Thoughts

Hello, hope you all are having a good week!

I admit, I haven't started this week's study yet (a super-crabby (and rightfully so!) 15 month old with 3 molars descending has had something to do with that ... and I'm really into napping on the couch lately!)

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that I'm not learning something. Here is some wisdom from Flip's sister (Flip is Bri's monthly calendar), Flipahmena. This encouraged me as I find myself wondering how in the world I am going to put to action/thought all the glorious things God has revealed lately through this study and you lovely Noggies. (Underlines mine.)

God is never more than a thought away. Frank Laubach wrote, "We can keep two things in mind at once. Indeed, we cannot keep one thing in mind more than a half a second. Mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles. So my problem is this: can I bring God back in my mind-flow every few seconds so that God shall always be in my mind as an after-image, shall always be one of the elements in every concept and precept? I choose to make the rest of my life an experiment in answering this question." (AT LEAST WE HAVE THE REST OF OUR LIVES FOR THIS EXPERIMENT! I'M GOING TO NEED IT!)

To make my mind a home for Jesus, I deliberately fill my mind with the kinds of things God says are important.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent and praiseworthy - think about such things.

We often want to be able to hear guidance from God about important decisions such as whom to marry or what job to take. But we also want to reserve the right to feed our minds on whatever junk comes along. Whatever repeatedly enters the mind occupies the mind, eventually shapes the mind, and will ultimately express itself in what you do and who you become. The events we attend, the material we read (or don't), the music we listen to, the images we watch ... the daydreams we entertain - these are shaping our minds. And ultimately they make our minds receptive or deaf toward the still small voice of God.

Paul says, "We take every thought captive!" (2 Corinthians 10:5) That sounds exhausting. (YES IT DOES) Do we have to filter 185 billion mental images through the course of our lives? But of course, we don't do this on our own. God will help us fill our minds with the right kind of thoughts. God is never more than a thought away.

So, I guess this is my prayer request for the week: that the Holy Spirit will help me fill my mind with Him, with His truth, His love, His glory. That I will be aware of it. That I will grant myself grace as God does, and won't get wrapped up in doing it the right way, but that I would just try. And be happy with and encouraged by those baby steps, as Beth said.

Have a super day!