He is on and in my mind!

Is it possible that an aging mind often becomes an extreme version of the way a person thinks most of their earlier life? My mom has Alzheimer’s and in the early stages we talked about it. I told her I didn’t dwell on the past and my memory of early events was dim, so if/when I lost my short-term memory, my mind would be a total blank. We both laughed.

This morning’s devotional reading is about the power of the mind to choose. It gives this as an example:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5–6)

I almost laughed when I read it. My mind is what some call scattered. I’m easily distracted and focus has always been a challenge. However, the Lord has taught me His solution. To be able to think clearly and focus on Him, I must be filled with the Spirit. That means all known sin is confessed, and I trust Him to put in my head what He wants me to think about, to say, and to do. This is a freedom. 

I’ve had situations where I said something that just “popped out” and later wondered where that came from, yet it was always appropriate and fit with the fruit of the Spirit. No setting my mind or thinking what was the right thing; it was just there.

Now as I read these verses, it seems more a description of two ways to think rather than a choice of what to think. That is, if I am filled with the Spirit of God, I will be thinking as the Spirit thinks. If I am not filled, I will be thinking fleshy thoughts, always self-focused, trying to impress listeners, promote myself, and so on. 

Selfish living is separated from God, and the word of God calls that spiritual death. Abiding in Him in total faith and under His control sets my mind on the Spirit and that is life and peace.

And for me, being filled with His Spirit can leave my body entirely exhausted, which I cannot explain. I just know that when I am trusting the Lord, conversations with others seem to take energy out of me and I become very tired. Perhaps this is because the energy of the Spirit is no longer needed and I’m left with that old self? Not sure. Opinions and thoughts are welcome. 
Yesterday was an example. I went to bed early and slept soundly, and hours longer than normal, but woke up feeling renewed. God gave me fresh ideas in my sleep about being organized even if I have memory problems, and how to practice hospitality without many resources. The sense of having worshiped in my sleep was strong. What a gift…

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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. (Romans 8:9–11)
For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

PRAY: How awesome. It is true that You are all that I need. I only need to believe You and give You my heart and mind, and You fill me with whatever You want me to think, say, and do. You alway amaze and even surprise me. Truly, to live is Christ! Thank You.
 

I can be as blind as a bat . . .

Genesis 38; Job 4; Mark 8; Romans 8

My brother called last night. Our conversation was mostly centered on his frustration with spiritual blindness. We had to remind ourselves that spiritual blindness is a universal spiritual condition and unless the Spirit of God opens our eyes and minds to the truths of God, no one can see reality clearly. That includes the two of us!

Today’s readings bring that out. Job’s friends, who should have been encouraging and comforting to this man in his huge losses instead began thinking all his trouble was his own fault. Eliphaz told him he had taken care of other people in their trials; he should be able to take his own advice and pull himself out of this pit. This is a huge insult. For one thing, God in great wisdom created us to need one another not foster an independent, do-it-yourself spirit.

Eliphaz’s next error was to tell Job that innocent people never suffer, insinuating that Job was guilty of something or he would not be having so much trouble (Job 4:1–9). This is simply not true. My brother and I talked about this being part of spiritual blindness. Job’s ‘friend’ could not see beyond his own notion that there are other reasons for suffering than “God is punishing you” nor could he see that he himself was blind. Such is the state of humanity without God’s revelation to them. We are missing much of what is going on because of it.

Mark presents another aspect of spiritual blindness. Jesus just fed a multitude but the disciples missed seeing His power. When He told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, they thought He was getting after them because they forgot to bring bread. Jesus said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” (Mark 8:14–19) They didn’t connect the dots.

It gets even more serious. After this, Jesus asked them who they thought He was and Peter made a great declaration of his faith. Then a few verses later, when Jesus told them about His impending death, Peter rebuked Him. Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Mark 8:33)

Again, spiritual blindness kept Peter from seeing the plan of God. It seems so plain to those of us to whom God has revealed it, but we forget that we were once as blind as Eliphaz, as the disciples, as Peter. Sinful human nature closes spiritual eyes.

Paul explains it further in Romans 8 (and reading Romans 8 is a huge blessing). He contrasted the flesh with the spiritual nature — and it humbles as well as enlightens . . . 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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. (Romans 8:5–11)

That life that Jesus gives is life that can see, submit to, and please God. Without that life we cannot see the things of God, just as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3.

As a Christian, I cannot look down my nose at those outside of faith. I was there and can drop back there, blind and unable to understand. It is by grace I am saved, through faith and that is a gift from God — I cannot boast. Instead, God wants me to look at the world around me through spiritual eyes that see as He sees. He knows all things. He wants vision for the blind. He wants soft hearts that receive His sight-giving touch. Oh Lord God, bring light to blind eyes and forgive me for forgetting that any sight I have is because of Your amazing grace.