The Key to Everything
Is there a key truth that should guide our every choice?
Is there a primary motivation we can choose that will never steer us down the wrong path?
Is there a beginning point that should always be step one with every choice we make and
for every thought we let reside in our mind and heart?
I believe there is.
And I believe it is also the key to winning the battle for the mind.
It is very simple, but yet its powerful truth is forfeited by us on a daily basis.
Here it is. The key to everything.
To desire to handle our lives from God’s point of view.
To desire to get through our trials with the mind of Christ.
Was that revelation underwhelming?
Were you expecting something more?
Perhaps you feel this is old news, preached on all the time, nothing new?
Yes, I suppose it is.
But yet with all this reminding, why are we still not obeying it?
Why are we leaving its power unused in our lives?
Why are we choosing to be selective where we apply this truth?
Let me restate this life-changing truth again, but rephrase it.
Every thought we think and every action we take should be purposefully
chosen to model the mind of Christ and God’s point of view.
Here’s the reality.
If we were truly applying this truth consistently, we would be getting more victory with
overcoming fear, bitterness, jealousy, depression, gossip, a critical spirit, submission, humility.
We would be becoming more joyful, forgiving, at peace, optimistic, hopeful, full of faith, less critical,
more submissive, humble and teachable, more patient.
Having our thinking conform to the lens of God’s perspective should be
the driving motivation in renewing our mind.
Why?
Because the mind is where pleasing God begins.
And pleasing God is our #1 purpose for being created.
Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy site, O Lord.
Psalm 19:14
Thou art worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11
When our motivation is to make every choice like Christ would,
this leads to the least amount of sin in our lives,
thus allowing for the closest relationship with God.
A close relationship with God
is our Number One purpose in life.
Nothing else is more important.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mark 12:30
Let me give some examples of what it looks like to implement this truth of capturing every thought
and choice by having the mind of Christ.
1) Your loved one dies of cancer, but as you grieve, you trust that God has a plan, and that He only allowed
that which was for your good.
2) You are stricken with a chronic, life long illness, but you take comfort in knowing that this infirmity allows God’s strength to be used abundantly in your life. You get great peace from the promises that your affliction will draw you closer to God and He will use this trial to refine you.
3) Your house has burned down and you having absolutely nothing left. You take great comfort in God’s promises that as you seek Him, He will provide your every need. You are comforted that just knowing that God will never leave you makes all the loss bearable.
4) There is someone who despises you for no reason. No matter what you do, you cannot win them over.
You ask the Lord to show you how you might be treating someone that very same way.
You ask the Lord to show you if you have wronged this person, and if you have not,
you rest in the truth that you have behaved harmlessly, without bitterness, or gossip.
5) You are worrying what people think of you, so you chose to meditate on the many verses that God teaches that your reputation is in His hands. You take comfort in knowing that if God is pleased with you, then that is all that matters and God will take care of the rest.
6) You have been abused and are beginning to be consumed with thoughts of bitterness and choosing forgiveness seems impossible. You decide to meditate on what your own sin cost the Savior. You meditate on the truth that if it weren’t for the Savior bearing your shame and sin, and forgiving you, you would spend eternity in hell, the just price for your sin. Although you know it won’t be easy, you ask Jesus to help you forgive and let go of the bitterness. You know you never have to trust this man, but through Christ you are willing to try to forgive like Christ did.
7) You can’t hear God’s voice. He has become silent in your heart. You don’t see or feel His presence. So you meditate on His beautiful promises that remain true even when you feel cold. Your peace returns.
Now, what happens when we take off the lens of God’s view
and allow our flesh to lead us?
Our mind begins to lose the battle.
1) God, how could you kill my child with cancer? She was so young and we hardly got time together! How could you have let her suffer! You are not the God of love!
2) God, how could you allow me to have multiple sclerosis? It will never end and I’m going to have so many bills and the medicines aren’t working! There is no one to help me. How could you do this to me God? Don’t you know I had plans?
3) Everything I owned, all my memories burned with that house! Lord, how could you let all those photographs be lost, all my family heirlooms, all of those irreplaceable treasures be gone forever? Lord, you’ve ruined everything!
4) Lord, I am sick and tired of Susie’s treatment of me. I am angry, hurt and I am going to close my heart to her. What a horrible person she is!
I would never treat someone that way!
5) Lord, no one likes me! I’m so stupid! They think I’m stupid. And I can’t say anything right. I always fumble over my words. People are probably embarrassed for me. Lord, I’m just worthless.
I’m tired of trying to fit in. I will never be good enough.
6) Lord, I will never forgive Him for what he did to me. I hate him.
He deserves the worst punishment possible!
I will seek revenge as long as he is alive!
7) Lord, why don’t you love me anymore? Why aren’t you answering my prayers?
Can’t you see my situation is getting worse? You are just doing nothing! Do you even care, God?
Whew!
In all of the above examples, the person
never left the battleground of the mind!
The difference of the two scenarios is one person decided to see their trials with Christ’s point of view,
the other forsook the unwavering truth and promises of scripture.
Can you see the drastic difference between the two and what different paths each person would be on?
The more we choose to capture our thoughts with Christ’s point of view,
the more peace we will have and the closer we will be with God.
If our every thought is not motivated by pleasing Christ,
then we will not be motivated to choose His perspective when trials overtake us.
We will instead choose bitterness, accusation, doubt, gossip, criticism, and we may even just quit.
But, choosing each step we take and what thoughts we think based on how
it brings us more intimately to God,
and based on if it shows God our devotion and love
will keep us motivated to keep choosing conformity to having the mind of Christ.
This choice leads to victory!
Winning this battle for the mind has one primary purpose.
To please God thus drawing us into a close relationship with Him.
What are the results, consequences, and benefits of having a mind that chooses
to take on Christ’s perspective?
It helps us to be as blameless as possible so we don’t hurt others.
It allows us to not be devastated and overtaken by loss, injustice, sickness or emotional pain.
It gives us a foundation that is built on a rock, THE Rock.
It allows us to not sink in the shifting sands of life’s circumstances.
It increases our faith and trust that God’s Word is true and wise no matter what our trials are.
It allows us to have peace when our world is falling apart.
It allows us to feel secure even when innocent people are violated and suffering.
Choosing to control what happens in the battle for the mind is the key to everything in life.
It is vital in our walk with God.
It is vital in remaining blameless in our treatment and service to others.
It is vital if we are ever to reach the potential God has for our lives.
It is the only way we will make it to the finish line and hear “Well done.”
Lastly, but certainly not least, it is our responsibility to fight this battle for the mind
and to choose the mind of Christ over our own.
Choosing to have the mind of Christ over our own fleshly mind is actually a command.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ
II Corinthians 10:5
And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing
of the mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus
Phillippians 2:5
Remember, God’s commands are not grievous!
They are always for the purpose of protecting us,
the purpose of bringing Him glory,
and the purpose of bringing us abundant and joyful life, as promised.
May your next thought lead you to victory! The choice is yours.
