This Mind

What’s on your mind right now? I mean besides reading this, what are the other thoughts that have a measurable degree of your attention or focus? Are you having a good day? Something more along the lines of mediocre? Or is this one of those days fully deserving of a “REDO”? Are you thinking more about a person or a situation? A particular instance or a broader idea of time and circumstance? Are you experiencing the joy of a new day or is last night’s weeping wearing out its welcome?

As many things as I write about, it still boils down to thinking…doesn’t it? We always say that “God knows our thoughts even before we think them.” But then what? What are we to take away from that? This is about healthy thinking and it’s important to realize as it is with physical health – it’s possible to look healthy and still be ill. Medication (or coping mechanisms) can hide symptoms but they’re no substitution for being truly healthy and symptom free.

It’s truly a wonderful thought to ‘know’ that we have a God knows us intimately, but I would say that it’s way better to embrace the fullness of THIS God, and THIS intimacy. The "religious" side of our world likes to tout what it 'knows' but it lacks the fruit that comes from embracing: This is where we need to bridge the gap.

Here’s The Word:

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

What sense are we to make of this? Christ is basically saying that there is an enemy; a thief who comes to take and tear down, but He is a contrast to that. He comes to give in abundance….but give what? The Bible says that we will have tribulation so we know that it’s NOT simply “trouble-free times”. We know what eternity holds for us, so in context of this, we can surmise that He’s not only speaking of the eternal.

There is something valuable and “abundant” for us here and now.

Earlier, I asked the question “What’s on your mind?” because the first step in taking hold of this abundance, is based on mindset. We all start with a natural mind that is (for the most part) completely understandable. That natural mind receives a ready a willing reception from the natural word.

As children, we’re taught that if someone snatches your toy, you snatch it back. And for children, it’s really either that assertiveness, or crying disappointment. When we’ve gotten a little older, we learn that if someone hits you, hit them back. It’s either defend yourself, or harbor a growing fear and regret. By the time we reach the point where we’ve come out of awkward adolescents and are ready to launch into life, we learn to better formulate our own viewpoints and stand on our principles. It’s either that or become part of (and silenced by), the noise of life.

Each of these ‘either or’ examples play out in the natural mindset – Cause and effect. Choices and consequences. This natural mind is where that enemy operates; taking and tearing down. Denying us from seeing the truth. It’s also in this mind where the offer of Christ, has its greatest appeal.

Here’s The Word:

Matthew 16:23 - 25 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

How is this about thinking? I remember reading that for the first time and thought “What a harsh rebuke to Peter”, but now, I believe I see at least one aspect of where Jesus is coming from: He’s speaking to a natural mindset that’s at odds with a spiritual mindset.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

It's all about thinking. But the foundation of that is HOW we think. What do we use to make sense of it all? and how do we recognize the difference between the two? (flesh and Spirit)
Now, don’t get me wrong. No one arrives at full spiritual freedom on ‘Day One’, it’s about continuing and enduring. It’s about being patient with yourself and recognizing two important things – Who’s Spirit it is and where He’s taking you. So don’t let your natural mind dump guilt on you by making much of where we need to yield to a renewed mind.
Here are a few ‘natural mind” tendencies that come right from Scripture –

The natural mind is a hesitant giver.
The natural mind will give help but not ask for it.
The natural mind curses those it feels persecuted by.
The natural mind is okay with doing just enough to get by.
The natural mind has limits where hope ends and anger prevails.
The natural mind gets exhausted when our efforts aren’t recognized.
The natural mind drives us to frustration when we have to wait too long.
The natural mind prevents us from letting people who can help get too close.
High moral character and personal integrity masquerades itself as Spirituality.
The natural mind is where it makes sense to “get people back” who’ve wronged you.
The natural mind enjoys the ease of reciprocative love, but not when there’s nothing in it for us.

I can’t even begin to imagine how long a full list of aspects of a natural mind would be. So when The Bible exhorts us to “renew” our minds, it has absolutely nothing to do with a natural effort to try and think better – to not be scared to take your stuff back, to become more assertive and less bullied, or to have confidence to speak your mind. It’s not as simple as a paradigm shift, it’s a paradigm replacement. This is such a thin line and that's exactly why we're told that the Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword. It can divide these two ideas like nothing else. Other than dominant ideas like revenge and the like, there are instances where natural and spiritual are almost indistinguishable – but it’s only the spiritual mind that can tell the difference, not so with the natural.

"Let THIS mind be in you is not just a recognition of Christ emptying Himself, but a plea for us who ARE fashioned as men to humble ourselves. To work at detaching ourselves from that natural mind and to realize that the abundance is wrapped in obedience. The obedience can only be accomplished by yielding to the Spirit - even the best natural mind can't do it.

In Him,
Cros