The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Use It!"
"Walking with God involves a trusting heart, which through the Holy Spirit empowers an engaged mind."
My mother often said to me (of necessity), "Glen, the Lord gave you a brain. Use it!"
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue or if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
We do use our brains as born again believers in the Lord Jesus. However, we do not base our trust and confidence on the marvelous thinking capabilities made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
"Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
We "think on these things." We do not, however, "lean" on our understanding as if our own thoughts can successfully guide us through life. Walking with God involves a trusting heart, which through the Holy Spirit empowers an engaged mind. God made us as persons gifted with capabilities we can seek to use independently (which, foolishly, of course, we often do). Human history chronicles the misuse of our mental faculties, as does our own personal history of forgetting or neglecting the "lean not" to empower the "think on these things."
The Psalmist well knew this sequence of trusting and empowered thinking. He sought God accordingly.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, o Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).
David realized the vital nature of godly words, both in utterance and in thought. This led to the realization of how much he required God's presence, guidance, and power in utilizing the capacity to "think on these things." He prayed accordingly. Recall the old adage, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." In Biblical terms, we might amplify the thought: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste by not devoting it to God in faith and consecration to His leading and enabling." Indeed, of all things human beings cannot possibly do apart from the Holy Spirit, nothing supersedes genuinely beneficial thinking. In fact, the Lord's presence in the world has served to enable all thoughts in humanity regarding truth, goodness, and beauty, even among those who do not know God through the Lord Jesus. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).
For those who do know God, the Psalmist's prayer for help in thinking must be consistently echoed by every believer. This would be a good moment for such petition and we close with the suggestion of bowing our hearts in order to rightly engage our minds. I hear my mother's voice echoing from long ago, and surely the Spirit's voice beckons in this hour regarding the thinking He will enable as we trust our Lord: "Use it!"
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
(Romans 12:1-2)
Weekly Memory Verse
We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
(Ephesians 1:7-8)
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