Notes From Rich

There comes that moment in the day when I learn something – albeit trivial – that I will often declare: “I won’t go to bed as stupid as I woke up this morning!”  Surprised by discovery – or at least learning something new, we love novel information. But do I value remembering what I already know? Thanks to my “flesh” there are certain things – vital things – that I am prone to forget if I do not purposefully remember them.  Our minds can slide into negative ruts.  For me this fosters images of times during my youth in Colombia where navigating roads during rainy season was often a battle to keep the tires on the high, more solid and dry ground without slipping into the muddy rut left by other vehicles – which was often the case. Then it was a matter of just hoping the vehicle would not bottom out or the tires spin without traction.

Our minds can do the same. And when my minds slips into the rut of negativity, or preoccupation with the immediate adversity, or focus on the brokenness of others – or myself, then I find myself wallowing in the rut of negative, critical, judgmental or despairing habits of thought. 

Do we have any recourse to lift our minds out of the mire of despond?

David’s remedy was the constant prayer:  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14)  Words are the outflow of our meditations – our attitudes. When I get bumped, my attitudes manifest themselves.  So unless I want to hurt others and build walls instead of bridges, unless I want to marinate in my whine, unless I want to slip farther into a sense of hopelessness – I really should rediscover anew that God’s self-disclosure is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. His words provide loving boundaries and great reward. His thoughts revive my soul, rejoice my heart, and enlighten my eyes so I can see things as they really are in God’s good and sovereign plan.

When God’s thoughts become my thoughts then I can confidently utter the words of king David: “… You make me glad with the joy of Your presence” (Ps. 21:6). This spreads – it is contagious! It is an attractive fragrance. It is the glory of Christ which points to the goodness of God. It is good for me to draw near to God – beginning with my habits of thought refreshed moment-by-moment in the constant novelty of His goodness and steadfast love.