Unknown to us at times, we all tend to put our thoughts forward into our path. We tend to think ahead as much as possible, not to be surprised or be prepared of what your about to do. When we have an idea to do something, we plan it in our minds and execute it, and sometimes you think about the consequences. Like a sports player, you see them becoming mentally ready for the upcoming game, or the vivid hunter going into the woods knowing a deer could be behind a tree and to be ever ready.
How about our health, when the doctor gives instructions to eat healthier or to exercise, we tend to turn a deaf ear. There are many examples of what we should do verses what we really do. Even scripture has examples even when a prophet like Jonah disobeyed Gods plan to save a city, but he had another idea. His mind wasn’t where it needed to be. His thoughts flooded towards what he wanted, his drive was his own understanding, his own interpretation, etc…
When you think about a mindset, what comes to you. Some would say a the Right Mindset is more than a decision, it’s a behavior. That’s a interesting thought!
A college professor once witnessed the struggles of a student that seemed to really not get it on what the topic was. After many weeks of suffering the young student told the professor “I finally understand what your saying.” So not knowing the full details of the history of the affair, this gives us a glimpse that where our mind is, is where we are to go. Scripture tells us “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Isn’t that a true statement! But what about our mind?
Without a doubt, our human mind is one of the most advanced features on the planet. It has been studied and poked and probed and the human race really don’t have full knowledge of its ability and we never will. I would go on to say that when we think we understand it all, we don’t know enough!
In making wise decisions, what does it take? Does it take wise choices? How about wise counsel? How about sleeping at the Holiday Inn Express to wake up rested and refreshed to take on the challenges of the day (LIKE THAT HOLIDAY INN EXPRESES COMMERCIAL).
Just recently I had a conversation with a man that asked me “Don, why is it so hard for people to make the right choices?” I immediately knew this was a loaded question that required detailed answer.
In our neighborhood my wife and I discovered our garage wasn’t the most cluttered as compared to others that you drive by and see. In noticing this I thought of it as how our minds are. Litterally full of ‘stuff’ and I remembering on house that when you look at this great big garage you see stuff from top of the ceiling to the floor. In other garages you see little bit of nothing.
Our minds is not only a place to practice all the things Jesus tells us and God has allowed us to do, think of it as storage like a garage if you will that when its full of stuff, other things tend to fall awayside and get lost. Much like the statement I made where your heart is, how about where your mindset is. So today I wanted to talk about “Having the Right Mindset.”
Much like the football player example I mentioned, we each have to do something very similar. But how does that apply to me? Why should that be an example?
One thing I want to express here is how God uses the right mindset to do his will. If your not scripturally sound in your ways of life, if you are not God centered, if you fail to hear the Holy Spirit, how can you expect to live righteously? Just think how much we miss out on when our lives are filled with other ‘stuff’ rather than Jesus?
Well you did not apply the knowledge that God gave you, you did not put forth effort to filter what is processed in your mind. Yes I said effort!
Let me give you a statement from Jesus about this “It is not what goes in your mouth that defiles you, but what comes out.” The world will bombard you with STUFF, and this STUFF if we don’t have the right mindset will throw us off track, lead us incorrectly and eventually separate us from God.
Lets look at Israel in the Old Testament. God strove them to learn their main business was to make God known to all the world. In many ways they failed that area. When our minds are not correctly aligned with God, we are off the pathway, off track so to speak.
For those of us that go on diets or another type of life-changing event, the first thing we have to do is what…Get our mind to accept it! Get ourselves motivated, get it moving forward, make a genuine effort to atleast start. Not just moving my friends, but moving positively. One of the biggest challenges we tend to have is to think we are alone in the task or event. Satan gives us lies to steer us away from God. He does that very well, but when our minds are not set on things above “Which is GOD” then where else do we ponder, things on this earth. Things that are corruptible. Things that don’t last. Things that have very short periods of pleasure. Did you know scripture tells us there is a brief period of joy in doing sin.
Absolutely no one here can ever say they never think about nothing! We are made to always think, take action, work, etc… We are not a creature to live life without, but we are designed to live fully, but we forget that don’t we. We tend to find other things to fill our life instead of God. And when we fill our lives with things in the world, Christ will eventually no longer take priority in your life which starts in the mind.
Joyce Meyer has a great book called Battlefield of the Mind. In this study it goes over many areas including our reliance on God. Did you realize our correct way of living is fully dependent on our relationship with him? Our everyday life is marked for success or failure based solely on where our minds are at? Friends there are people in this world that biologically don’t have a fully functioning mind which does become a disability that God knows all about. But we each are given all the tools needed to live successfully and righteously but our minds is where the battle starts.
Look at memorial UMC, right at this very moment, we have enough people to do God’s work at a minimum don’t we? Our duty as believers is not to be stagnant or idle. Friends when jesus said in Gospel of Matthew “We will give account for every idle word we give.” Our actions relate to our words which comes from the mind!
Like I said earlier, when you fill that garage up with STUFF, there isn’t much room for anything else. Fill our minds with Christ should be everyone's goal. Know those of you who are experts in being patient at things have agreat virtue. With all the strength I can muster, patience is still hard. One thing I find in patience though is when going through a dark valley in life, there seems to be more joy and comfort than one squirming in their seat. When you have mindset on Christ, dark times can seem more bareable. Its all about your mindset.
But Pastor, what exactly is a mindset? Well I’m glad you asked that question. Each of us is made from the image of God period. We have full abilities to seek Christ in many ways even those with disabilities, God has that worked out. Our mindset is where and should always be Holy Living! Colossians tell us “Set your minds and keep them set on what is above” Always always always!
Romans tells us a very clear perspective to “Do NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your MIND.” Basically to get all the STUFF out of our garage and fill it with God!
Here is a few of MANY examples that you can do.
First and foremost PRAY. Pray to have Christ be your focus in your whole life, help you renew your mind but guess what, your asking for help as we should but you have to do work as well.
Sit down in a quiet place where its only you and God, and say this “Lord, I am here at this moment and I’m going to think about somethings on purpose with you. Help me prioritize, help me be mindful, help me in ways I don’t understand what exactly I need.” Remember friends he NEVER sets us up for failure or disappointment, always believe that.
Then next one of the most important things you can do outside of prayer is STUDY GODS WORD. This can take time and effort in ways you may not have experienced. Yes you do have to MAKE TIME for it, it will NOT fall into your lap. He has a plan, a hope for you.
Then as your continue your journey write things down that concern you, questions you have and put them in a place you can go back to and relatively easy to see. You see friends, this work is just a few examples of how to START having the right mindset in Christ.
Well Pastor, I do my devotions and I attend church and do most things, don’t that count? Absolutely it does, but NONE of us is where we should be. We may think we are, but as sinful people we are always to Grow. And that’s another thing we that will happen is when our minds are on Christ, we will Grow more and Holy before almighty God. It will take time, patience and other skills that you may or may not have, but God will provide. Trust in him friends. Having the right mindset will make ALL the difference in the world. Do you believe me? Its getting ride of stinkin thinkin persay that will lead us into greater closeness to God.
I challenge you today friends to ask Christ today help set your mind on him, on things above, not of this world but with full intent and hope in the renewing of your mind. Once you get there, guess what, it doesn’t stop there. You will continue to grow more and more Christ like as we all should until the day we meet him the Glory.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.