We are doing a study using Joyce Meyers book "Battlefield of the Mind". Each chapter is unique so you can pick up at any time or go back and start in the beginning by clicking the button on my side bar which will take you to the intro of the study.
In reading this for the second time, I feel like it is fresh and new like I have never read it ever before. Then I realized - I haven't. I am right now who I have never been before. Each day as I continue in God's word, I am not the person I was yesterday let alone the person that read this book for the first time 4 years ago. There is so much fresh revelation and perspective because of where I am now in my life verses where I was 4 years ago, emotionally and spiritually. Which leads me into this chapter.
Chapter 15 - The Mind of Christ
First of all I want to ask, Do we want the mind of Christ? Why would we want the mind of Christ? When I thought about that, these are the first couple things that popped into my mind.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Okay so I think it is safe to say there might be some benefits to having the mind of Christ. So the next thing is how do we get it? You get to know God, by lining yourself up with his word.
Getting to know God is as simple as spending time with Him. Read the word, talk to Him, include Him in everything you do. He's there already, He sees you, but you need to interact with Him. Have you ever gone somewhere a meeting or social event and had to sit by someone that wouldn't talk to you. You can talk all night and they learn a great deal about you, but you know very little about them. That's how we are with God when we don't interact with Him. Now I know he has a head start on knowing us because he created us, but if we make time for Him, He will reveal Himself to us.
Take your spouse or a close friend for example, you have invested a lot of time and effort getting to know them. You didn't just meet one day exchange a list of likes and dislikes and poof you knew all about each other. Your relationship grew by spending time together. Sharing experiences good and bad together. You do all sorts of different things with each other to the point that you know what the other likes or doesn't. You learn their mannerisms, the way the talk what they think, what their responses are about things before they respond.
To me that is what it is like to have the Mind of Christ - in operation.
What we spend time doing and focusing on is what we will be proficient in. The more we spend time in God's word and fellowship with Him, the more we will begin to think and act like Him. Our focus is where we will eventually go to. Have you ever been driving and start gazing out the window? All the sudden you jerk the wheel to get yourself back in your lane. What happens is you will drift on the road and in life where you focus your attention and time. That's why it is important to meditate on God's word day and night.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
I also think to have and operate with the mind of Christ you need to have vision - a goal.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.
See if we have a goal in mind, or a vision of what God has in store for us, it helps us to stay on the path to obtain that prize. When we loose focus of our vision, we give up and give in. Think about Jesus. He had a vision of what he had to do. He knew what the Fathers plan was. When Satan was trying to get him to bow down, he offered Jesus all kinds of enticing things. If Jesus hadn't had a vision of a much bigger picture He might have given in. What about Jesus going to the cross. His flesh didn't want to do it - he asked "Father if there is any other way" but he had a vision of the Fathers plan. What if Jesus had just given up and said, it's too hard I don't even know all these people you're trying to help. Let them hang on the cross for themselves. No he had a vision and focus of a much bigger picture.
We can never overcome the storms of this world, if all we think of and focus on is ourselves and our problems, and our circumstances. Again, what we focus on is what we will drift towards and become.
Spend time with God, include Him in your life, get to know what he would say and do and then say and do it yourself.
Father God, Thank you so much for being with each of us as we grow with new revelations each day. Help us to seek you in all we do. Give us a vision of our life and what you have in store for us and help us to stay focused on the right path. In Jesus name, Amen
I would like to post a couple of chapters a week to finish the study up by the end of the year. God has given me a couple of nudges for something new He would like me to do. But in being honest with myself I can't take on any more until I finish what I have. ( I am currently doing 3 studies not including when Rachel O. posts something) So My posts might be a little shorter, but not less heartfelt. I hope you are enjoying the insight that I am getting from the book and I hope God is doing a work in you as well.
Blessings,
Lynn
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