In October I wrote about a choice we all have to make at some point in our lives when things get hard:
I find myself in that place again; the place where I feel stuck and stagnant in my circumstances and my thinking, and I can either continue in bitterness and resentment, which is the most natural and fleshly inclination, or I can choose to go forward in a different way:
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
~Philippians 2:14
I so quickly fall out of a mindset of gratitude when the climate around me isn’t just as I’d like it to be. When things aren’t going my way I become a spoiled child- I throw temper tantrums in my heart and lash out with my thoughts and tongue. My vision becomes narrow and self-focused; self-pity overtakes me and I’m zeroed in on everything that’s wrong.
It’s black-and-white thinking, and it’s a spiraling downward cycle.
But Christ gives us His mind, if we’ll ask for it:
For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
~1 Corinthians 2:16
In fact, Paul says we already have it. Our minds are so important, and it’s imperative that we protect and guard them from the evil one, who is constantly trying to sabotage our thinking. God knows this, which is why He wants us to have His mind, and think His thoughts:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
~Philippians 4:8-9
The best way to guard our minds is to not even entertain negative thoughts, but to focus on the eternal. To focus on Christ and what He is doing through each situation we come across, instead of how that situation makes us feel. And the second piece of that is the action we take- putting it into practice. That’s where the choice comes in; when we decide what kind of thoughts we will engage and which ones we will not give attention to. Sometimes we like to indulge our negative, self-pitying, resentful thoughts because that feels better in the moment. It feels better to allow ourselves to sulk instead of taking responsibility for our own minds.
These negative patterns of thinking go way back, and the more we have indulged them in the past, the harder it will be to find freedom from them now. But it is not impossible, because He helps us when He sees that we are willing and want to be free.
It takes intention and effort. It requires that we shift our focus the second we start to catch ourselves going down that path, and remember the truth about ourselves, others, and our God. This kind of intentionality requires effort and active participation- Christ will be faithful to change our hearts when we ask Him but we must be willing to lay down the thoughts and feelings that we allow to hold us captive.
My prayer is that I can see my circumstances with fresh hope and joy- to find Him in the midst of the moments that I dread. To recognize that He is already here and now is the best time of my life; a time to grow and mature in even deeper ways, to grow closer to Him than ever before through the difficulties.
rhythms of grace 