Think about what you are thinking

I was watching a show on television the other night. The story was of a  woman who decided that her life was in a rut and she wanted to do something to break up the monotony. In the course of the 30 min show she made some very bad decisions, with horrific consequences, all because she was “feeling” something.  Granted it was a tv show but it got me thinking about how so many of us make decisions.

In fact I read a report that indicated that 70% of decisions made are based on emotional factors and only 30% are based on rational factors. Which means that we make some of the most important decisions in our lives based on how we feel! And depending on how we feel, that is a scary proposition.

In Colossians 3:2, the Apostle Paul gives us a hint that they may not always be the best way to make decisions.  He says:

Set you minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Feelings are good but not when we are ruled by them. Order is important because how we feel follows how we think.  So it is important to think about what we think about.

So how do we do that?

First, we can be people of prayer.  Find a minute or two or five today and pray. Focus your attention on God and just talk to your Heavenly Father.

Second. Read scripture. Perhaps you have a favourite bible app that gives you the verse of the day.  Or perhaps you have a tactile bible (like the one you can hold and flip the actual pages) maybe decide to read through a book of the bible between now and Easter.

And finally, think about what you think about.

Set you minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For such a time as this!

I began my morning with my bible app and a cup of tea overlooking the most spectacular view.  Dramatic hills in the background, opulent sky, the cascading blue waters of Samana Bay splashing against the rocks and the sun warming my face.  We had dodged the last snow storm in Toronto and were sunning in a beautiful resort in the Dominican Republic.

I have been reading through the book of Esther, in the Old Testament.  If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so.  It is a wonderful book. As I was reading, on this beautiful day, this verse struck me:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?  Esther 4:14

This verse was spoken to Esther because she found herself in a position to rescue her people, the Jews, from death. But, if she followed through with her plans to intervene, she put her own life at risk because of the laws at that time. Esther was reluctant, but she trusted that God sovereignly put her in that position at that time to do what needed to be done.

This is true for each of us as well. God has a plan for you and for me.  And there will be times when God will ask us to do things that are difficult. But could it be that all we have experienced, the very place where God has put right now is for such a time as this? It’s not that God can’t accomplish His plans without us, God most certainly can. But God invites us to participate because in doing so it strengthens our faith.

As we continue to walk with God and abide in God, may we like Esther be found faithful.

Get ready to change the world!

This morning as I turned on the news I was reminded of the utter turmoil in the world. Violent acts of hatred were being reported and it made my heart ache. Unfortunately that anger and hatred is not only a news story, it can be closer to home. I turned off the news to speak with an individual who told me of repeated abuse in their home. That conversation was quickly followed by another disturbing and heartbreaking call, and while on the phone with that individual a text came in from a colleague sharing how difficult things had become in their context. This was all before 11 am!

Awful things all around us…how do we show grace, love and compassion when everywhere we turn we see or experience the exact opposite?

Mahatma Gandhi is credited in saying, “be the change you want to see”. The reality is, Gandhi never actually said that, though I don’t think he would disagree. What Gandhi actually said was much more profound:

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi

I love that: “As we change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” But we know changing ourselves is hard, particularly with the distractions the world throws our way.  How can we change ourselves, much less the world?

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises to give us, as he promised his disciples, the power to do it. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”  When we ask Jesus into our lives, we receive His power and His mission.

Jesus believes we can be part of changing the world. I believe it, do you? We must believe it.  As we show grace, love and compassion to those who don’t show it or even deserve it, things will change.  The world can change.

As we are faithful to Jesus, God will change our world — one step and one person at a time.  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, God will use each of us. Be ready to change the world!