What are you thinking?

Talk: 

There are so many self help books around now a days; even inside Christian book stores. How to overcome addictions, how to do spiritual warfare, how to raise a family, how to, how to, how to… Some of them better then others, and some extremely good and useful. However, they almost all seem to present the same basic idea or structure; determine what the problem is and focus on it (whether by solving it or battling it) with steps, programs, routines, quotes, and reciting scriptures. This of course has its place and usefulness, but it goes both against scriptures and what any good psychologist would say; in fact, a lot of these books say the exact opposite to what the Bible says.

I remember being taught once an idea; it was asked of me, “How did you end up forgetting your grade nine science? (or any piece of information you’ve forgotten). Most people say, “they don’t know, they just stopped thinking about it.” You don’t have to spend days reminding yourself to not think of biology, math, or whatever it was; or reciting steps and saying, “I will no longer remember photosynthesis” ten times every hour.

Psychology tells us the same thing; how do we stop an addiction? Not by saying, “I’m going to no longer do such and such and see where it is so I can avoid it.”, but by replacing it with something else and focusing in on that new thing.

So much energy is put on our minds trying to avoid our issue or trying to not think about it; which is funny because what we are really saying is, “I’m going to think really hard about not thinking about that issue.”; which of course forces us to remember the issue we are trying not to remember.

The Israelites in the Bible had the same issue going on in their heads. Psalm 106:6-7 reads, “We have sinned with our fathers… [because]…they did not remember the multitude of your mercies.” They did relatively the same thing. They weren’t necessarily trying to avoid sin in this case; but their focus was on the wrong thing; which got them into trouble.

Now before you read on, I want you to note we are going to be taking a look at the idea of a battle (or a garden in a later illustration) in our mind; BUT, I am NOT talking about “the power of your mind”, “Mind over matter”, or “if you just think a certain way”, it goes much deeper then that and much simpler then that.

Walk:

Psalm 106:6-7 gives us a warning, “we have sinned with our fathers… They did not remember the multitude of your [God] mercies…” Our mind is where the battle begins.

Jesus gave an illustration in Matthew 13:1-23 (also Mark 4:8) of the seeds on different soils; some did well and others quickly faded. Romans 7:15-20 shows Paul’s own battle in his mind between what he wants to do verses what he doesn’t want to do. He warns later in Romans 12:2 “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Which, by the way, will shed light for you on Psalm 37:4)

So, going on the theme of Jesus and the seeds; Romans illustrates 4 principles of the mind (or laws in the KVJ) Also note that God’s laws (Romans 7:22) is referring to the 613 Old Testament laws; which is not to be confused with the 4 laws of the mind, hence the use of principles for this illustration.

1) Mind principle (which is our will)              Romans 7:23

This is where all the battles take place. The enemy can never make you do anything; but he can push and lie and trick us. We also have our own fallen nature (Gen 3).

2) Law of sin and death                                  Romans 7:23

This is what has come into us at the fall (separation from God) and we are now under the enemies lies and therefore also our own corrupt nature. This includes “good” things done on our own (Is 64:6 “our best is as filthy rags when in the flesh”).

3) Law of life in Christ                                                Romans 8:2

This is the salvation in Christ. Before this we didn’t even have an option to be able to do good.

4) Law of faith                                                 Romans 3:27-28

This is the Holy Spirit in us enabling us to actually do “good”. It is His protection, leading, and watering. Ephesians 6:16 (armor of God); John 15:5 (Jesus as the vine and without Him we can do nothing); Isaiah 58:11 (In Him you shall be like a watered garden).

This is why we are warned to remember; Heb 3:12-19, “Beware… Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (those wandering in Egypt for 40 years)… they would not enter His rest.” If we do not walk in the law of faith we will continue to battle (as in Rom 7:15) between the law of sin/death and the law of Christ.

Romans 7:25-8:6. Walk according to the Spirit; not the flesh. “For carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. (Also Gal 6:8) This spiritual mindedness needs to be prompted for us since we are still in the world and yet to not be of it. We are still bound by our physical bodies.

2 Cor 10:4-6 tells us of this battle and commanded to, “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” This again illustrates that it isn’t us commanding our minds (as in mind over matter or just think good thoughts), but is about surrendering these thoughts to the command of Christ (Our 4^th law or principle)

Live:

So you want freedom? You want to get over that thing that is always on your mind? Are you exhausted, burnt out, tired of fighting the same battle over and over again?

Perhaps Remember the warning in Psalm 106:6-7, “We have sinned with our fathers… [because] they did not remember the multitudes of your mercies.”

What are you focusing on? Are you focusing on the problem or solution? Are you focusing on the little bad thing or the bigness of God?

Remember though it isn’t about just thinking good things; that will only get you so far and you will likely fall back into the same old traps this way. It is about truly knowing God and trusting Him.

To close, I want to leave you with 2 quotes that I enjoyed and hope they speak to you further.

“Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be ‘bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Cor 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens… You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

We have sinned with our fathers… (and)… did not remember…” (Psalm 106:6-7) Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.”
My Utmost For His Highest- Oswald Chambers

“Inner stillness is essential for Spiritual attentiveness but it is the means, not the end. Contemplative prayer is not a strategy for stress management of a form of relaxation. Because it is prayer, it involves a relationship. It is being with and being drawn closer to God.

The goal of contemplative prayer is not to try and make yourself still. This is both impossible and misses the point that prayer is an encounter with God, not a spiritual self-improvement technique or a stress-management strategy. The goal of stillness before God is to be totally open to God and, in the words of Cynthia Bourgeault, to “consent to the presence and action of God within us whatever form it comes.” The purpose of stillness is to enable us to attend to God and to be fully and without distraction with God. It is to know God in the way that is only possible in stillness. Recall the remarkable words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is a form of spiritual perception. In stillness we can encounter God, and God us, in ways that are impossible under any other conditions…

…Silence and stillness offer us the same opportunity for intimate encounter with God. In stillness we can hear God’s word. Contemplation on works of art (or scriptures, creation/nature, His dealings in our lives)… may superficially appear to be the external focus of our attention, but in reality, if we are seeking God, they are not simply an aesthetic experience; as well sit before them in prayer and become a means to open ourselves to God. They are not the object of prayer, but an aid to prayer. Stillness and attentiveness are the means through which symbols speak their meaning to mind and spirit, and God’s Word is spoken into our hearts.”
Juliet Benner Contemplative Vision (InterVarsity Press 2011)