We do have control over our minds to some extent. Even an individual with Alzheimer's Disease with diminishing inhibitions can surprise one with turns of lucidity that startle and leave those of us in our supposed "right minds," flabbergasted and speechless. The workings of the mind are like the inter-locking of gears and cogs of a good-old fashioned watch. Each part has its function and runs like clock-work, but sometimes there can be a wrench in the works; and if it doesn't tick, how can it tock?
When I was working on the Burning Quest blog series and reading up on some of the beliefs of Buddhists and comparing them with God's Word, I learned that they put prodigious emphasis on training the mind. When the mind is under control and thinking good and wholesome things, then the person's actions will follow suit.
Certainly our conscience can be trained to certain bents by our will of choices. Yet, the mind is rather a "slippery character" that has a mind of it's own and wants to go in many directions other than that it should. Nevertheless, the belief is that it can and does become trained to the best of behaviors when a person, by their own great colossal effort, strenuously disciplines it to eschew all evil.
For those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, we know and are assured that it is only the sanctifying work of God's Word and the Holy Spirit indwelling us that will have any lasting, guiding and disciplinary effect upon our mind.
"When upon life's billows we are tempest tossed," then we discover, when we turn to Him, that God's Word will help form our mind to its secrets.
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways" (Isaiah 64:4-5).
God has a plan for each of our lives and along the way He has various things for us to learn. In the learning of these things there could be trials and troubles mingled with the pleasanter happenings of life. The mind can be formed, in a right way, when the individual chooses to allow God and His Word to engage and commingle with the "work in progress".
Is it to learn patience? Is it to learn to be happy through and despite trials (James 1:2)? Is it to learn dependence upon the Lord?
Pause here in the questioning...
The great patriarch of old, Abraham, was asked by God to leave his very comfortable home to go a wandering about to "the place I'll tell you about". No fixed address. Yet, Abraham packed up lock, stock and barrel, and then some, and off he went to wander in the wild blue yonder.
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1 NIV).
Would you do such a thing?
Abraham did.
"So Abram left, as the LORD had told him..." (Genesis 12:4 NIV).
Most of us know this wonderful story. Turn to Genesis and read the many chapters through. Abraham had great patience and learned dependence despite incidences of failings to trust. He was not perfect and neither are we. Yet, the LORD had patience with him and has with us also. He forgives and blesses us more challenging opportunities to learn.
Let's continue with the questions...Is your mind being trained to worship God?
Abraham's experiences along the dusty roads taught him to worship God. He often seemed to be building an altar along the way. "Oh, servants, we need another altar. The LORD appeared to me. Come let's worship Him."
Genesis 12:7 NIV,
"The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land."
If you know this story, you will remember that Abram and Sarah could not have children and were well advanced beyond childbearing years. Now God is telling him He's going to give this land to Abraham's offspring?! Abraham trusted God, depended upon God and his response was...
"So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him" (Genesis 12:7 NIV)
Verse 8 of Genesis 12 also shows that further along that road, Abraham is worshiping yet again,
"From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent...There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD." (NIV)
If you read further, again, through Genesis, you'll see more altars that dotted the roadsides in Abraham's wake. Dependence and worship went hand-in-hand for Abraham. It became, not second nature, to him, rather, first nature; his mind was formed towards them.
Earlier James 1 was alluded to. If you turn to it now, and look at verses 3 and 4 (NIV), you'll see the progression of the good things that God's Word tells us that can come out of trials in our lives and that can train our minds. We will develop, faith, perseverance, become mature and not lack anything. However, should there be lack of anything, verse 5 informs, we can ask of God; especially for wisdom.
The portion goes on to talk about our minds having doubts and being tossed first in one direction and then another (verses 6 and 7) as if on a stormy sea. The joy that comes from the trials are all the above character building aimed at greater Christ-likeness, except for the doubts. If one has not allowed God's Word to form the mind by them, then one may well become "seasick" on the deep ocean waves of doubt.
When a person...
"...sets their minds on things above where Christ is seated" (Colossians 3:1-3 NIV).
there will be a relinquishing of earthly things such as,
"...sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed" (Colossians 3:5 NIV).
When the mind, with the help of God and His Word, cuts off, and puts to death these things, the mind forms better things such as,
"...compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience..." (Colossians 3:12 NIV).
and a whole lot more.
Again, these will become first nature, as if programmed into our DNA.
When we think on heavenly things aided and abetted by God's Holy Spirit, our minds will be more predisposed to those inclinations. Look as this familiar list,
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
We think with our minds. May our minds all have this penchant and be formed more in the image of our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, our Creator, who made them, as we each become more acquainted with God's Word by reading and obeying it. May you all be blessed, edified, guided, healed and have your souls fired up to do His will and surrender your mind to God's control.
In closing, here's a little nugget from Charles R. Swindoll's little book, Intimacy With the Almighty to comfort your mind,
"Nothing under God's control can ever be out of control."
~ERC July 2019~
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