The Undivided Mind
A redeemed soul is a gift, a renewed mind is a choice.
What if, with great intention, we were to stop trying to master outcomes and actions but instead go to work on mastering the mind?
I’m convinced the life we’ve wanted, begins with the thoughts we’re thinking.
On Mondays I’m doing my best to equip you to combat anxiety. Anxiety is an American mental health epidemic. It ranks as the #1 issue for women and the #2 issue for men. We combat anxiety in a number of ways. Of those ways, your mindset might be at the very top of the list.
Now, it might surprise you to know that limited anxiety is actually helpful. We need it to be alerted to danger. Limited anxiety will keep you alive while trying to cross Michigan Ave, so limited anxiety is not the problem. The problem comes when you live in a perpetual state of high alert. I want to be clear - the goal isn’t to never have anxiety, the goal is for anxiety to not govern our lives.
I believe this is what Philippians 4 is all about. Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This word anxious comes from the greek word marina, meaning to have our mind divided in hundreds of directions. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, you’d say...yeah, that’s kind of how it feels. You can’t get control of your thoughts… your thoughts are divided and unstable.
This phrase “do not be anxious about anything” is written in the present active tense. The command isn’t “don’t ever be anxious” the command is don’t live in a perpetual state of anxiety.
Again, a redeemed soul is a gift. A renewed mind is a choice. Will you choose today “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving” to “present your requests to God”?
#MindsetMonday
For more on this topic of anxiety,
check out the messages below.
Face The Giant - The Fight With Fear
Face The Giant - Putting Resentment To Rest
Face The Giant - Anxiety: Part 1
Face The Giant - Anxiety: Part 2
Peace In A Pandemic - Where Do We Take Our Fear?
Peace In A Pandemic - Love Wins
Peace In A Pandemic - Uncertain But Unshaken
Peace In A Pandemic - Hope In The Interruption
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