A Biblically mastered mind intentionally manages what thoughts get in and stay. It’s active rather than reactive. Because it’s amazing what happens when you put your mind to it. Here are three attributes of a Biblically mastered mind.
A BIBLICALLY MASTERED MIND IS GOSPEL CENTERED
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the central message of the Bible. It’s the good news of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice and gift of eternal life. And everything in the life of a Christ-follower revolves around it.
So a Biblically mastered mind remains centered on it. Because it’s the key to freedom, joy and transformation.
Yes. Life on earth can still be tough. Hard. Unfair. Ugly. And sin will always tempt to lead you astray.
But the Gospel settles your mind with the certainty of God’s sovereignty. And creates calm in the middle of chaos as you manage the challenges of daily life with an eternal perspective. Where God’s will is ultimately fulfilled.
A BIBLICALLY MASTERED MIND IS PURPOSEFULLY DIRECTED
Behavior is seldom completely random and impulsive. It begins with a thought. And those thoughts stew in your mind as rehearsals for actions.
But a Biblically mastered mind recognizes that your will controls the mind and not the other way around. So you can direct those mental rehearsals in a positive manner by…
Taking your thoughts captive
Thoughts enter your mind in a variety of ways. Some positive. Some negative. And you can’t always control what comes in. But you can control whether or not you let them dwell. And for how long. Rather than trying NOT to think about them. Replace them with other thoughts.
Renewing your mind
God’s Spirit will renew your mind as you turn it over to Him. And He accomplishes that best when you saturate your mind with His word. Spending regular time reading and meditating on the Bible makes a huge difference in managing your thought life.
Experiencing God’s mercy
We’ll never reach perfection in this life. So we will win some sinful thought battles and lose others. But when we confess our sin and ask for God’s forgiveness, He covers us with His mercy.
Our minds can reset. And start over with each new day.
A BIBLICALLY MASTERED MIND IS AT PEACE
Peace in a Biblical worldview is more than inner tranquility or lack of conflict. It is based in right relationships. So a Biblically mastered mind doesn’t reach within for peace. It reaches up to God. Because Biblical peace is not an ideology you attain. It is the spiritual presence of God in your life.
You begin by recognizing your relationship with God is out of whack because of sin. And it is mended through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what puts you right with God. This in turn, promotes better relationships with other people. And leads to a real and lasting peace.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Bible lessons from the story of Samson. It’s more than a children’s Sunday School lesson. The story of Samson has lessons for all of us. Here are three of them.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God gives you Purpose
God made it clear even before his birth, that He had a special purpose for Samson. He told Samson’s parents to dedicate him as a Nazarite–one that was specially devoted to God.
As a Nazarite, Samson vowed to abstain from three things:
Cutting his hair
Drinking alcohol
Touching dead bodies
And scripture confirms in the book of Judges that God’s Spirit was with Samson. During this time period, Israel was not reigned by kings. They were led by Judges. And God picked Samson to be one of them. The problem is that Samson didn’t want to follow God’s lead. He wanted to do things his way.
And that’s where most of us mess up. We don’t trust God’s leadership. Or want to follow His plan. We want to do things our way. Follow our selfish desires. And Samson demonstrated a lot of selfish desires.
And that makes it impossible to find and follow God’s purpose for your life. Because you have to release control of your life. And Samson never did.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God Will Not Be Mocked
The word for mocked means to treat with contempt or disdain. Yes, God is full of love, grace and mercy. But He is equally righteous, holy and just. He calls us to those same ideals. And holds us to account for our actions.
Therefore, you can’t profane His name, ignore His commands, do whatever you want and think it’s okay. And that because of His love and grace, God is obligated to give you a free pass. He isn’t and doesn’t.
So what does that mean?
God is a petulant child? A mean, vengeful bully? If you don’t do what He wants He will throw a tantrum and get you back? Toss lightning bolts at you?
Not that either.
He will, however, withdraw His presence from you. And leave you to the consequences of your decisions. Sin does that. It always separates you from God. And that’s what happened to Samson. He openly rebelled against God and broke his Nazarite vows. So God withdrew His presence. And with the loss of God’s presence went Samson’s great strength.
God wanted more from Samson than just his strength. Actually didn’t need Samson’s strength because He already had unlimited power at His command. What God really wanted was Samson’s heart. Which is what He wants from you and me. He can’t take it. We have to give it.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God gives you second chances.
It’s not clear if Samson had a true change of heart. If he decided to serve God with real devotion. And completely fulfill the purpose God had for him. But as he stood with his eyes gouged out between two support pillars in a building full of his Philistine enemies, he asked God to strengthen him one last time.
And in a final act of vengeance he toppled the pillars and brought the building down killing himself and more Philistines in that one act than during his life time.
Although Samson let his immature emotions drive his behavior, God still used him to save Israel from the Philistines. And gave him another chance to fulfill his purpose.
The point is, God offers second chances and new opportunities for those willing to renew their commitment to Him. But to experience it fully you must give God your heart and devote your life to Him.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
Christianity lets you renew. And that’s unlike every other religion. Because we all need a second chance. A do over. A reboot.
Why?
Because we all mess up. What the Bible calls sin. Everyone that is, except Jesus. Scripture says he was perfect, and because of him, we can get a pass.
And that’s something else Christianity offers that no other religion does. Grace.
So you will never completely overcome sin. But you can stop it from completely overcoming you. Here are three ways Christianity lets you renew.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Life
When talking with a religious leader of his day, Jesus told him something that sounded odd. He must be born again.
What did Jesus mean by this? Even the religious leader was confused. Did he mean a physical birth?
Jesus explained that he meant a spiritual rebirth through faith in him. By admitting sin. Asking for and accepting his forgiveness. And when you do, you are spiritually reborn in Christ.
Well, it doesn’t mean you are suddenly perfect. That you never sin again. Or the earthly consequence of sin goes away. But it does mean that in God’s eyes, the slate is wiped clean. And His Spirit takes residence in your life to give you a fresh start and guide you in a new life.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Mind
We seldom commit sinful acts completely on impulse. Most of the time, we think about them before we actually do them.
Satan knows this.
Which is why he plants thoughts and images in your mind. So you can entertain them. Replay them. Let them flourish and grow so when the actual opportunity presents itself, going from the thought to the action is a smooth transition.
Of course. Many thoughts are sin themselves. No action is necessary. Which is why the mind is such a fertile ground for sin. Because you and I can actually commit all kinds of sin in our minds—without physically doing anything. But all sin has the same effect. To separate us from God.
And that is why the Bible encourages us to take our thoughts captive. To proactively direct our thoughts on things that please God. To understand that while we are subject to sin, and will still sin, it does not have to rule us. And by renewing our minds, it won’t.
And the best way to renew your mind is to bathe it in scripture. By focusing your thoughts on God’s Word.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Heart
No one messed up worse than David. He was a hero when he defeated Goliath. But later he seduced another man’s wife and got her pregnant. Then had her husband killed to cover it up. A royal mess up. But when confronted, he confessed to God, repented of his sin, and cried out in despair, “Create in me a clean heart O God.”
And God did. Because of His grace and mercy. And He offers the same forgiveness to you and me.
Sin is rooted deeply in our human nature and in our world. So we will never be completely free of it in this life. But it doesn’t have to rule us. God’s mercy is unlimited. So even though I fail today, tomorrow offers a fresh start.
Therefore, I am always filled with hope. And that renews me too.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
The Bible speaks about finding your why. That search for meaning. A sense of purpose. Your mission or calling.
It’s a journey that is essentially, a spiritual experience. And open to all who follow its instructions. Here are three Biblical approaches for finding yours.
The Bible’s Approach To Finding Your Why Has An Eternal Perspective
The Bible teaches that life does not end on earth but stretches into eternity. Heaven and Hell are real places and everyone makes a personal choice that determines their destination.
Although when your worldview ends with this life, then everything in this life increases in importance. And is further complicated by the urgency to accomplish it all in a lifetime compressed into years.
Like your collection of achievements and rewards. The search for meaning and significance. The scramble to check off your bucket list.
But when your mindset extends into a blissful eternity, the pressure is off. Because your sense of ongoing development, purpose and fulfillment continue.
And it’s okay if you don’t get it all together in this life. Because you have eternity to figure it out. In a quality of life that is new and improved.
And this anticipation fuels your endurance on earth. And inspires you with hope.
The Bible’s Approach To Finding Your Why Looks Outward Rather Than Inward
Modern culture encourages you to look within yourself. Get in touch with your feelings. Find your inner strength. Claim what you deserve.
However, the Bible teaches the exact opposite. To look outward rather than inward. Find strength from God, not yourself. Give rather than receive.
It’s radical, contradictory teaching that makes you wonder if Jesus was even sane. He even had the audacity to demand complete allegiance to his teachings.
And claim only those prepared to lose themselves would find themselves. Crazy ideas. Preposterous principles.
And even more bizarre? Still gaining millions of followers for over 2,000 years.
The Bible’s Approach To Finding Your Why Finds It Within God’s Greater Plan
Jesus made it clear that his why was not to establish his own agenda. But to follow the will of his Father.
And while the Bible says he had divine rights, he gave them up to follow his Father’s plan.
A mission not of his choosing. But of sacrifice. Of submission. To save the world.
Submission is practically unheard of today. We prefer to celebrate…even demand our individual rights. And yet, Jesus claimed that path leads to bondage, but his way sets you free.
And so, by imitating him. By submitting to God and seeking His will. You will discover the Biblical path to finding your why.
It’s a radical approach. A narrow road. Simple, but not easy. Yet, leads to spiritual life that is amazing. Spectacular. And eternal.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Three questions to measure your spiritual trust factor. In the midst of our country’s current unrest, an important fabric has been torn. Have you noticed?
It’s trust.
It’s trust that lets me drive on the right side of the road and expect oncoming drivers to do the same. And we smile and wave passing safely on our side of the road. At least I smile and wave. You might be texting.
Trust promotes order in a free, civilized society. And to remain, well, civilized. Otherwise, social order is at risk.
But perhaps, what’s really troubling us is a spiritual trust issue. One that penetrates deep within the human heart. And concerns spiritual questions of purpose, meaning and existence.
So, here are three questions to measure your spiritual trust factor.
Three questions to measure your spiritual trust factor. In What Are You Placing Your Spiritual Trust?
Beyond trusting me to stay on my side of the road. And perhaps refrain from texting while driving, what are you trusting? Money? A job? A political party? A skill-set? The government? A religion or philosophy?
As a Christ-follower, I trust an almighty God who has my best interest in mind. Because He is the only one who is completely, spiritually trustworthy.
Sure, there are things in this world that provide a level of security. But never completely. Since there are no guarantees. There is always some doubt. Did I do enough? Have enough? Check all the boxes?
Furthermore, scripture says God has a sovereign plan. And He’s moving us towards it. You might even sense the pace is quickening. The signs of something looming more visible. Maybe you’re even feeling a bit nervous and uncertain.
Scripture says no amount of good works will qualify me FOR God’s love and no amount of bad behavior will disqualify me FROM God’s love. That’s comforting because I’m pretty sure my bad outweighs the good. How about you? The good news is that God’s grace covers all who respond and accept it.
That’s a spiritual trust that leads to spiritual peace.
Three questions to measure your spiritual trust factor. How Proven Is The Source Of Your Spiritual Trust?
The Bible is absolute truth for Christ-followers. And you can’t get any more spiritually trustworthy than absolute.
It’s been scrutinized, analyzed and dissected more than any other document in the world. It’s historical accuracy is supported by archeology. It bats a thousand on hundreds of fulfilled prophecies. And withstood all claims of error for over 2,000 years.
From a human perspective, no other document is anywhere close in credibility, accuracy and reliability. Not one offers a higher level of spiritual trust.
How Reliable Is The Object Of Your Spiritual Trust?
My grandparents owned a farm with a pond. And we skated on it in the winter when cold temperatures froze it over. But you couldn’t tell how thick the ice was by looking at it. You had to test it.
And the level of trust you demonstrated didn’t matter.
You could march out confidently and fall through thin ice. Or inch out cautiously on thick ice that easily supported your weight. But what mattered was the trustworthiness of the ice. The object of your trust.
For Christ followers, that object is Jesus Christ. He claims to be the way, the truth and the life. The key to eternal life. The Son of God. But you can’t just believe in him. You have to spiritually trust him.
And when you do, it’s a game changer. One with an eternal impact.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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