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Beware the burden of a busy mind
My minister preached on two ways God gave us to live without distraction. They come from the letter of Paul to the Colossians:
1. To position our heart on things above.
2. To position our mind on things above.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1–2, NIV).
To position our heart on things above is to focus our desires and passions on Jesus. To position our mind on things above is to focus our intellect on Jesus.
We have the choice to either focus our mind on our feelings or on things above. We choose.
The Apostle Paul also wrote an Epistle to the Romans urging them to be transformed by renewing their minds.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2–3, NIV).
Similarly, Richard Carlson’s book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff discusses the importance of resting our minds. He went on to write another book called What About the Big Stuff? that I am currently reading. Many of his chapters center around the idea of mindfulness. He wrote, “Our thinking has the power to bring to life that which we focus upon.”
In my personal experiences, I have learned this to be true. I now try to follow the advice of the Apostle Paul:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
It makes a difference what we spend our time thinking on. It’s wise to capture our thoughts and not get distracted.
Corrie ten Boom is quoted as saying, “If the devil can’t make you bad he’ll make you busy.” I believe this is not only busy in our deeds but busy in our thoughts.
As my minister preached, living without distraction can be achieved by following the direction of God.