It’s amazing how many hundreds of thousands of words are formed from only 26 letters of the alphabet, isn’t it? KEEP leaps from the Bible with many applications. For example, Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5) exhorting him: “…but you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship…”. Ever thought of expressions we use about our “head”? Check these: He lost his head, he blew his top, my head is spinning, is that your head or is your neck blowing bubbles? Pretty heady stuff, huh? Paul’s word to Timothy, “…keep your head…” – what does it mean? How do we do it? And what are the rewards?
What does it mean? Of course, head refers to our mind, our mental strength to think/act/enjoy in the power of God, pursuing meaning and happiness. Lose your mental balance – and keep falling. Keep you mental balance – and keep standing!
How do we do it? First, begin with mental humility before God. Scripture says, “…the sinful mind is hostile to God.” Faith in Christ turns us around mentally and spiritually – this is conversion. A BIG by-product of salvation is mental transformation in Christ. Christ is physical, spiritual, eternal and cerebral. Think God’s truth and live! Second, “the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Someone or something is always controlling our minds – it’s a fact of life. Our actions are determined by our current dominant thoughts. God’s Spirit produces life and peace within – if we’re “heads up” to God and under His control. For many of us our worst enemy lives in our own heads! Who controls you? What’s going on in your head? Third, it’s possible to transform our minds. Again, Scripture says, “Do not conform any longer 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.” God’s Word, the Bible, is His agent of transformation and the Holy Spirit His enabler to think like Christ – thinking the thoughts of God after Him. Are you conforming mentally to the world’s viewpoints? Be transformed and live a new life. Get out of your mind – and into His.
What is the reward? Paul told Timothy that he could “endure hardship” in “all situations” by “keeping your head”. Unfortunately many break down under the pressures of life. Whatever or whomever you might be facing today – God not only has the answer, He is the answer! Begin with humility before God and you’ll end with victory in Christ.
Here are some of God’s transforming truths/promises in the New Testament of the Bible; go eat them up mentally: Romans 12:1,2; Romans 8:5ff; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 22:37; I Corinthians 2:9; Philippians 4:4-8; Colossians 3:2; Ephesians 4:23ff.
Mine the mind of God and your mind will become a gold mind!
Love in Christ, Chuck Brannon