Where does your mind go?

Where is Your Mind?

by David Brenneman 

"Walking in sunlight all of my journey,

Over the mountains, through the deep vale;

Jesus has said, I’ll never forsake thee—

Promise divine that never can fail.

Refrain:

Heavenly sunlight! Heavenly sunlight!

Flooding my soul with glory divine;

Hallelujah! I am rejoicing,

Singing His praises, Jesus is mine!

Shadows around me, shadows above me

Never conceal my Savior and Guide;

He is the light, in Him is no darkness,

Ever I’m walking close to His side.

In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,

Pressing my way to mansions above;

Singing His praises, gladly I’m walking,

Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love." - 'Heavenly Sunlight' : Henry J. Zelley 1899.

‭‭Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

‭‭Hebrews 4:14-15 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."

‭‭Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

Where does your mind go?  This morning I woke to that hymn you read playing in my mind.  My morning things out of the way, coffee in hand, my Bible reading was in Hebrews. 

A week or so ago I wrote of the eyes of Jesus...now take that piercing look described and read the first quoted Scripture. Same Jesus, same Word of God since He IS the Word of God.  

In Isaiah where my reading also takes me in these early morning hours, I am currently reading what is one of many exact descriptions of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. 

Isaiah 42:1-4 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”"

My mind goes to comfort in those passages and that hymn. 

I have no shortage of anxiety at times.  It's the times in which we live.  People with money and power are trying to dominate those who don't have a voice.  Yet none of these escapes the notice of my Father in Heaven. None escapes the notice of my Savior Jesus Christ.  All will give an account before Jesus. The saved and the unsaved.  Jesus will bring forth justice in His time. 

My desire is to be found doing what Jesus, through the Spirit, wants me to have been doing while living my finite existence upon this Earth.

I love finding or I should say being shown, new things from my Bible reading.  Yesterday in church we're in the book of Jonah. 

Really take in this scene.  Here's a man who spent 3 days in the belly of a very large fish.  He didn't have time to bathe.  He reeks of whatever was in that fish's belly. His skin and hair is bleached white. 

He is also...and this is what struck me...an enemy of these people too!

They indeed were the enemy of the people of Israel, but so was he to them. 

This described man is walking a days worth into the city of Nineveh proclaiming the coming destruction of it at the hand of God.  

As one put it, this guy is saying to repent...and they took one look at him...and heard the message...and repented!

The Spirit is to be our teacher. It may be things so profound we barely understand what is taught or it could be things so simple we wonder why. But realize nothing taught is ever a waste of time for Him. 

Make sure to spend quality time with Jesus in prayer.  Make sure to thank the Spirit for what He teaches you.  Be grateful for your help in your present times of distress. Jesus said that not one tear goes unnoticed by Him or our Father in Heaven. 

What will you do now with these thoughts as presented today?  Where will your mind go with them?

Jesus isn't too busy for you or I. 

The Spirit isn't busy elsewhere and isn't inattentive to our lives. 

They wait upon you and I. 

Set your mind on the things above and not on the things that are of this world.  

As someone once said you can't wait until life is no longer hard to decide to be happy.  We have an enemy because of our salvation in Christ Jesus. We have battles against the powers of darkness in this present time. Life is going to be difficult. We have an Advocate, we have the Helper, we have our Savior who is Christ Jesus. 

Let's set our minds where they ought to be...and listen when the Spirit speaks.  Shutting up is very important to learning from God. 

Where does your mind go?

Are you truly trying to grow in Christ or are you more concerned with getting ahead in this world?  What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeits his soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Don't put this world before your relationship with Jesus. 

Food for thought eh?

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.