How to Love with All Your Mind.

You know that part of Luke 10:27 where Jesus tells His followers, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (NIV). Some days I really feel like a boat out on some great sea being battered by the wind and the waves… you think this, do that, believe much, perceive what else and the waves break over the sides of your journey, filling you with anxiety, worry, doubt, and trepidation; thinking “How on Earth did I end up here?!”

Have you noticed how temporary the relief of the world is when it comes to stress – massage, Netflix, exercise, shopping, and on and on and on it goes. But, it only lasts so long before the mind compounds upon itself the things of which it strives to control. It’s the bailing bucket of life – I’ll use it and it will serve the need temporarily, but the storm will only continue on, weighing you down. No bailing bucket can keep up. Nothing will remove the pain and the weariness that seeps in on every side. Nothing, but a navigational recourse to a safe haven…

I will never forget a time I got SO sick in my first year of teaching. I could not move out of my bed, but in mercy, found a substitute teacher to take my place for the day. I lay in my fever not feeling grateful, rather angry that I had gotten sick. My mind was so in control of everything, but my body couldn’t keep up. I felt that I need to be involved and in charge and no one would do a better job of my job than me.

After a few days off, I eventually crawled out into the spring air. The snow had just melted for like the tenth time as it does in Alberta and the sun was doing it’s magic. I pulled a blanket around my shoulders and closed my eyes, feeling the sunshine on my face. Jesus and I, we had a good talk, a good cry, a good time unraveling my unrealistic mental identity.

You know friend, Jesus is that gentle breeze that pushes your boat towards safety after you choose to let go. And that gentle breeze whispered in my ear the most honest, kind thing any breeze could say… “I don’t say I’m your Prince of Peace because it sounds heroic, I Am your Prince of Peace because I Am. I want to be your rescue. I want to be your help. I want to be the haven to which you run. I want to be your hiding place in the night. I want to be the One at the top of the ridge that when you choose to lift your eyes towards the dawn on the last day, I am the One whom you see. And I will be there. And I won’t disappoint.”

I can say so much more about peace, but we really need to be honest with ourselves. Your peace is not made up of all the pieces you can stick together to stabilize your mind. Peace was left by Christ, not something you need to strive to get. My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27).

Peace of mind manifests when your eyes are fixed on Him. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you (Isaiah 26:3). Peace floods your life when you set your thoughts on Jesus. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). And the cool thing is all you have to do is ask, all you have to do is simply loosen your grasp on the rudder and let the wind carry you to where you are always welcome, to where you were created to breathe – Eden: a haven of communion with the Father. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). But, you see, it’s your choice to have a healthy mind. Cast your cares on the Lord because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Ok, so what do you do right now? Disconnect from what distracts you, that temporary fills you, that numbs you to your need for peace. Give yourself space. Date yourself. Go and do something you love to do… or don’t do that often. Find a quiet space and ignore the urges to check social media, your email or the news. Take the time to hear your own heart beat again, your lungs fill with air again, to fascinate your eyes with beauty and majesty, to let your lips form honest words directed the heart of the Father. Be still. And know.

It’s ok to let others you love you know that you are ducking out of the scene for a bit, even if it really just is for a short time. This helps so they don’t pester you with messages on a phone, which by the way, should be turned off and buried under a pile of laundry. The world will wait for you, and if they really need you, they will leave a message. I lost my phone for a whole week (only to find it dead underneath the seat of my car – face palm) and I was so worried that someone super important would call me or something, only to find it and realize I had like 3 text messages. Humility 101.

You only realize how made up your addiction to technology is after technology betrays you. But, to stay the course, Beloved, be kind to yourself. I will say this many times. But, it’s true. Bless your mind. It works overtime.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition (asking fervently) with thanksgiving (we forget that part too often) let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

Pray This With Me:

Jesus, right now, in Your name I bless my mind. I pray that I would think kind thoughts towards myself and would be aware when I am not speaking life over myself. I pray that I would realize when I am entertaining hypothetical thoughts and teach me to silence the thoughts of turmoil and confusion.

I bless my mind with creativity and inspiration. I bless my mind with hope and honesty. I bless my mind with health. I ask you to bless me with sweet dreams at night. I ask You Jesus, my Prince of Peace, to remind me to lean on You. Show me how to give up my own understanding in order to see Your perspective and truth. I bless my mind with a hunger to pursue righteousness.

I ask You Jesus for wisdom and discernment when I need to take a break and when I should press on. I receive Your peace that You give so freely to me. Thank you Jesus for Your everlasting faithfulness and love, Your power and Your blood. In Your name I praise You and thank you,

Amen.

#faith #mind #mentalhealth #truth #lovethelord #bible #christian