Why I Enjoy Being Close Minded

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God’s call to His children is to live a separate life. A life of opposite. We are to be light in darkness, peace in chaos, joy during grief, love in turmoil, we are to turn the other cheek, forgive when we’ve been wronged, we are to love and serve our enemies (just as Jesus loved and served Judas the night He was betrayed), we are to be salt in this tasteless world. We are called to be holy and acceptable unto Him – weird, nuts, crazy, different, close minded as the world may call us.

Being close minded isn’t all that bad though. Being close minded, is in fact, a great thing as a follower of Christ! I would take it as a compliment any day. 

If I was to allow all the things of this world to seep into my mind I would be a wreck. In fact, I have done just this, and I’ve ended up in the hospital after overdoses, I’ve found myself homeless because I was more concerned about a high than a place to live, I’ve suffered consequences in my marriage because I wanted to drink rather than listen to my God’s convictions. NO, I will not be open minded, because my God calls me to live a life that is full of love, but opposite of what the world says is right. God calls me to protect my mind, to close it off to the things of this world.

If you are not a follower of Christ then you’re probably not going to fully understand this, and that’s ok. My prayer is that perhaps you might still glean some truth from this, or that God might plant a seed in your heart to grow a tree of Life for Him later. Maybe you know Jesus, you’ve asked Him into your life but you’re not seeking Him, or you’re withholding a part of your heart from Him: hear me when I say that there is nothing in this world more satisfying than giving your entire heart over to Him.

When we protect our minds, we are protecting our very life. Whatever it is that you ponder on, that you think about, that you allow to enter into your mind will settle in your heart. And from your heart flows the very springs of your life (Proverbs 4:23). If all I’m doing is stuffing my mind full of sin, of worldly, worthless things then what do you suppose is going to begin flowing out of me? Selfish, sinful behavior. I grew up in a home that taught me what you listen to (music, podcasts, radio, etc) and what you watch (tv shows, movies, news, etc) will eventually shape how you act. If you grew up in church it’s likely that you sang a song as a child with these lyrics: “Be careful little eyes what you see…Be careful little feet where you go…Be careful little hands what you do…Be careful little ears what you hear…” There is great wisdom in those words.

We should get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent, and we should humbly accept the word planted in us, which can save us. Do not simply listen to the word, and so deceive yourself. Do what it says. Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without any reason that He jealously longs for the Spirit He has caused to dwell in us? If anyone, then, knows the good they should be doing and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. Oh dear friends, I implore you to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. (James 1:21-22; 4:4-5, 17; 1 Peter 2:11)

Jesus does not show partiality. Why should we? We are His ambassadors, His representatives. Every action, every word, every thought reflects our relationship with our Christ. I for one, would like to remain submissive to the One who created me. For His ways are high above my ways, and His thoughts greater than mine. My desire is to fulfill His calling – to be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Am I close minded? Yes. And for good reason.

I pray that those of you who follow after Christ would also consider and choose to be close minded. For those that deny God, I pray for your salvation, because I do believe that there is only one way to Heaven: through Jesus Christ the Son who said, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Light. No one gets to my Father except through Me.”

May it all be for your glory, O Lord.

 

SICK: My heart and mind

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     Have you ever had one of those days where you wanted to throw in the towel? Those, ‘I give up’ or ‘What else could go wrong’ or my personal least favorite of all, ‘God, could you just take me now. What good I am down here?’
     I’m sure you’ve had them. I certainly have had more than I can count. And to be quite honest, more than I care to remember. And even more honestly, more than those elusive good days.
     Welcome to my life…
     I’ve been living with depression for longer than I haven’t. A life filled with depression, and oppressive, negative thoughts, anxiety, and self shaming thoughts can be so exhausting. If you haven’t experienced this first hand then I’ll liken it to this: have you ever been around someone, for any length of time, that is constantly complaining or being negative? Complaining about their husband (or for you gentlemen reading, their wife), the weather, how their kid did this, or the dog did that, and ‘I can’t believe what so-and-so said’, and that horrible noise the fridge makes when it turns on. You might be laughing, but you know the people I’m talking about. Well, that’s what it’s like in my head, and all the complaining and negativity is focused on self.
     I heard a Focus on the Family podcast some time back, where a woman mentioned this type of thinking is a form of broken narcism. Definitely a post for another time, but I do remember thinking, “Ouch!” as I  cringed at the conviction and nodded my head in full agreement.
     So when I say it’s exhausting, I mean It. Is. Exhausting.
     But there’s hope!
     There is a Hope so strong that the very gates of Hell tremble when The Name is mentioned. A hope that can only be found in our Righteous Redeemer.
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“How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,” Psalms‬ ‭146:5 NASB
     Do you suffer from the same thinkings that I do? Do you feel beat down, weary, discouraged, broken? Do you have a Bible app? Do a search of the word hope in your Bible app, and feel yourself being refreshed and renewed. Rising on wings like eagles.
     God’s desire is not for you to be stuck in this vicious, nasty, sinful cycle of negative thoughts. God’s desire is that you would see yourself the way He sees you. A beloved child of God, an heir to the throne, one who is holy, chosen, and called for a purpose. Do not put off God’s desires for your life.
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“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NASB‬‬
     I can’t tell you how many times I have made my own heart sick; how many times I have grieved my Heavenly Father simply because of what I thought about myself.
     This post started because of the yuckiness I felt inside. I thought surely someone could sympathize with my distress. Little did I know that the Almighty God would teach me and allow me to share this lesson with you.
     Don’t you see? By allowing ourselves to think critically, and negatively about this beautiful body, mind and spirit that God graciously gave, we are deferring His desire, and His hope for sin. His hope is deferred for sin. I am deferring the Creator’s hope and desires for sin.
     Oh God, change my thought pattern. Change the thoughts of the dearly loved child who is reading this. May Your hope and desires be on our minds. Lord, should someone need an encouraging word, I pray You would meet them where they are. You are faithful and righteous to redeem. Redeem our minds. Renew our minds. In Your Holy Name I pray. May it be!