The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Opportunities To Think"
Even the most godly believer in the Lord Jesus Christ does not always consciously think of God. The human mind in its present state, even a mind guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, does not possess the capacity to consider the countless things our earthly lives involve, while at the same time always directly pondering the Lord. The prophet nevertheless calls us to a fixed spiritual focus:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
The Hebrew root word for "stayed" is samek, meaning to lean upon. God calls believers to think in terms of faith, to rest our minds on Him amid the complexities of our present lives. This does not require constant conscious thought, but rather a growing and more consistent availing ourselves of the many opportunities we have to think in terms of who God is, and what He has promised to do in our lives. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to remind, encourage, and challenge us to interpret our lives according to the text of Scripture, and the context of our Lord's abiding presence and working. We seek to live in the atmosphere of faith, at it were, expecting many opportunities to "awake to righteousness" and "in all thy ways acknowledge Him" (I Corinthians 15:34; Proverbs 3:6).
Might there be a matter of life in which we have not factored the fact and faithfulness of God, interpreting the issue as if He is not present and active? If so, the opportunity lies at hand and in heart to think in terms of truth and reality. Who is the Lord Jesus concerning the matter? What has He already done regarding it? What is He doing, and what does He promise to do as things proceed? Awaking to His righteousness and choosing to think accordingly offers the path of peace as we seize blessed opportunities to live with the faithfulness of God as our guiding light and vibrant life. We greatly glorify Him thereby, and also serve as emissaries of assurance to others as our thoughts lead to the countenance, demeanor, attitudes, words, and actions that bear witness to the peace of the Prince of peace.
"To be spiritually minded is life and peace."
(Romans 8:6)
"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 and if there be any praise, think on these things."
(Philippians 4:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6)
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