life. The image is much like taking off an old, dirty set of clothes and putting on a brand-new outfit. Listen to his words again in this way … Take off lying and put on truth Take off stealing and put on sharing Take off discouragement and put on encouragement Take off bitterness and put on forgiveness Take off rage and put on kindness Take off anger and put on compassion Which of these have never been an issue for you? Which have been a problem in the past? And which may be a struggle today? Some of these are an easy 'change of clothes', while some may be tougher. Listen to the opening of this passage to be reminded of how we are to accomplish these more challenging changes. Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, Thank You for all the things You have helped me to change, to take off. Thank You for the new that You have allowed me to experience. Help me to keep transforming, changing into Your image. As above, so below.”

Today, our Scripture focus will be on two of Paul’s prayers found in the book of Ephesians. First, listen to Ephesians 1. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Spiritual growth brings wisdom, insight, knowledge, hope, understanding, all from the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Which of those qualities do you feel you are growing in? Which do you want God to increase in you? Now, listen to Paul’s prayer in chapter 3  I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Because you are in the family of God, these prayers are also for you. Specifically, what do these words from this passage mean to you personally -  From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Unlimited resources - absorb that fact. He will empower you with inner strength - can you claim that today? Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You alone offer me every good thing I need in this life. Help me to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. I want to experience Your love and the fullness You offer me. As above, so below.”

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible. We hear these words read in so many settings. But in this beautiful poetry by the shepherd-turned-king David, he speaks of God the Father as his Shepherd and relates life to what he offers his own flock. Listen with your heart, and hear about the life that God offers you, just as he did David … The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (NLT) A significant part of finding balance in our spiritual lives is found in the first verse: “The Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need.” When we can arrive at the place where He is truly all that we need to sustain our lives when we find our dependence entirely on Him, then we can find rest, our strength can be renewed, we can learn what it means not to be afraid, we can believe that His goodness and mercy is alive in our lives. Focus on your breathing in and out, close your eyes, and listen intently to this version of Psalm 23 God, my Shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, You find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty Shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (MSG) The first version we read, the New Living, placed the text on what God will do for us in the future. The Message placed the text in the present, what He does for us. The reality is that both are true. What else do you need besides God? Could you use some time in a lush meadow? Beside a quiet pool? Time to catch your breath so you can head in the right direction. God is ready to meet your every need. Breathe deep … take in His truth today … then slowly exhale and let go of yesterday, the past. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for offering all I need. Forgive me when I focus on all I want, especially those things that are outside of Your will. Lead me, Lord. I want to be able to say that, in You, I don’t need anything or anyone else. As above, so below.”

In Mark 12, Jesus was asked which of the ten commandments was most important. His reply surprised them: ‘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.” What is the first key phrase in this passage? The action verb Jesus began with? LOVE - Love the Lord … your God. We have to start with the very personal question: How much do I love God? How do we love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds with all of our strength? Jesus showed us a road map in this passage. There are four quadrants mapped out of our being that Jesus mentioned here: Heart, Soul, Mind, and strength. We start with getting present with God - just me and Him - getting still. It is the premise of what we do here every day. We do this by breathing and getting still. Notice the passage starts with internal, intimate things - not intellectual things like the mind. It begins with our heart and soul. The order to this is critical We start by paying attention to our heart - what is going on inside. Approaching God as a child with all our feelings, failures and desires and bringing it to Him. Then we focus on our Soul by getting still and allowing His presence to speak to our inner being - without words. Only then do we engage our mind by taking in what God is saying. Lastly, our strength, what we do with encountering God. These are the steps Jesus laid out to love him wholly. Listen again to Jesus words. ‘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.” Start, as Jesus said, with our heart -our feelings, then move to our soul - experiencing God in stillness caring for the deepest part of us, then move to feeding our minds by taking in what he is saying and then, and only then should we move forward in strength Knowing the source. What part of the four quadrants do you struggle to let be known by God? Heart, soul, mind, strength? These are all connected. Your heart matters—your soul matters. Your mind matters. What you do matters. But the order matters most. Can you allow God to love you today? Can you let him know more of you this next year? As you ruminate on those feelings, let’s take some slow deep breaths once again. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for taking all of the laws and simply telling us to love You with all we have, through a relationship with Jesus. Today, I seek Your balance. I give you my heart. My mind. My thoughts. My attitude. My spirit. My being. All that I have for all that You are. As above, so below.”

Philippians 4 6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Peace that transcends understanding will guard our hearts and minds.   This passage says we don’t have to be anxious about anything because we bring everything before God as a petition… but don’t skip over this word - with thanksgiving. Gratitude - giving thanks. In other words - equally bring our needs and our gratitude to God, to receive transcendent Peace. This time from the message Bible.  Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  What would it look like if we shaped our worries into prayers? Instead of spending too much time processing how we’re going to get through something or how we’re going to fix something, we start with bringing that as a prayer before God. If we do that, this passage promises we will know a sense of God’s wholeness, that everything will come together for good, which will settle us down.   What is one worry in your life that you need transcendent Peace with, that doesn’t seem possible?   No matter what happens, no matter what lays before us, if we start the discipline of turning our worries into prayers, we can experience a sense of God wholeness, which displaces worry as the central theme of our life.   PRAY:  Lord Jesus, we celebrate that holy moment when Your coming as man renewed our hearts. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself. Peace that only You can bring. Immanuel, God with us. Amen

Ephesians 2:14-15 (The Message)  The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. From biblical times, it has been a constant, and even today, we feel the pressure of segregation and separation. Not just racial segregation - social-economic segregation, political, denominational. We are a divided world.  But because of Jesus, he brings peace to division. listen again  The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.  Are you suspicious of anyone - their motives, agenda - their lifestyle?  This passage so clearly talks about how, because of what Jesus sacrificially did, he got rid of the religious code of law that created division and became more of a hindrance than it was helpful… and he started over.   Because of what he did he ended animosity and suspicion, bringing peace… We no longer need to hold fast, dare I say worship, the idols of preference, position, prestige, or power.  If there someone in your life, like there is in mine, that you view with animosity or suspicion, can you except that that person is on the same footing, the same level as you, in need of the Messiah who leveled the playing failed, see’s us all, loves us all the same?  PRAY:  Lord Jesus, we celebrate that holy moment when Your coming as man renewed our hearts. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself. Peace that only You can bring. Immanuel, God with us. Amen