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EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS Isa 26:3 (KJV) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." The Prophet Isaiah says that God will keep any man in perfect peace as long as his mind is undistracted and completely focused upon the things of God. This sounds good, and, in fact, we claim it in our lives every day. But, do we achieve it? Do we even know how? We focus all of our attention on God in the church -- or at least try -- and we say, "Now God, give me perfect peace. Lord, You know I need it. You know all the things I go through and all of the people I deal with and the training that needs to be done in my home. Please Lord, give me the peace I need!" This passage reveals how many have been at one time or another. But if we look closely, we see all the attention was not to the Father. All the attention was on the person. This is the flesh crying out to relieve some of the pressure of life. God still has grace for these people and gives peace. But if we want perfect peace, we must set everything aside and concentrate just on Him. Another way to have total perfect peace is to trust God with our lives. By trusting God with all things, we have no choice but to keep our minds on Him. Things happen around the clock to distract us. But if we trust in Him, then we have no worries and pressure because our mind is focused on God to handle every situation. Peace comes when we trust God. Man has finally learned enough of himself to become his own God. Man now pleases himself by doing as much as he can to satisfy before death comes. Man spends all of his time planning and thinking. Man tends to his own needs and if they cannot be met by himself, he calls on another. Man trusts no one but himself, and relies on no one but himself. Man tends to what he desires. Man in turn worships himself. How has man come to this? It is ultimately the knowledge of good and evil. Man begins determining life for himself when he loses trust in God. How does man lose trust in God? Is it the enemy? The flesh? No, it is the MIND. An undisciplined mind loses trust in God because it can figure things out on its own. An undisciplined mind will not worship God, will keep the spirit man from growing, and will receive glory to itself. It will look for every way to escape life, and live in fantasy, wishing and wishing. So, how do we discipline the mind? By trusting God, and then by consciously putting into focus our Father. If we desire more peace, we must place our lives in order. We must stop the non-productive daydreaming and focus our eyes on the spiritual things. If there is much time given to idleness, then we need to become more active in the work of the church. We must in this day come out of our fantasies and into the presence of God. The mind is the enemy's playground. If we want peace, we must tear down the toys and build up everlasting trust and relationship to God. - Chad Ross
April 1996 Newsletter | The Cave Season | Pastor's Journal April 1995 Integrity | Earthly Distractions | Preparing and Prepared part 4 of 4 Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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