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Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:13-14
On September 11, 2001 the world was shocked into attention by the terrorist attacks leveled against the United States in and around New York City and Washington D. C. The attacks that day served as a wake-up call to the United States of America as well as the rest of the world. The world would never again be the same and security would always be in jeopardy.
In order to try to offer some sort of warning the Department of Homeland Security came up a system to alert us to the possibility of terrorist attacks and/or activity. Threat levels range from Green (low risk of terrorist attack) to Red (high risk of terrorist attack). To authorities it is no longer a question of ‘if’ we are attacked, but ‘when’ we are attacked, and ‘how’?
When the Apostle Peter wrote to the early Christian church his world was equally dangerous. The threat wasn’t nuclear attack or blowing up airplanes or shopping malls of course. In his day Christians were more likely to be used as lion food or as torches to light Nero’s gardens at night. A Christian, or ‘little Christ’s’, as they were mockingly referred to, lived under constant threat of attack.
It’s under these circumstances the Peter pens the warning. “Prepare for action…don’t conform!” The warning still holds true for us today as Christ followers. We are under a ‘threat level of Red’ because our enemy is standing at the door waiting to attack when we least expect it. His attacks aren’t physical but mental and emotional. That’s why Peter tells us to prepare our minds for action. That’s where the battle is fought. We need to live with the knowledge that the enemy is at our door. It isn’t a question of ‘if’ he will attack, but ‘when’ and ‘how’?
The enemies attack on our minds is often a subtle one, telling us that this sin or that sin isn’t so bad. We start to believe the lies we hear about ourselves, about God, about Christianity. We lose sight of who we are and what it really means to be a Christ follower. We take God for granted and take advantage of the fact that we are forgiven. We harbor hatred and unforgiving attitudes towards those who reject us.
Peter tells us to stop thinking as the world thinks. Don’t allow your mind to guide you into a life of negative thoughts about yourself or others. Don’t allow your bodies to become subject to the actions you know are displeasing to Jesus. Focus on making your thoughts and actions take the form of Jesus. Each day, before you even get out of bed ask Jesus to help keep your mind and actions focused on Him. Even though our enemy is powerful, “greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.”
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I confess that I’ve been lulled into being complacent. My thoughts and actions too often take on the form of the world and I find myself succumbing to the attacks and losing the battle. Help me to seek your help and power each day to live with a mind ready for action and a body that refuses to be conformed to the sinful actions of the world. Amen.
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
We are unsure of when King David wrote the words of Psalm 8. It could have been written while he was on the throne in Jerusalem, or it could have been while he was on the run from one of King Saul’s murderous rampages. His present location isn’t clear, but his mindset is.
I imagine David writing this Psalm as he thought back to simpler, safer and easier times in his life. Times when his biggest enemy was loneliness as he sat in the hills of Judea watching over his father’s sheep, and his biggest fear was an occasional bear or lion or other enemy attacking the sheep when he least expected it. The words of this Psalm could very easily have come to David during his time as a shepherd, only to be written down later.
Imagine laying in the soft, cool mountain grass during the stillness of the night and looking up into the vast array of stars that make up our universe. While staring into space David is reminded of God’s great love for him. A love that is so great and enduring that God not only loves us, He honors us. He lifts us up and esteems us! To think a frail, weak, rebellious human such as I would be honored and esteemed by the ruler of the universe!
Years later, the Apostle Paul is writing his letter to the Romans and he too is reminded of God’s great love. He candidly shares with the Roman disciples his own shortcomings and struggle with sin and with failure. In the midst of this he reminds all of us that God’s love is directed to us on the basis of who Jesus is and what we do with Jesus, not on whom we are or what we can do for Him.
If the God of the Universe loves us so much that He honors and esteems us above all other things then how could He be any less anxious to bring his very best into our lives? We may not always understand the struggles we are going through or why God allows things to come into our lives. But we can know that in the end He will work everything for good in our lives.
Your Heavenly Father wants to do great things in your life. You may not understand all that is going on in your life right now, but you can know that your Heavenly Father can take even the toughest times of our lives and use them for our good and His glory.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. I have to admit I don’t understand why you do what you do, particularly at this point in my life. I thank you for the promise that you love and honor me even though I’m so unworthy. Help me grow more in my love for you as you lead me through the tough times of life. Amen.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
The human mind is an amazing thing. Even the most complex computer can’t stand up against the power our minds have! The way you think about yourself can influence how you walk, how you react to adversity and can even have an impact on your health. The way you think about your relationships can have an effect on whether that relationship will be strong or disastrous.
The Apostle Paul tells us to keep our minds on Heavenly things, not on earthly things. Perhaps it would be helpful to take just a few minutes to think about what that really means.
First of all, heavenly things has to do with how God looks at you. You are his most prized creation. There isn’t a single part of His creation that he is more interested in than you. YOU are His Plan A.
On earth you are a number. Your value is measured by your work habits, your job, your weight, your past and your beauty. Currently one of the most popular shows on TV is American Idol. The show is a perfect example of what we hold in high esteem: our personal ability. It’s great to see people be able to ‘show off’ their talents, but don’t forget that those talents were given by God whether He is acknowledged or not and God has given you everything you need to be EXACTLY as He wants you to be.
Secondly look at how heavenly relationships work. Our Heavenly Father loves you so much He gave all He had, through His Son Jesus, to give you life! There is nothing you can do to earn that love, keep that love or destroy that love. GOD LOVES YOU. He wants nothing more than to walk through every day with you, listen to you, hold you and tenderly remind you of His love. He expects nothing in return.
Even the best earthly relationships depend on a mutual giving and taking. Most relationships are built to some degree on what I can get for me. We are compared, judged and measured by our ability to perform at a certain level. Relationships fail because one or more of the parties involved have failed to measure up to the others’ expectation.
Focusing on Jesus may not change the pain you encounter in life but it can will change how you react to it. As you go through your day today, remember that in God’s eyes you are not in competition. He doesn’t require anything from you except that you love Him. Don’t let the attitudes of this world program your mind for failure. The things you think about in relationships and about yourself will affect how you respond when earthly things go wrong.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, there are so many things that keep me from looking to you. Help me to see myself as you see me and not as the world sees me. Empower me to believe, really believe that you have my very best in mind. Help me focus on your unending love during today’s struggles. Amen.
Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” Matthew 9:29
“But I just don’t have the faith for that to happen.” Ever hear someone say that, or something similar? You hear stories about how God is working in the lives of other people and wonder why it doesn’t happen to you? Miraculous healings. Relational turn-arounds. Anonymous checks showing up in the mail just in time to save your house, your business or your marriage?
Faith isn’t really faith until it’s proven. To say I believe God will do something great in my life means nothing unless I open myself up to Him and allow Him to have complete control of my attitude and actions. Faith grows as it is tested. Strong faith doesn’t come without strong adversity. It is our reaction to life that grows our faith.
One day Jesus was walking along the road. As he nears the house where he was to stay for the night two blind men sitting along the road asked him to have mercy on them. It appears that Jesus walked right by these two men and went into the house. For many that would have been the end of the story. The men would have continued to beg and remained unhealed. But these two men got up and followed Jesus. They followed Him right into the house and asked again for mercy.
This time Jesus touched their eyes and said that they would be healed according to the amount of faith they had. How much faith did they have? They had enough faith to get up from the ground and follow the one hope they had for vision. They didn’t let their handicap keep them back. They didn’t shrug their shoulders and say “I guess we don’t have enough faith”. Instead they took action. They took a risk. Because of that their faith was proven to be strong and they received their sight.
Getting ‘Faith’ means you make a decision at some point in your life that things are going to be different. From that point on you are going to live with the belief that God can change you and use you for good. It means that you realize that while you must take the first step towards faith, it is God’s power working in you that will help you endure. Growing in faith doesn’t come without risk and without pain of some sort.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. So many times I have missed out on great things because I’m afraid to take the risk and move out in faith. I ask that you give me courage to move out and that you empower me with your Spirit to make a difference in my corner of the world. I realize that I cannot do this in my power. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 