Welcome to the first day of your inSPIRE™ journey!

In the very beginning of everything, in the first chapter of the Bible, we’re presented with the most incredible recount of the world being created, as God speaks the world into existence! History shows us that when God specifically speaks in the pages of the Bible, we are best off to pay attention! I’ve found it equally true that on the occasions God has spoken to me, it has been life-altering. We’ll definitely consider dialogue with God further along in this week’s journey.

For now, I wanted to draw your attention to the very limited and entirely critical moments when God breathes in Scripture! Have you thought about those few occasions? Genesis 2:7 is the first time. Instead of speaking “man” into existence, as God did with plants and animals and other living things, God describes this intimate and precious moment as him breathing breath into man’s nostrils! Interesting way for the God of the universe to describe this part in creation, isn’t it? The other God-breathing moment I found is in 2 Timothy 3:16, and this time the object of creation is Scripture itself. In some Bible translations the word used interchangeably with “breathed” is “inspired”. Inspire comes from the old Latin word inspirare and the French word inspirer, meaning to breathe into. In fact the word inspire used to be defined in conjunction with a divine being.

So it it’s only appropriate that our inSPIRE™ journey together will combine two things that God himself inspired in to being – His WORD and YOU! Isn’t that fascinating? Both of you were uniquely created for eternity. So grab a Bible (I’ll be using the New Living Translation – NLT) because we need to get to know what’s in it that will give us the life God intended, and come along on your very own inSPIRE™ journey.

Moment in the Mirror

When I look in the mirror, do I see someone intimately designed and created by God? Why or why not?

What does it mean to me that Scripture was God-breathed or inspired?

Welcome back! Did you catch the connection between intimacy with God – man – Scripture, yesterday? Pretty significant. Today as you consider your journey with God expect him to direct personally and specifically.

In our 5 week inSPIRE™ journey we’re going to pull apart and examine the five components of our SPIRE. You know that they are the Spiritual – Physical – Intellectual – Relational – Emotional aspects of our lives. And as we considered our very creation and the idea that we were created for eternity in Day 1, now we dive into a consideration of our spiritual natures.

Colossians 1 tells us that “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God…through him God created everything…everything was created through him and for him…this includes you who were once far away from God…yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in the physical body…”. What difference does it make to you and to me that we were created for God?

The author of Colossians, Paul, gives us one answer. He says “just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth…”. We’re to grow strong by letting our roots grow deeply. Makes sense, yet is a little vague. Well today, I challenge you to make it specific. Consider a good spiritual discipline that will make you strong and commit to it today. Perhaps you will begin to read the Book of John daily, or maybe your stretch point is to set aside daily time for prayer before you hit the streets. Why be a spiritual weakling when you don’t have to be?

Moment in the Mirror

To what degree am I a spiritual person and am I growing strong as one?

What spiritual growth commitment will make me strong and when do I start?

When I arrived at Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, I did not speak a word of French. It made no sense to me and I got in a fair bit of trouble right away. Upon arrival, we were lined up in rows and I, unwittingly, became one French sergeant major’s direct point of attention. As he stood inches from my face, with his face turning redder, voice getting louder, and spit flying, I remained as I was. That was the problem. Finally, a brave young bilingual colleague standing next to me told me that the sergeant major wanted me to stop smiling. As a unilingual anglo, I had thought that surely there was a joke of sorts going on, as people did not yell at other people like that in my previous world, and I likely looked pretty disrespectful from the good ol’ sergeant major’s perspective. (I did subsequently learn French and avoided such situations!)

I think we get frustrated and may even get into a little trouble when we start to read the Bible. Some things in it are descriptive, while others are prescriptive. Some things are culturally significant and others easily cross all cultures and are applicable for all times. 1 Corinthians tells us that some spiritual things “sound foolish” and can’t be understood by everyone. After years of personal Bible study and even some teaching, I concur! So today, as you consider your spiritual health, I want to encourage you not to let some of the language, or complexities, or familiarity of the Bible get in your way. There are some very clear things in it and you can start by applying those. If you have begun to read the Gospel of John, for example, focus on verse 12 in chapter 1, which gives us the illustration of a father-child relationship with God that we can consider today. Ask him how to be a spiritual child, or go ahead and tell him about your earthly father.

If you want to learn and understand the truths of Scripture take the next step and use a Bible commentary or Bible dictionary as you read God’s Word. Don’t go for speed, go for understanding. Better to understand one thing that makes a difference, than to gloss over the whole thing. And let me leave you with a parting thought: though it is an excellent thing to read books written by godly people, don’t make that a substitute for reading the actual words of God found uniquely in Scripture. Books are not God-breathed and alive, only Scripture is.

Moment in the Mirror

Like resources available for learning other languages, there are many resources available for studying the Bible. What habit for reading it will I take on and what resource will I specifically use to understand it better?

What one thing has God said to me through his Word, the Bible, that has made a difference?

We’ve talked about God breathing eternity into Scripture and into you, helping us understand how critical it is that we spend personal time in Scripture, understanding that there is no substitute. And we’ve considered putting roots down that move us from a spiritual weakling to someone growing in the power and strength of God.

Today, let’s consider dialogue with God, specifically. Moses is a great illustration for us when it comes to talking to God. In Exodus 3 and 4 we have what is almost a comical conversation between the two. First of all, God communicates who he is to Moses. And then Moses communicates who he, Moses, is not, to God! Moses “had it all together” at one point, as the prestigious son of the Pharoah, and righter of wrongs. Now he gives God all the reasons why he is inadequate for what God has asked him to do. Interestingly enough, God was able to handle Moses fears, misunderstanding, and limited view of himself. Perhaps that would be a refreshing conversation for us to have with God today. What if rather than asking for all the usual things, we simply came to God with an honest evaluation of our call, our gifts, and our lives. Unlike some other folks, God intends on working in our lives, regardless of our limitations. He is already well aware of them. And for those who don’t have limitations, he is well aware of our pride and arrogance as well!

So today, I’m just saying, offer up your most honest thoughts to God, and don’t worry about presenting your best side. God has never heard a prayer he can’t quite handle. And then, make talking to God a habit. In your daily time that you have set aside to read these journey bites, make prayer the center. I write down my questions to God while praying and will pause with my pen in hand to write down God’s response, should he make something clear to me at that time. Talk to God before talking to anyone else every morning, and see what a difference it makes. Then continue the conversation throughout the day. Jesus did.

Moment in the Mirror

How honest and heartfelt are my prayers?

Do I expect God to hear and actually answer my prayers? (Sometimes the answer is “no” – can I handle that?)

“It was in the year that King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne…” This verse is Isaiah’s opening line in chapter 6 of the Book named after him. A king, a hero, and a powerful leader had just died. I believe that as Isaiah and his countrymen experienced the loss, they also feared that a new king represented the unknown and instability.

So it is interesting that in the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah’s vision was that of the Lord on his throne! When life is uncertain and you are grieving, do you see God on his throne? Or, do you wonder if he was ever there, or, at best, might have fallen off during your misfortune. I have good news for you. God remains on the throne.

And what is the response of the heavenlies to God on his throne at that time: “they were calling out to each other, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory”. Somehow, in both the good and bad places of our temporary lives, we must devote ourselves to worship. This is because God is God, and that does not change. Personally, I have found we are restored in our challenges, as we worship in faith and awe, the one who remains seated on His throne.

So, as you spend time with God each day on this journey, incorporate worship – every day. God’s praises should not just be sung by the seraphim, but by your voice and mine. Find out the unparallelled attributes of God and rehearse them back to him. Use music if that is your best medium and sing, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”!

Moment in the Mirror

Do I believe that God is on his throne and in control in all circumstances?

Do I allow circumstances to alter my worship?

For those of you who are following each inSPIRE post and asking yourself the questions from each associated  “moment in the mirror” – congratulations! And if you’ve looked inside for answers, I’m pretty sure God is pleased, and that your journey here is worth the time we’ve both invested in it! Tomorrow, our final day focusing on the “S” of the SPIRE, will be a chance for “reflection”, where I invite you to leave me a comment with your thoughts and your questions.

Meanwhile, today we continue on. And perhaps today is the day I get into trouble. Because, we are going to consider the unpopular concept of “sin”. In fact, contrary to its reputation, “sin” is a great word! It comes from the Greek hemartano, meaning to miss the mark. My son is a very good archer and also a very good marksman. He hits his target with precision almost all of the time. But when the arrow doesn’t hit the bulls-eye, he has the ability to call a miss, well, a miss. When we act in opposition to God’s standards, we are missing his mark, and that’s sin. In fact 1 John chapter one, verses 8 & 10 tell us that when we claim to have no sin we’re fooling ourselves and calling God a liar!

It gets really complicated when we hide our sin and hold on to it. We can literally be enslaved to it. It can rule us like a splinter that constantly draws our attention to the place it’s embedded. Pain is normally associated with it.

Fortunately, there’s a way out. God promises us an escape even from our addictions (1 Corinthians 10:13), but we must take His way out. 1 John 1:9 tells us to start with confession. After that, stick with God, and go for freedom. Perhaps as we consider emotional wellness later in our journey we’ll understand where some of our sin issues come from, even as we defeat them.

Moment in the Mirror

What is the splinter, the sin, that came to mind today?

What is God saying to do about it?

On the seventh day of our journey, we’ll rest and reflect. God himself modeled rest after six days’ work, and we ignore his instruction  to do the same, to our own detriment. So today, simply meditate and prayerfully consider the first six days of your inSPIRE journey.

What is the primary thing that God has challenged you on in regards to your spirituality, the “S” of your SPIRE? Really look in the mirror and see who looks back. God knows everything about you already and so you don’t have to worry about shocking or surprising Him. Your identification of an obstacle or an excuse preventing you from growing spiritually is a huge step forward. If you have a trusted partner or small group who are on this journey with you, you may want to pour some coffee, open up and talk about it with them. What change will you make? Who will you tell to keep you accountable?

“Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I am far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!”  Psalms 139:23-24, 2-3, 7

Daniel is perhaps one of my greatest heroes. He was a young boy faced with the very best excuses for failure and self-pity that any individual might ever face. He was forcefully removed from his family, his friends, his country and his culture, by enemies who only valued his good looks and strong young body. He had previously  flourished in the care of a Jewish noble family, where tradition, religion and community meant everything. And yet, with everything taken from him, in the face of captivity and slavery, Daniel rises to the top. What I admire about him is how he got there. He began by asking for the opportunity to take care of himself, rather than indulging in the gourmet excesses of his new cultural home in Babylon. His self-discipline and courage in the one place he could control, his physical intake, would be a precursor for subsequent decisions and responsibilities. Daniel became one of the greatest leaders in a pagan land where powerful people conspired against him, and he did it while remaining true to himself and his God. He is one of the very few Biblical leaders who did not fall at the height of their leadership.

I encourage you to read Daniel, chapter one. God deems it important to have recorded for all of eternity, that Daniel’s first challenge in Babylon was in regards to his eating habits. Daniel chose not to defile himself. Why? Because he knew his body was the temple of his God. Are we as aware of the responsibility that God gives to us for our own bodies and our own health? If we are not responsible for ourselves, to the degree God grants, will he want to give us greater responsibility? This week is your opportunity to explore your physical well-being. Not simply for the sake of well-being, and certainly not to elevate physicality to the place of another god, but to consider the way God, and our hero Daniel, understood physical responsibility. Many Christian leaders, men and women, neglect their physical bodies in the pursuit of spiritual growth (as though they were completely separate things). Does it make sense that we would neglect the most obvious tool God has given us to bring him glory on this earth? Let’s consider that this week.

Moment in the Mirror

When I look in the mirror, do I see someone who has cared for their body? Why or why not?

What does it mean to me that Daniel did not want to defile himself by the way he ate?

Today we touch on the topic of eating and tomorrow we talk about sex. I hope you’re ready for this week because these two topics tend to be hot buttons. We looked at Daniel’s example when it came to eating yesterday, and opened up our examination of our physical well-being. Today we get specific, and I want to do that through a very personal story.

My husband was diagnosed with two forms of cancer within the period of a year. The first diagnosis was a shock, but relatively little changed for us. We were somewhat incredulous when the second diagnosis was made, and it was then that my husband began to seriously explore the best possible ways to alter his declining health trajectory. After looking into a myriad of medical and non-medicinal options, he decided to radically alter his food intake. Food is a very lucrative business in North America, and brings great economic gain to a number of food industries, but has resulted in clearly declining health for the average North American. Many foods are riddled with chemicals, hormones, sugars, and marketed in misleading ways, intended to satiate our desire for ease and excess. Did you know, for example, that people groups in very poor countries who have little to no access to meat and dairy have little or no occurrences of prostate or breast cancer, osteoporosis, cholesterol, or high blood pressure?

Well after research and adjustment, my husband now has minimal symptoms of cancer, a complete reversal of cholesterol and acid reflux issues, no concern with high blood pressure, and has lost all 50lbs he didn’t need to carry, all within 4 months of a diet change. He eats primarily chemical free vegetables, nuts and beans. While my husband went to Hallelujah Acres in North Carolina to learn about healthy eating, there are many resources available to you as you consider this area of your physicality today. Let’s consider the fact that life began in a garden, and not in a drive-through…

Moment in the Mirror

Is my physical health declining or improving, based on my eating habits?

What specific eating change will make me healthier and when do I make that permanent change?

God is the author and creator of sex and of our sexuality. That should come as a great relief to us because our culture has this topic messed up! God works for our good, creates standards to protect us, and loves us like nobody on earth can. And while sex is intended for good, God warns us that we can use it destructively. In 1 Corinthians 6 he clearly says “run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.” Then, in the very next verse he goes on to say an incredulous thing – that our bodies are the temple of God, where his Spirit lives! There is a reason that we take special care of our bodies, particularly in the area of our sexuality.

If you have read much of the Old Testament you have surely come across chapters and chapters of specific instruction on the building, décor and care of God’s temple. It mattered to Him. Eventually, however, God allowed for the temple to be destroyed, because his people had grossly neglected and defiled it.

In the New Testament we are told that believers are now the temple where God’s Spirit dwells. The temple is the absolutely most holy place in all its known surroundings. Your body is intended to be a holy place. When we neglect or defile it we are participating in our own destruction.

Moment in the Mirror

Do I see my body as the physical place where God’s Spirit lives?

What does that mean in regards to how I dress, my intimate thoughts and actions, and what I watch or entertain? What do I change?

Medical reports from a variety of credible sources tell us that 70-80% of hospitalized care can be traced back to stress-related causes! That’s big. That gives us something to consider, and the Bible is not silent on the issue.

Take, for example, Elijah’s situation in 1 Kings 18-19. Elijah has just experienced one of the most incredible ministry victories ever! He alone had defeated all of the prophets working for other gods, in a spectacular display of fire coming from heaven and fully consuming his sacrifice and even the surrounding water! But then the stress of it all overcame him. Have you ever been wildly successful and then found yourself in the doldrums afterwards? We know that cultural icons such as Whitney Houston can relate. Well Elijah succumbs to fear and depression and is suicidal.

God knows that good and bad stress will take their toll. In Elijah’s case it was intense. Interestingly enough, God has angels bring food to Elijah and he rests. Such a simple but effective response! Elijah then has the strength to lean in to hear the gentle voice of God, not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the whisper.

What can you control in the midst of your stress and where do you need God to enter in? Can you simply change the way you eat, the amount of rest you get, or the amount of time you spend listening to God? Perhaps a step up and out of depression begins with physical factors you control. Maybe your job will kill or damage you and you courageously need to find a different one. Elijah was sent out to anoint his replacement! Or perhaps you can lean on an associate, a friend, doctor, or a counselor. Give ear to loving counsel. And, ultimately, allow yourself to be ministered to by God, just as Jesus did when he dealt with the stress of an encounter with Satan, and in his final moments before the cross.

Moment in the Mirror

To what degree does stress impact my life?

What are my first steps in dealing with it?

I was in an Arrow classroom with Mary Lance Sisk (now in heaven), who was speaking on prayer. She asked our group to read Psalms 23 and talk to the Lord about it, listening for what he had to say. Well I chuckled as I read verse 2, where it says “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. I had been having recurring and random back spasms that were very painful and leaving me unable to move when the spasm occurred, then certainly unable to walk, for several days. I felt like I had offered it up to the Lord and even though athleticism was very important to me, I had accepted that when the good Lord allowed me to move I would, and when he did not, I would not. So I laughed with the Lord when I read “he makes me lie down in green pastures”. He certainly did make me lie down. Oddly enough it was that very day, as Mary Lance Sisk unknowingly asked me to share my God conversation with our class, that God healed me, as she responded to God herself, coming to lay her hands on my back, and pray for my healing.

There is always a lot to do for those who lead and serve in Christian ministry. There is a lot to do in many arenas. Does God have to “make us” rest, or do we choose to, in response to his admonition in Scripture? How do we understand Sabbath, a day of rest, in our culture, in our families, in our seasons of life, with our work schedules? God gave us amazing bodies and minds, capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound (just joking) – capable of so much. But He warned us that we would need to enjoy a rhythm of rest, good for the body and the soul. It is my great prayer for you today that you would allow the Lord to lead you by still waters, knowing he has not required more of you than you can give. That you would mostly have adequate rest and be functioning at your God-given best, versus a caffeine induced hyperactivity, and that you would periodically take greater chunks of time apart to more fully experience the “rest” of God.

Moment in the Mirror

Have I set a schedule of life for myself that God would approve of?

Do I trust him enough to work on my behalf, as I sleep each night in peace?

You are a masterpiece! Don’t take my word for it – God said so – wrote it down in the second chapter of Ephesians. He thinks you were created just right, with the potential to do all of the good things he planned for you to do. I was reminded of that today as I visited with my girlfriend, pregnant with twins! We laughed at how they were right there in her very round belly, hanging upside down, in liquid. God says he knit together their innermost parts. And my friend’s almost-two-year-old was there just as cute as possible, reminding me that even when we have no physical capacity to give back to God, he still thinks of us as his masterpiece!

And so we care for our bodies, as God’s masterpiece and the intended home for his Holy Spirit. What a privilege – what a responsibility! It motivates us towards such things as purity; eating for wellness sake; resting our bodies rather than running on empty; and alternately to being as active as we need to be in order for our heart, lungs and muscles to be strong!

Alongside these truths, we live with the tension that God also speaks of our bodies as earthly tents. He reminds us that our physical bodies are temporary in nature and that we will be trading them in for eternal ones. All of our earthly lives will come to an end. And so, as we conclude this week on our physical fitness, I want to caution you against the extremes to which some individuals go with the physical fitness. If you don’t have time for things like regular Christian fellowship and worship, times of prayer, or family fun, because of your attention to your physical prowess, then you may be elevating your fitness and recreation to a place above God. God calls anything that takes his rightful place idolatry. The regard for our bodies should coincide perfectly with glorifying God.

Moment in the Mirror

What does it mean to me that I am God’s masterpiece?

Is there an area of my physical life where I am overdoing it or being neglectful?

On the seventh day of this week’s journey, we will again rest and reflect.

What is the primary thing that God has challenged you on as you’ve considered your physical health? God knows all about it already and so you don’t have to worry about shocking or surprising Him with new information. If you have a trusted partner or small group who are on this journey with you, you may want to put on some tea, or pour some coffee, open up and talk about it. What change will you make?

“Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I am far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!”  Psalm 139:23-24, 2-3, 7

The objective of this week’s look at your intellectual life is NOT an academic pursuit. While that may be an excellent component of anyone’s personal journey, it’s simply not the focus for us here. In fact Jesus had bad news for some of the most highly educated and revered religious leaders of his day. In John chapter 5, he says to them, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” While God remains consistently clear that Scripture is God-breathed and is our ultimate source of His instruction, he also warns us that a search of words, outside of a relationship with God, is not life-giving. It is not the point.

So what does bring life and health to us? Scripture tells us we are slaves to whatever controls us, so the first question we need to answer is “who has the most influence and control over the way I think?” You may be the owner of a finely tuned automobile, but if I am in possession of the keys, then I control its use. Likewise, you, no doubt, have a powerful mind. (If you can read this article then you certainly function intellectually in ways that are far superior to any other living creatures!) But the power to direct your thoughts, and ultimately your actions, will be held by those sources you have given the “keys” to. That thought should give us reason to pause…

My rule of thumb is to have more input from godly sources than from ungodly ones, to keep my default ways of thinking aligned with the God who gives and sustains life. If I watch or read more content that’s not in alignment with God and with the good He has intended, then I can expect to have less of the mind of Christ and more the mind of the movie producers, authors, and marketing gurus, each with economic, personal, political or social agendas. When I am told by a famous food chain that “I deserve a break today” it is intended to lead to more sales for the food chain, not a more healthy and nutritious meal for me. God, on the other hand, is benevolent and needs nothing from us to increase his wealth or power. I need the input, the truths, and the beliefs that come from God. Why choose an intellectual diet of junk food, over what imparts life and wisdom?

We have a number of things to think about again this week as we look at the “I” of inSPIRE™! We could go so much deeper in any of these daily challenges, but I am excited for you to consider the working of your mind even in these bite-sized formats. And, as a bonus this week, we’ll look forward to considering the insightful contribution of Doug Wiemer, our Ottawa inSPIRE™ men’s journey leader. Doug is writing a book on the impact of words on our spirit, and he and his wife, Sandy, are instrumental partners in the first inSPIRE church plant in Carleton Place, Ontario.

Moment in the Mirror

Who has the keys to my mind?

Do I need to replace some of the things I watch on tv or the internet with input that is more life-giving and in alignment with God’s good standards?

Paul was one of the most well-educated, privileged, zealous and influential men of his time! Most of us know him as the author of a significant portion of the New Testament. So, if we were to ask this super-star of academia what, out of the myriad of things attainable for us intellectually, we should strive for, don’t you wonder what he would answer?

Paul gives us his answer as he is literally falling to his knees, overwhelmed by God’s grace towards us. He prays for us, in chapter 3 of Ephesians, that we “may have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep [God’s] love is”. He goes on to say that God’s love is, in fact, too great a concept for our minds to fathom, but we’re compelled  to go after that kind of understanding! Why? Because only then are we complete, full of life and the power of the Spirit.

I was raised in a Christian home and cannot remember a time as a child that I was not confident that Christ was ever-present with me and entirely engaged in my life. I believed He loved me and that I didn’t need to fully understand that, nor do anything to earn it. I realize now what a gift I had been given. My very limited understanding of the love of God in my life gave me power and confidence to face every exam, every move our family made, peers, and all the fearful things about growing up.

I know Paul’s admonition to understand God’s love is the key to all else. Go after that! It will prevent you from looking for love in all the wrong places. It may also get you off the treadmill of needing validation and affirmation from people, the work you do, or material things, that will just never be enough. And don’t stop with understanding – Paul says to experience God’s love! I believe you will find that the path from true understanding of God’s love leads to its experience.

Moment in the Mirror

What do I understand of God’s love?

How do I pursue a greater understanding and experience in this?

We spend a lot of time thinking about making money, saving money, or spending money. In fact there are institutions and vocations such as banks, investment services, accountants, and bookkeepers who base their entire work on money. And so it is a big thing to consider as we examine our lives this week. Let me suggest a state of mind that will help us to sleep at night and avoid a lot of financial trouble…

Paul speaks to us of the state of CONTENTMENT. That state is the complete antithesis to the state of mind that marketing and sales people want for you! They won’t benefit as much from the individual who keeps the old couch, last year’s cell phone or doesn’t up-size, as they will from the consumer needing to possess the very latest thing.

The apostle Paul should have been strutting around in the very latest Pharisee fashion robe. He should have been eating the finest olives and drinking the most aged wine in ancient gold goblets. Well, he was able to live that way, but he also chose to be content when he needed to pay his way by making tents, when he starved and froze, and when he went without. His mind was set on following God, and money, status, and stuff just didn’t matter as much. What is your mindset on the matter? Does money (or debt) rule your life, or is the money God provides enough, and is it used for what matters?

Moment in the Mirror

What does the state of CONTENTMENT mean?

Do I have it?

As a father of two daughters, there have been many times over the years that I (Doug) have encountered them feeling down or depressed and needing some uplifting words to encourage them, words to bring them hope.  I have since been fascinated by the link between the words we embrace in our minds and the impact they have on our emotions.  Too often I encounter people who are struggling with depression, only to discover that their struggle is a battle of the mind, and it is a battle they don’t know how to fight.

In Jeremiah 23, Jeremiah condemns the prophets of his day by highlighting that our own words become a self-fulfilling prophecy that distort the truth of the message God has for us (verse 36).  He was teaching us that the words we embrace have a profound impact on the quality of our life for today and for tomorrow.  When these words aren’t lined up with the positive truth of God’s message, we end up living a distorted and diminished version of the hope that is in Christ.

Later, in Jeremiah 29, we are encouraged by the Lord.  ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  When we embrace the truth of Gods word, and align our thoughts with it, there is power to overcome the challenges and the struggles we face in this world.

So, where are your thoughts today?  Is your mind focused on past failures and defeats?  Have you embraced negative and destructive words that have been cast on you by other people?  Or have you embraced the reality of God’s Word for your life?  You are a reflection of Christ’s glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In Chapter 4 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians he says, “Finally, brothers, 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.”  If you are struggling with depression, or perhaps just need some hope today, I encourage you to push the negative thoughts away and think about such things.  As hard as it may seem to get past the negative thought patterns that seem so familiar, keep working at it.  I know you will be uplifted and encouraged for tomorrow.

Moment in the Mirror

Where are my thought patterns today?  Are they positive or negative?

What single thought that is pure and lovely, excellent or praiseworthy, will I choose to focus on today?

“If you listen to correction, you grow in understanding… If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” These quotes from Proverbs 15 are direct and clearly point us towards listening and receiving! While Doug helped us consider the impact of believing destructive words in yesterday’s post, today we’ll flip our thoughts to consider the words we need to hear.

There are two primary reasons that I have found for people who do not receive criticism that is intended to help and grow them. The first reason is arrogance. Any suggestion that the arrogant individual is not right about things hits a wall of pride. If that is your condition, I recommend that you find out everything the Bible has to say on both pride and humility (because if your issue is pride you won’t listen to me!) See what God has to say about those two conditions of the heart and work towards the most desirable one. As you open your mind to God’s direction on the matter and look for opportunities to move from a prideful stand to the one modeled by Christ, you may be surprised by the feelings of freedom and wellness that fill your soul!

The other reason for not receiving constructive criticism is insecurity. Sometimes this comes from woundedness, inflicted early in our lives by people we loved or respected. Maybe we never measured up to parents’ or teachers’ expectations. Maybe we felt left out in school and put our own measuring stick up against the wrong things. Did you play the comparison game in athletics or academics, music or social skills, and come up short?

The good news is that God did not create you to be like anyone else. Just as there are no two snowflakes alike there are no two “you’s”.  And there never will be. You are God’s masterpiece, with the potential for the good things he has planned in advance for you to do. But in order to do them well, recurring admonitions throughout Proverbs tells us we need to listen to others. In Scripture, this is considered being wise. Even if criticism directed towards us is unkind or insulting, Proverbs says in chapter 12 that the wise will stay calm and only the fool will be quick-tempered. So take the test and go after some criticism today – how do you respond? Criticism is an opportunity to grow in wisdom and humility!

Moment in the Mirror

How do I respond when someone disagrees with me or criticizes me?

When I don’t respond well, what is the reason?

As believers in Christ we have the great benefit of God’s Spirit living in us, available as a counsellor and a guide. Yesterday we established that an attitude of humility helps us hear from others. I believe this to be true when hearing from God as well!  I trust you’ve been listening to God and good input, because today we’re taking a test! We’ll determine the degree to which our minds are controlled by the Spirit. No, I won’t know how you do on the test. It’s a self–assessment.

Read from Ephesians 4:23 to Ephesians 5:20 and identify any areas where you fall short. In these verses Paul is telling us how to live with renewed minds and new natures. Rate your way of living next to Paul’s instruction and note any area of your life where there is renewal work needed!

Did you notice that someone characterized by a renewed mind is not an angry person? That anger should not control the mind of a believer? Do you see that EVERYTHING we say should be “good and helpful”? We don’t slander another person or even use harsh words. Someone with the mind of Christ doesn’t participate in foolish talk and laugh at obscene or coarse jokes. We’re not to be drunk and controlled by alcohol; nor controlled by greed, or pornography, or other sexual vices. We have a generous spirit and give to those in need. When we have a renewed mind, led by the Spirit, we don’t steal music, copyrighted material, supplies from work, or taxes owed to our government. We are generous forgivers and tender-hearted lovers. Our goal is to please God, and we live in these ways based on a choice, pre-established in our minds.

Thank you, Paul, for the test and for the clear instruction.

Moment in the Mirror

Would people say that I have a mind primarily guided by the Spirit, based on God’s standards recorded in Ephesians?

Where do I need to seek godly input to change in a specific area, and what will that input be (a mentor, a book, a Bible study, time spent in confession and prayer…)?