Think About It

“The simple believe anything but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
Proverbs 14:15

What do Winnie the Pooh, Pahla Cragg Bowers, Pastor Craig Groeschel and Pastor Jake Zaske have in common? They all believe how and what you think is important. I’ll explain as we go.

When something gets repeated in Scripture – it usually means that idea or principle is important and that we should take heed. For instance, the phrase “Be strong and courageous” appears at least 11 times in the Old Testament and the phrase “Fear not” appears at least 82 times right across the whole of the Scriptures. Should we then trust God and with the help of the Holy Spirit be strong and courageous, fearing not? What do you reckon?

This idea of managing your mind had been cropping up in my life for months now, so it must be important. If it’s important for me, there is a good chance that it is important for you too.

Let’s start with the scripture above. At the time of this writing, it is being used as a foundational Scripture in a sermon series at the church we attend. When I heard it – I thought of Winnie the Pooh – well because that’s how my brain works. Pooh recognized that he was a “bear of little brains” Some would say Pooh was simple. Yet when he would sit and “think, think, think” he often came up with some solid wisdom (or prudent thoughts) with which to act.

This idea of mindfulness first showed itself earlier this year when I stumbled across Pahla Cragg Bowers of PahlaB Fitness on YouTube. Pahla is a fitness trainer/life coach who developed the Five-Oh Method for weight loss. Of the five things she discusses, the most important is managing your mind. She is constantly telling those participating in the program that it is crucial to treat ourselves with self-love, speaking against the lies the world and our minds tells us. Sound familiar? “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Psalmist reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 134:14). Jeremiah the prophet also reminds the people of his time and us millennia away that “God has plans for us, plans to prosper, not harm. Plans that bring us hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). God sees us always as beloved children that are very good. Do you believe it or are you believing something less than the truth?

Pastor Jake Zaske in the third installment of the message series we are going through now basically told us to “Put a helmet on and guard your hearts (my paraphrase).” Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13,17). Interesting side note – did you get that God gives us His personal armor to wear and that the helmet in this battle analogy is meant to protect not only our heads physically but also our minds and thoughts. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Paul in all his practical wisdom also tells us not to listen to the world. Instead, he wants us to allow God’s truth to transform us by letting us renew our minds (Romans 12:2).

Then there is the email that invited me to participate in a five-day leadership master class from Pastor Craig Groeschel on “Winning the War in Your Mind”. Coincidence? I think not. Divine timing? Most likely.

Why so much focus on managing our minds right now? As we enter this sort of post pandemic, but not really time – I believe God is telling his people – ok, for the last almost two years you have let all sorts of lies, half-truths, and worldly culture into your minds and hearts – it’s time to refocus back on me, back on the truth of who I AM and who you are in Me.

I don’t know what’s going around in your mind right now – anxiety, fear, doubt, feelings of not being enough of whatever, thinking you’re not lovable. Whatever it is – think about it, using the filter of God’s grace, mercy and love.

A Prayer
Father – You know us so well. You know that we are prone to believing all sorts of things, that we were never meant to believe. Like believing we could be like You by being disobedient. Like believing we are less than perfect if we don’t look like the people on magazine covers. With the help of Your Spirit remind us that we were made in your image from the very beginning. Help us to weed out the lies that fill our minds and plant Your truth in their place. Remind us also that we are not alone. In the name of Jesus who restores us to our right minds and guards our hearts – amen.

Rejected

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
Isaiah 53:3

The dictionary defines the word reject as: to refuge to have, take, recognize, grant, accept; to discard as useless or unsatisfactory; to cast out or eject, vomit. Based on the definition, it is probably safe to say that most people have a least one if not many experiences of being rejected. A failed relationship could leave that feeling of being rejected. Not getting that job or promotion can also leave us feeling rejected. What about those sometimes cruel words others or ourselves speak into our lives? It doesn’t feel good to feel useless or unwanted. Did you know that God knows the feeling of being rejected?

In the Scripture above, Isaiah speaking about the coming Messiah tells the people that the one they are waiting for will be despised and rejected, that he will understand the pain and suffering that comes with rejection. Even before this we see God feeling the sting of rejection. The nation of Israel is demanding a human king, rather than being satisfied with God as king. We read in Samuel: “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (1 Samuel 8:6-7). People continue to reject God and in spite of that He still loves us, He still sent Jesus.

Jesus certainly understood rejection. The people of His “home town” couldn’t or wouldn’t believe that “the carpenter’s son” could be anything but a carpenter. One of Jesus’ friends betrayed Him, another denied knowing Him and many others abandoned Him. He entered Jerusalem to a hero’s welcome but left the city as a condemned criminal. Even as He was hanging on the cross, he felt the sting of rejection as His Father turned temporarily away.

We live in a broken world, surrounded by broken people and we ourselves often feel broken and rejected. But there is someone who stands ready every day to welcome us into His family. To let us know we are wanted, that we have purpose, that we are loved and that we are enough. He knows what it means to be despised and rejected but He still loved us enough to die on the cross for us, to make us whole again when we accept His gift of forgiveness and life.

Tired of feeling rejected? Seek out Jesus, accept His gift and be welcomed into the abundant life He made you for. He is waiting for you right where you are.

A Prayer
Our Father – As we ponder the miracle of Your resurrection may we seek after You will our whole hearts, allowing your love, mercy and grace to welcome us into the life You have planned for us. A life filled with purpose and belonging. For those feeling the sting of being rejected right now bring Your comfort and Your healing. In the name of Jesus who understands – amen.