mindfulness – BradRiley.Org

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:8

There is a battle inside everyone for the control of our thoughts. It’s the oldest and most important battle of all. In the Garden of Eden, Eve lost the battle for her thoughts as she began to question God’s word to her just as the serpent tempted her to. And so the serpent tempts everyone; it all begins with our thoughts.

If we desire to live holy and follow Jesus, we must win the battle for our thoughts – it matters what we think. St. Paul knew this as he exhorted the Philippians to think only on things that are worthy and virtuous. On some level we all understand this, but how do we do it. Well, it begins with our spiritual practices.

If all we do is go to church once a week, and maybe pray before meals, we’ve already lost the battle for our thoughts. Paul tells us to “meditate” on noble and pure thoughts. To meditate implies that we build a habit of thinking on such things. We must set aside time daily to build a practice of Christian meditation on God’s Word and the spiritual life.

Paul was not talking about Eastern meditation practices that we see in other religions such as, Transcendental Meditation. Those practices are about emptying the mind, and an empty mind is most certainly the Devil’s playground. Christian meditation is about filling the mind; filling it with everything that is lovely and pure and true. In other words, it’s about filling the mind with Christ.

Like in all our endeavors, if we wish to be successful in the battle for our minds we must be mindful of our spiritual practices, and be intentional in our efforts. We must learn to practice the presence of God in our mind and being, after all, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we are to win what is the greatest battle of our lives, then we must have great power.

The power of the resurrection is the power of the Spirit within us to overcome. But to win this great battle we must be mindful of how the enemy fights. Satan attacks our thoughts because he knows we can’t stop him from planting bad thoughts in our mind. To have bad thoughts is human; it’s what we do with those thoughts that matters. When bad thoughts come, we must take them captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). So remember, your thoughts really do matter, and you have the power to win because, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

God of all grace, grant me the awareness each day to be mindful of my thoughts. Help me to keep my mind centered on Christ my Lord and to be filled with all that is beautiful and pure. Amen. Alleluia!

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

^{Philippians 2:5-6}

“The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” That was an advertising slogan developed in 1972 for the United Negro College Fund; it’s still in use today. So, how do we not waste our minds? According to the advertisement, the experience of going to college is central to not wasting one’s mind. Many minorities were not able to attend college without the help of the UNCF, and were thereby said to be wasting their minds.

Of course, going to college can be a great experience. In a college one learns to open up the mind and challenge his or her own worldview through intellectual stimulus. While it is always worthy to stimulate our minds intellectually, I doubt that’s what St. Paul was thinking when writing the Philippians. Paul understood that faith was not just about changing our minds, but rather transforming them according to the pattern of Jesus.

In this world we are constantly being molded and shaped by something: family, friends, preaching, teaching, and world opinion. But, to be transformed in Christ we must set our pattern for thinking and learning according to the very way of Jesus Christ. In Romans 12:2, Paul said, “And do not be conformed by the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” And, in verse one he tells us the only way to such transformation is to make a living sacrifice of our lives.

Certainly we can’t adopt fully the mind of Christ as we are human and He is the divine God/Man. So, just what aspect of Jesus’ mind is the great Apostle admonishing us to adopt – His humility. If there is any attribute in Christ that He would have us to like, it is His humility. Jesus, who was God made flesh, did not come in such a way as to rule over humanity, but to serve. Then, in the power of His resurrection, He rose up to rule over all the world. And, if we will serve as He did in this world, we too shall reign with Him in the next.

Can there be a greater pathway to transforming our minds than humble service? Our serving others in true humility is only possible through the resurrection power of Christ at work in us. If you’re not actively seeking to be transformed according to the humble ways of Jesus, through daily surrender to Him, you’re not of the mind that is in Christ.

So, stop wasting your mind and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me by your grace to daily surrender to your transforming, resurrecting power. Let all that is in me, that is not of you, die. And, raise me up to be of the mind of your precious son, Jesus my savior. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/sharibeckett/the-mind-of-christ/

Tag: mindfulness

The Greatet Battle

Stop Wasting Your Mind