Sound Mind Set

Proverbs 2, King Solomon speaks to our personal bandwidth, mental, spiritual, and physical balance. My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT) Was there a sentence or phrase or maybe even a certain word that jumped out at you as I read? That is often how God speaks to us through His Word. He will pull out a specific message for you for this moment, for this day. If so, focus on that throughout your day. With this in mind listen to the passage again From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT) God promises of Wisdom. Understanding. Insight. Knowledge. Common sense. Integrity. Justice. Protection. All promises from God when we seek Him. This ancient promise is yours. “Wisdom will enter your heart. Knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.” Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, I want Your wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and insight. I submit my schedule, my time and energy to You, to teach me the way to live, how to live, with You and for You. As above, so below.”

In Exodus 18, Moses’s father-in-law Jethro watched him do his work one day in serving the people. He saw the stress on both his son-in-law and the people waiting for him. So he shared his wisdom with Moses. Listen Exodus 18 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”… “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. … select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God. Appoint them as leaders … Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” (vv. 14-23 NLT) Does trying to do everything alone and not bother anyone for help sound familiar to you? Does wearing yourself out hit close to home? With this in mind listen again to these specific parts of this passage with a bit of adaptation directed at you personally “You’re going to wear yourself out ... This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. … let some capable, honest … [people] … help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” God has placed people in your life that want to help you. Is it time to identify who they are, ask for their help, and finally agree to let them help because they have been offering? We can’t truly achieve balance in life by ourselves. We need the help of others. Just like Jethro changed Moses’ life and helped the people too with his advice, your life can be blessed and balanced by allowing others into your life. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for examples like this in Scripture that offer real wisdom for life. Help me to identify who can help me. Help me say yes when someone offers when I know it’s right. I need Your help to balance family, work, and all of life. As above, so below.”

Luke 12:25-31 - The words of Jesus Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. Did you catch what Jesus said about thoughts? The details of life …eating, drinking, clothing … are the things non-believers stay focused on … basically, constantly taking care of themselves first. With this in mind listen again what Jesus says about being consumed with self reliance from this passage “Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” When we leave the details of life to God, when we fix our thoughts on Him, when we believe that He will take care of our business, that allows us the time, energy, and focus to consider His business, which is ministering to others in His name. Seeking the Kingdom of God first because everything we need will come from Him. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, I already worry takes away from my life. I don’t want to think the way I used to anymore. I don’t want to waste time on things that don’t really matter. Teach me to put You and Your kingdom first and to trust that You will always take care of me. As above, so below.”

Isaiah 26:3-4. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Wow … perfect peace. Who doesn’t want that? But the promise of perfect of peace only comes how? Placing full trust and fixing our thoughts on God. Another way to communicate this would be to always have a bigger focus on God than any problem. With this in mind listen again to the passage Listen to this passage in The Message Bible: People with their minds set on you,  you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet,  because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. To work toward complete wholeness, we must set our minds on God. Depend on Him. What would it look like if next time we have an insurmountable problem… instead of thinking, fixing our eyes on the problem, we fix our eyes on God. Think about Him and His power. How might that change our experience? Listen to our original verse once more: You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, I long for peace. I want balance, to be steady. To have my feet on a rock. Help me to fix my thoughts on You, to keep my eyes on You and not the problems and challenges of my life…not to deny them but to defer them to You. Where they belong. As above, so below.”

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.”