One-Purpose Mind! (James)

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

Double-minded: wavering, uncertain, doubting; vacillating in opinion or purpose

Unstable: inconstant, restless

Ways: in all his purposes and actions

I don't know. I'm unsure. What should I do? Maybe. Perhaps. Yes, well wait, no. We've all had times when indecision seems to haunt us. Did we make the right choice? Is this really what I should do? 

Indecision and questioning past decisions can be used by Satan to keep us from fully trusting God. In our lives will face many opportunities to make decisions. Some are easy. Some take much thought. Some are life-changing. James 1:5—8 are about the art of using wisdom—the wisdom that God gives. When we make choices based on wisdom from God, then we know for certain, no matter what happens, we made the right choice! 

As I read the definition of the word, "double-minded"-vacillating in opinion or purpose-the idea of an oscillating fan came to mind. Forever turning, never focusing on any one area. Quickly moving back and forth. The oscillating indecisions will create a restlessness and that will affect my actions and my overall purpose. 

The key to having a one-purpose mind and stability in purpose and actions is using the art of wisdom—God's wisdom!

Three Distinct Actions

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (NKJV)

Love: involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received

Lord: a person exercising absolute ownership rights

All: complete (in extent, amount, time or degree)

Heart: it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors

Soul:  the root of the English words "psyche," "psychology"; a person's distinct identity (unique personhood), i.e. individual personality

Mind: the faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring

This weekend is my Church's Missions Conference. The theme verse is Matthew 22:37. As I was studying this verse this morning, the meaning of the word "love" stood out. 

Involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received.

Affectionate reverence. 

Prompt obedience. 

Grateful recognition of benefits received. 

Three distinct actions. 

As I evaluate my life, do I love my Lord (who does have absolute ownership rights to me), with those three distinct actions?  Do I give him the reverence He deserves? Do I obey him promptly? Do I not only have an attitude of gratefulness for all the benefits, but do I tell Him, "Thank you"? 

Look at the three distinct areas in which I am to love God. 

Heart. Soul. Mind. 

The heart is my desires, my passions. The soul is "who I am". The mind is understanding, feeling, thinking. 

Do my desires and passions reflect a reverence for God? Am I passionate about obeying God — promptly? Do my thoughts readily express gratefulness? 

Some will say, "but that's not who I am? I wasn't made that way?" But the truth is, that God did make us "that way". We were designed in the image of God, and if it weren't for sin, we would love God with the entirety of our souls. 

What do I put into my mind? What do I dwell upon? What do I allow to dictate how I feel, and what my desires are? If I evaluate my thoughts through the filter of "love", will I find that I have reverence for God? Do I act quickly in obeying God in making sure my thoughts and feelings are in accordance with Him? Am I quick to give thanks for all God does? 

Love. Three distinct actions. 

What does God prefer?

As I was studying Galatians 5:22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Back to "Love". Love, what God prefers. 

As I started thinking about WHAT GOD PREFERS, I had to stop and really think about what I know about God, and what I know God's Word says. 

This love is not a feeling that changes with the seasons. God does not change. He is holy. He is just. He is righteous. What God prefers is not something that I can change because I want to justify my actions, attitude, or what I want in life. What God prefers, is based on God Himself. 

First and foremost, I need to make sure that I am setting the standard for my life based on "what God prefers".  That means, that I have to filter what the World tells me is ok, through God's Word. Looking at our Nation and what is "acceptable" in lifestyles, dress, conduct, music, actions, attitude, mind-sets — one can clearly see that we have left God out of our decision making. 

What God prefers is not a suggestion of conduct. No, what God prefers is the solid foundation on which our lives should be built. What God prefers is steadfast, unchangeable, and truth. 

What God prefers. What does God prefer? Here are two verses the immediately come to mind. 

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8  

These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

What God prefers. That should impact every aspect of my heart, mind and soul. Am I choosing "what God prefers"? 

Thanks Living: God knows me!

Read this quote.  

"I am graven on the palms of His (God's) hands. I am never out of His mind. All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me. I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, One who loves me; and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted for me, and no moment, therefore, when His care falters." J.I. Packer

Now, read it again.  

Wow! If the truth of that quote doesn't encourage your heart and soul—read it again and let the truth sink in—God knows YOU! Wow!

Thanks Living, realizing that God almighty knows me, and cares for me! 

Proverbs 7: 1, 2: In My Mind

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:1, 2

Keep: observe = follow dictates of prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom

Treasure: hide, hoard, "Treasure Up"

Commands: of code of wisdom

Law: instruction

Apple of your eye: the pupil (of the eye), center

I enjoy music. Usually have music playing no matter what I'm doing. And I find that words, smells, events can easily trigger song lyrics to run through my mind. Often I am amazed that I can recall the words. "I didn't know I knew the lyrics to that song." Yet, because I had been listening to the songs many numerous times, I had "treasured up" the lyrics in my mind.

This is what I am SUPPOSED to be doing with God's wisdom and instruction. If I hear it and read it enough, it will be "Treasured Up" in my mind, so that when I find myself in a situation, I can recall God's wisdom. 

On Sept 13, 2015 I wrote about #TreasureUp (You can read it here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/09/proverbs-27-treasureup.html) 

God has "treasured up" wisdom—it's available for me, whenever I want it. And one keys to put His wisdom to good use is to "treasure up" wisdom in my heart and mind. If I want to but something into action, I must KNOW it. And in order to KNOW it, I must learn it and retain that knowledge. 

In order to accept and want to learn God's wisdom, I must have a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. For when I respect God, I'll want to learn and accept His wisdom and put that wisdom into action. 

What is in my mind for me to remember?

My Thoughts will Determine My Actions

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 15. Here is what I learned.

He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart. Psalm 15:2 (AMP)

Here is the answer: The one who lives with integrity, does what is right, and speaks honestly with truth from the heart. Psalm 15:2 (VOICE)

With our heart. That is, to the speaking of truth, it is necessary our words agree with our mind and thoughts about the thing. We must speak as we think, and our tongues must be faithful interpreters of our mind: otherwise we lie, not speaking as we think. So what is truth in itself may be spoken by a man, and yet he be a liar; namely, if he does not think as he speaks.

With the thing as it is in itself. Though we think a thing to be so, which is not so, we lie, when we affirm it; because it is not as we say, though we really think it is so. Benjamin Bennet's "Christian Oratory," 1728

What I THINK is what I act on. What are my thoughts based on? Are my thoughts simply about making me feel good? Do my thoughts focus on me? What am I thinking about?

First and foremost, I’m to get my thoughts in alignment with God. God is the absolute and He sets the standards. Then I have a responsibility to make sure what I think on is...  “right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” (Philippians 4:8, GW)

To create a positive day, I have to make the choice to fill my mind with God’s Word, then keep my thoughts on the right track—for my thoughts will determine my actions. 

On My Mind

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 1. Here is what I learned.

They ·love [delight in] the Lord’s ·teachings [laws; instructions], and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night. Psalm 1:2 (EXB)

Delight: delightsome, desire, purpose, a valuable thing, things desired.

Laws: of codes of law, instructions, teachings.

Meditate: soliloquize, to ponder -- imagine, study. 

Day: daily, in the daytime.

Night: literally night, opposed to day.

In late 2012, I thought that I needed to do more meditating. That is I’m creating this Ponder of Morsels Book. “I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you.” Psalm 119:15 (MSG).

On January 1, 2013, as I started studying the 31 Psalms I had picked, I wondered if my study would have an impact in my life. Would I really mediate on the truth I found each day? Would my Ponder Morsel be in my thoughts?  The answer is YES! God has shown me that He has much to teach me and I’m enjoying focusing my thoughts on His truth. 

It’s exciting to see what God wants to teach me each day and what morsel of truth, I can think on throughout my day..... and night. 

Psalm 1:2 discusses meditating on God’s teaching day and night. In order to meditate, one first has to study the learn God’s instruction. The idea of “day and night” means continually. That does not mean that I don’t think of other things. Rather, it means that as I go about my day, and wake up at night, the Ponder Morsel is “on my mind”. 

On my mind. There are  songs that “get stuck in our heads” and we can’t seem to get them off our mind... example “It’s a Small World” or “The Song that Never Ends”. Have you ever loved someone so much that he/she seems to be always on your mind? That is the concept meditating day and night. God’s truth is ever present. And not only is God’s truth always on my mind—it should have an impact on my thoughts, actions and attitude. 

For example, I woke up many times last night, and was starting to focus on the pain and getting very frustrated that I could not get comfortable. But my Ponder Morsel for yesterday was “peace in the midst of pain”. As I started focusing on all that God had done for me, His love and care, and His goodness, I found that I was overwhelmed with peace. As my focus changed from the pain to God, that allowed my mind and soul to realize God’s peace. The pain remained, but the frustration and worry was erased. When the soul is at peace, the body can relax and my mind is no longer racing with thoughts of pain and agony. 

I have also found myself thinking of past Ponder Morsels as I go about daily routines. I’ll do something, or hear a song, and it reminds me of a truth.  This is what Psalm 1:2 is teaching. When I study God’s Word and take the time to think on it, the truth will have an impact in my life. 

Ponder Morsels are not just cute sayings, or stories, rather they are morsels, tidbits, of God’s truth. When I have a desire to study God’s truth, and ponder it continually, it can have an impact on my life. To create a positive day, God’s truth must always be..... on my mind.