Encouragement

WHERE YOU ARE?

by Debbie Kennedy
04/06/21
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Oh, my mind! Will you just stop that thought! Where you are?! I recently was working toward completing the process of some extreme disappointment and grief. Yes, I crumbled for a bit…lost my mind sometimes! We all experience losses and griefs that need to be processed- it is part of life. God gives emotions and if they are not processed though effectively or even possibly denied, they can and probably will resurface. It may take a while, but at some point, they will come back and potentially cause us more trouble in the future. We should choose to be gentle and compassionate with ourselves as we move through these God given emotions- permission to feel the pain, sadness, anger, and then choosing to forgive. God is always ever present to hear our cries!

Back to the mind. I thought back to a little research on the brain (mind) I did some years back ago. These minds are so powerful. The complexity of them is baffling. God did such an intricate, beautiful design with the brain. But did you know this fact – 88% of your brain is subconscious (feeling/memory) and 12% is conscious (thinking, logic, reasoning, and creativity). That ratio seems such an extreme contrast to what we would think. The brain’s primary function is to keep the body (organism) alive so by the time a human is 25 years of age, the mind is hard wired and holds in memory what to do to achieve that task of survival.

So, really the bottom line is that the mind is not so focused on your pleasure as it is on survival. It does not want you to start doing things differently because the unknown poses a threat. However, we have the power to rewire our thinking. It will not be automatic and will require our work and will. There are great concepts to embrace to rewire our thinking in all situations. I like to think of this as transformation – the Bible speaks to this!  There is great power in the creative/thinking part of the brain. What we must remember is that all we can control is our own thinking, our own feelings, and our own behavior – that is enough for us all. Yet, as believers, God has so much to say to us to help us.

 I want to wrap up with why I used the question- Where you are?!, instead of “Where are you?!” If it sounds childish, it is! My granddaughter said it like that six years ago.  I giggled over that for quite some time. A snippet of a video of her sent to me while she played in the bathtub while her mom observed her. Suddenly she burst out with “Dah…. Dah, where you are?!” This sweet, precious child was calling for her Daddy, who was not visible in the bathroom, but she was calling out for him anyway. Of course, I heard my son shout back to her in the video, “I’m right here!” The beauty of that exchange sunk deep into my soul. Imagination – ah-ha! Whether or not we feel like we are in our right minds or like we are losing our minds, we have the great privilege and promise as believers to call out in prayer to our heavenly Father- and He is ever present and on scene, yet not seen.  Selah.

To experience victory, one of the first principles believers must learn IF we intend to walk in real victory is that our MINDS must be renewed according to the WORD OF GOD. It matters not what are age is or our experience thus far. We must learn to progressively think like God.  Our thoughts are POWERFUL. Thinking can and will change as we work toward not allowing ourselves to just let any thought control us.  2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” It is certain that in these times, we can all get blinded by what seems like an amnesia of some sort. The battle, quite often, is in the mind. It is important to recognize and understand that Satan is real. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us well – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I thought I would leave you with some refreshment.  Some good food for thoughts that are TRUE- soul food! If I could sit beside you and enjoy some face-to-face chatter with you, I would certainly ask you, “Where you are, or simply how are you?!” I truly do want to know; yet I understand that is not possible, so I dabble a bit in writing- but if you are led, contact me and let me know how you are?! For all eyes who fell upon my pen here, know that you are BELOVED!!! Thank you, Lord, that Your words never fail us, nor do You. We are Your BELOVED.

Romans 12:2   Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5   For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and we lead every THOUGHT and purpose captive into the obedience of Christ.

Philippians 4:6-8 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants know to God. And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and MINDS in Christ Jesus. For the rest, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise THINK on and weigh and take account of these things.

Ephesians 4:22-24   Strip yourselves of your former nature which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion. And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your MIND. And put on the new nature created in God’s image, in true righteousness and holiness.

 BLESSINGS! - Love Debbie