Skip to main content

Wandering Minds

Luke 2:46
“Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”
Jesus was found in the temple actively participating in listening and asking questions. How often are we in the midst of a teaching but we allow our minds to dwell elsewhere? This happens far too often, even more so when we are being taught the Word of God. The trouble with wandering minds is that those who are teaching us have not any idea for all they see are focused eyes and opened Bibles. It seems odd that we would be distracted even while surrounded by the Lord’s people, but the enemy so often uses our thoughts to detour us from learning because if we are learning, we are growing and if we are growing, the enemy cannot have victory. Therefore, what better way to derail us than by using our weakly trained thoughts against us? But James 4:7-8 states, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It takes a willing heart and mindful practice to redirect our thoughts back on Christ and though oftentimes we will find ourselves falling short, when we are in submission to the Lord, there is no thought we cannot overcome because He already has. But, we must remain clothed in His armor, for the closer we draw to God, the closer we are on the frontline with the enemy who will attempt to us away no matter the cost. Of course, there will be times of failure because we live in a fallen world but God says do not be deceived and walk in the Truth, for the Lord holds His Word in higher esteem than His name. 

Application
Today I will write, “Submit to God” on my arm as a reminder that I cannot serve two masters. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Overwhelming Conflict

Psalms 91:2 “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””  This past Sunday, team Uganda had the privilege to lead the two church services. From worship to the sermon, the Lord was present. Having never sung in front of really anyone to being on the worship team and having not one, but two solos, was rather frightening. In addition to having a spirit of fear, the morning of, I was faced with a myriad of conflict as a glob of toothpaste dropped slyly onto the shirt I was planning on wearing, I did not have a necklace to match the shirt I then had to put on, and I ran out of time for curling my hair and ironing my skirt. I knew the enemy was seeking to do whatever he could to focus my eyes on myself rather than on what the Lord was attempting to do in and through me for that day, but I was already defeated and left wondering how a day that had begun so terribly could have a positive outcome. I needed a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit f

Vision for Success

Acts 5:29 “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” Peter is referring to the high priest who is accusing the apostles of teaching the word of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem when He specifically ordered them not to. Peter follows this rebuke with, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” There is only One in which we are to obey fully, and He is the Man who bled and died. Regardless of how mighty someone is placed in the world, the Lord knows everyone for who they are, sinners in need of a savior. Everyone has their alcohol, even those in authority. How can we obey authority that sins? Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Everyone submits to someone because without authority, there is no order, and without order, there is chaos. However, there is a difference between godly authority and worldly authority. The difference is godly authority

Picture Perfect

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a god work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” They say that good things take time but to be completely and utterly transformed into the likeness of Jesus takes a lifetime. I will never reach perfection until I meet Jesus face to face at the gates of eternal paradise but this by no means indicates that He will keep me at a standstill. In fact, with confidence I am able to state that by His gracious hand, a good work has indeed begun within me and will continue as long as I remain willing. I have recently been reading “The Making of a Man of God”, written by Alan Redpath, which gives a clear summary of what having a willing heart looks like, stating: “Let a man be right with God, reconciled through the blood of the cross, humbled at the foot of Calvary; let him be broken, coming to God guilty and hopeless and needy; and at that moment God takes hold of him and transforms and uses all his