Isn't it strange how our minds work? Sometimes they can get way out of control. As we talked about perception in our last two blogs I guess we should continue in this vein for a little bit. Call it a wild imagination or what have you a lot of times we find ourselves worked up into a frenzy and come to find out that none of it be the truth.
Take for example: you are talking to a relative. They're not talking much. You feel a bit of tension (of course this is over Facebook Chat and you know how much you can tell by that). Then you begin to think they are mad at you. Then you go back in time to your last real conversation with them and you think there were some tension back there. Oh you wonder what you might have done wrong. You become afraid that you might lose the closeness of your relationship. You have this sick feeling in your stomach. You are now in full worry mode.
When you do talk to them, they wonder what you're talking about. Their tension was not toward you but toward another situation that was happening at that moment.
That's what I'm talking about: you can't be led by your perception. What I perceived to be the problem wasn't the problem at all. I have a term for this: I call it Internal Conversation. It can be good but it also can be very negative.
Think of the woman who followed Paul and Silas saying "These men are called of God." What she was saying was right: BUT the perception behind it caused Paul to feel grieved. He recognized it was a spirit and cast it out.
Sometimes I wish that I could cast out my negative Internal Conversation.
That's why we need to harness our mind. Don't let it run away on you. It's a wild horse that must be tamed.
The Apostle Paul taught a lot about the mind:
1) Romans 12 1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
2) Ephesians 4:22-23 (Amplified Bible)
22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
3) Hebrews 12 1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.(A)
4) Romans 8:5 (Amplified Bible)
5For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [a]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [b]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
5) Philippians 2:5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6)Philippians 4:7And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So today we need to understand the importance of taking a hold of every thought, bring it into captivity. I want to end this thought with this setting of Scripture:
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
No comments:
Post a Comment