What is your Mind Fixed On?

     Have you ever had a verse go through your head day in and day out?  Recently, that has happened to me and it is something I think all of us could use in these difficult times.  The verse comes from Paul's letter to the Philippians in chapter 4:8:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Just reading the words points us in the right direction.  We are to put out of our minds those things which bring on worry, stress and fear.  God has given to us a sound mind, and here, Paul is instructing believers to exercise that mind by concentrating on the truth and the good things that go with it.  Where do we begin to do this?

     At present, if we spend any time on television, it is often filled with reports of unrest across our nation.  Some of the information we get is not always correct either.  Watching the news can be downright depressing if the truth be told.  On several Christian podcasts, a recurring theme has been shared over and over this week.  The speakers have said that if we are looking for the truth as Christians we need to look no further than God's Word.  In it, we have not only an understanding of God's character but of who we are as well.  Our relationship to God determines our relationship with our fellow man.  Jesus said in Luke 10:27:  "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  If we are not in right

relationship with God, it is hard to love our neighbor.

     People in our country are looking for answers.  How do we stop the violence and unrest?  What can we do to improve race relations?  Why are we so divided?  These are all real concerns for the here and now.  While I am not suggesting that the Bible is a political answer book, I am saying it is the source of all truth.  

For us as believers, the Word of God serves as a foundation not only for our faith but for our moral responsibilities to our brothers and sisters.  We are citizens of heaven and this is not our permanent home. As we pass through this brief journey of life, we are called to be salt and light.  Salt preserves things and light drives away darkness.  Both of these tasks are hard unless we keep our eyes on the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.  The only way I know to keep our eyes on the Lord is by being immersed in His Word to us.  

     Our culture talks about identity politics when our identity is to befound in Jesus Christ.  While some cry systemic racism, our problem is really systemic sin "...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  While the mob believes our system of government should die, God's Word says that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a) not just physical death of an individual but eternal separation from all that is good in a place called Hell.  However, the Bible, unlike our cultural gurus goes on in Romans 6:23b to say:  "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus His Son."  We have the answers for life my friends.  This world does not offer any answers any more than it did back in the days when the Roman Empire ruled the world.

     Therefore, instead of reading all the latest books on how to patch our world up or listening to non stop news that gets us down, we need to have our noses firmly planted in God's Word of Life for us.  We need to pray it, read it and eat it daily.  For us it is food that will sustain us through the worst of times.  Then, we are meant to get out and share this news with other souls who are looking for answers in this world where there are none.  Do not misunderstand me.  Yes, we are to do good works and help others in need in loving gratitude for what God has done for us, but first, we must be filled to the brim with His truth.  We cannot fight as soldiers without the proper equipment and training.  God's Word is our sword, and He has all we need for life and godliness.  If we are filling our mind with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and worthy of praise as found in the Bible, we will be able to withstand the slings and arrows of this world.  May God cause us to hunger and thirst after His righteousness first and foremost so we can be a change agent in this world journey we are on.  Selah!

The Power of Christ in You

     Lately, I have had to make a number of trips to various appointments that were canceled due to COVID.  I really don't mind because I enjoy driving my vehicle.  Of course, if something should ever break down on it, I would not have the faintest idea of what to do next except to call my husband or roadside assistance.  When it comes to understanding the lovely engine that sits under the hood, I am clueless but I certainly enjoy the get up and go that the engine provides.  I often think that those of us who claim the name of Jesus Christ are somewhat like that when it comes to understanding the power of Christ that resides within us.  We know we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit when we committed ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ but beyond that, we often take it for granted.  So here are some Scriptures to think about regarding the power of Christ in us.

     One of my favorite verses of Scripture comes from 2 Peter 1:3:  "...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."  Being in Christ means that we are equipped for the daily walk He has called us to.  We have everything we need for life and godliness.  Thats a "WOW" factor.  We are not incomplete in any way when the power of Christ dwells in us.  The world may try to tell us that we lack something or fall short, but God's Word says we have what we need on our journey.  This is the fuel for our spiritual engine.  God is our source, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

     In addition, the power of Christ gives us a boldness to go forth in His name.  2 Timothy 1:7 tells us:  "But God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind."  The Holy Spirit gives us a soundness of mind in the decisions we make when we seek God first.  As we go to Him in prayer, and seek wisdom in His Word, He will give us the assurance we need to move ahead with the plans He has shown to us.  There is a stability in Christ that we cannot get in this world.  Satan brings confusion, fear of failure and uncertainty but when we are filled with the Spirit, we have assurance which leads to  peace in the decisions we make.

     Another feature of the power of Christ in us is that even when we face areas of weakness God is there to make us strong in Him.  2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us:  "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Paul, like many of us, had a thorn in his flesh.  We do not know what type of chronic condition seemed to hold him back.  He prayed many times for this to be taken away.  However, God used it in his life to keep him humble and to demonstrate His almighty power in and through Paul.  What God did for Paul, He does in each one of us in the areas where we are weak that His glory may be seen.

     Finally having the power of Christ living in us means that we will one day be in heaven to dwell with Him eternally.  Likewise, as Christ's body rose from the grave, so our bodies will also be resurrected and we will be fitted with a new body imperishable.  What a glorious thought.  Romans 8:11 says:  "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."  No more sickness, death or tears will we have to shed because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  His power resides in us so that we might live with Him for all eternity.

     We should marvel and thank God each day for all that He has given to us by the power of Christ living in our hearts.  He did not leave us as orphans when He ascended to the Father in Heaven.  Rather, He has provided His abiding power that enables us to live and walk daily in this world.  My car gets me where I want to go because I trust that my engine will do its job.  Likewise, we need to think about what the power of Jesus Christ living in us means for our daily walk with the Lord.  We have what we need to make this journey of life.  Do not let the enemy of your soul tell you otherwise.  No matter what the world may throw at us today or tomorrow.  They are no match for the power of Jesus Christ that lives in everyone who confesses Him as Lord and Savior.  Selah!

You Are My Hiding Place

     One of my favorite verses from the Psalms is found in Psalm 32:7:  "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."  This verse was set to music and I first heard it on a Maranatha Praise album.  They added a concluding sentence to the verse by singing:  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Never have we heard such beautiful words from the Lord and a reminder that no matter what we are going through He is with us.  Certainly, in this upside down world in which we are walking, we need Him to be the shelter in the storm more than ever.

     There was a time when this verse and song became front and center for me.  My husband and I had gone to Canada to join his father and mother at a fishing camp.  They spent their summers there and enjoyed a time of relaxation.  Before we left for a day trip on the lake, I remember my husband saying that when we go fishing, we had to take rain gear because his father fished through the rain.  So we gathered our gear and headed out.

     Our destination was "Elephant Lake" which was a bit of a drive on a gravel road used by logging trucks.  Of course, the area we were in was not heavily populated, and once we got out on the lake, there

were no houses around.  The fish camp knew where we were going and if we did not return by evening, they would send out a search party for us as was their custom.  My father in law knew the lake very well and no longer needed a guide to navigate it.

     In the first half of the day, we had pleasant weather and moderately successful fishing.  However, by afternoon, a sudden storm came along.  We put on our rain gear and hoped it would blow over but the sky grew darker and darker by the minute.  As lightening began to crash, my father in law said we needed to head in to the docking area a number of miles away.  We started on our journey back as the wind picked up and the rain began to fall.  The lightening was vicious and all I could do was hang on to the boat seat through the rough waves and pray.  Over and over again in my mind, I remembered the Psalm 32:7 and the tune I had heard that went with it.  Truthfully, I did not know if we would get back to our safe haven, but I just kept singing the song in my heart.

      After what seemed like forever, we made it back to the docking area, and all of us breathed a sigh of relief.  God had been our hiding place in this time of trouble, and He was truly our deliverer.  My father in law later admitted that he wasn't certain we would get back safely as this had been the worst storm he had ever seen on this big lake. Yet our Father God had other plans for us and kept us in the hollow of His hand through the storm raging all around us.

     Our lives are a lot like that small boat we were in.  We go cruising along enjoying our daily routine and suddenly, a storm comes up.  Often it takes us by surprise.  We thought we were prepared, but then the lightening begins to hit around us shredding our confidence little by little.  If we have taken the time to draw near to God through His Word, we will not fear the circumstances even if they look scary.   We need only call to remembrance the verse in this Psalm.  We can pray it, sing it and recite it over and over again until His peace fills our heart.

     Another Psalm I memorized as a child and often find myself repeating is Psalm 23.  Again, the comfort of knowing God as our Shepherd lifts us out of the dark pit of depression and self pity.  The only way we can trust God more as we face the hard places in life is to seek Him in His Word.  There we meet Him face to face.  His love casts out all fear, and this is what we need at a time when it seems we are in deep danger.

     Make no mistake dear friends, as Satan's time on this earth is shortened, we will see more and more

wickedness, personal attacks and persecution of our faith.  Yet, God has promised to be our hiding place and our Shepherd.  He is the one who protects our hearts.  We need to pack our rain gear (the Bible) and take it with us so we can weather any storm that arises.  He is the best pilot of our boat, and He will safely get us home again.  Selah!