Moving Up in Our Minds

Moving Up in our Minds

There is a direct correlation between what we think and how we live. The Scriptures declare this truth repeatedly:

• Proverbs 27:19—As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

• Luke 6:45--The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

• Ephesians 2:1-3--As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

• Ephesians 4:17-19--So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

In each of these examples, the life lived is a result of the mind’s thoughts. I had this concept reinforced by a little quote I learned while in Biblical Counseling training: “You do what you do and feel what feel, because you think what you think.” That is so true and that is why as followers of Christ we need to be careful and even proactive in what we allow into our minds and what we allow our minds to dwell on. We need to move up in our minds. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:2, we need to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

How do we do this? Ephesians 4:23 gives us the basic principle, by having a renewed mind. Our minds need a complete renovation, not just a surface remodeling. According to Romans 12:2, our lives can be transformed by renewing our minds. The best way to renew our mind is to imitate Christ. He is the best example we could possibly follow. Philippians 2:5 tells us to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” That passage goes on to tell about His humility and servanthood. Instead of dwelling on Himself and what He was giving up and eventually going to have to go through, He set His mind on joy that He knew would be a result of His obedience. (Hebrews 12:2) His mindset was that of total obedience to God’s will for His life.

Will a mind set on willful obedience to God’s will for us transform our lives? Absolutely! It absolutely has to. What will it look like? It will look just like the description in Colossians 3:12-14, 15:

Compassionate........................... Kind

Humble.......................................... Gentle

Patient............................................ Easy to get along with

Forgiving.........................................Loving

Thankful

It’s time for some moving up in our minds!

A Man of Integrity

A Man of Integrity

On September 2, my husband of 27 years celebrates his birthday. He has been a wonderful husband and father who has sacrificed his own wish list for the sake of his family. He would be the first to admit he’s not perfect, but who amongst us is, and yet there are so many qualities about him that I truly admire. If I were to describe what I believe to be his defining character trait, it would be a man of integrity.

My dictionary has three entries for the definition of integrity:

1. Rigid adherence to a code of behavior
2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness
3. Completeness; unity

It also considers the word honesty as its synonym. I think this accurately describes my husband. He is a man who has a deep sense of right and wrong and holds firm to those convictions, even when it is unpopular and costly to him. He’s a man who tells the truth, regardless of the possible benefits in stretching the truth or telling a partial truth. He’s trustworthy, he’s dependable and what he says he will do, he will do. Charles Swindoll, in an article entitled “A Battle for Integrity” makes the following statements:

Integrity is completeness or soundness. You have integrity if you complete a job even when no one is looking. You have integrity if you keep your word even when no one checks up on you. You have integrity if you keep your promises. Integrity means the absence of duplicity and is the opposite of hypocrisy. If you are a person of integrity, you will do what you say. What you declare, you will do your best to be. Integrity also includes financial accountability, personal reliability, and private purity....It’s honesty at all costs.....But there are some things integrity is not. It is not sinless perfection. A person with integrity does not live a life absolutely free of sin. No one does. But one with integrity quickly acknowledges his failures and doesn’t hide the wrong.

Proverbs 11:3 makes a statement that I believe to be true about my husband, “The integrity of the upright guides them.” His integrity has been one of the greatest guideposts of his life. He has stuck with his principles and beliefs even when it would have been easier on him to give in. Proverbs 20:7 says, “A righteous man who walks in his integrity--How blessed are his sons after him.” What an honor and privilege to be married to a man who has such depth of character and integrity. What a blessing for our children to have a dad who can be trusted completely, and in this day and age, that is a rare and real treasure. So, Happy Birthday, Dear, and thank you providing such a trustworthy foundation upon which we can continue to grow our relationship and marriage.