February 28, 2016- RTM, Day 6

Today’s Verse:  

I am dressed in garments of praise, not the spirit of depression (Isaiah 61:3).

In Context: The Good News, Isaiah 61: 1-3 (New Life Version)

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has chosen me to bring good news to poor people. He has sent me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent me to tell those who are being held and those in prison that they can go free. He has sent me to tell about the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day our God will bring punishment. He has sent me to comfort all who are filled with sorrow. To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oaks that are right with God planted by the Lord that He may be honored.

When I read this verse it reminds me of an awesome Bible study I did several years ago when I was still on the island.  It is called Self-Confrontation, and it is a very intense study that not only causes you to look very closely at yourself and your own life, but it also provides life application and Biblical advice for addressing specific problem areas, and depression is one of them.  It took me most of the day yesterday to figure out the verse and study where I had learned about how to deal with depression. I started by looking up verses on depression on the Internet, which usually works to jog my memory because I can quickly find the verse I am looking for this way, but for depression, I had no such luck. There were an abundance of encouraging verses and advice for dealing with depression Biblically, but nothing like what had touched me and made so much sense as what I had learned in Self-Confrontation.

To renew your mind in the area of depression, the verse for today says to dress in garments of praise. To me, this means look up, focus on God, and sing. Seriously.  Music almost always makes me feel better, and I don’t necessarily mean church music, although that’s usually a good choice. Listening to an uplifting song or just a favorite song often makes me feel better.  Of course, for most, this might only work in the case of a slight down mood.  In terms of more serious feelings of depression, that’s where the verses and teachings associated with the self-confrontation course spring to my mind.  So, the verse I was trying to remember is this:

If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at your door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it (Genesis 4:7).

The principle taught here is based on the fact that in our world we often treat only the symptoms of a problem (or feelings of depression) and don’t really “do” anything to resolve the issue permanently.  This verse is telling us that in order to stop feelings depressed we need to get up and get to work, take care of our responsibilities, and our “feelings” (or countenance) will also be lifted up.  I had never looked at depression this way before I took the course.  The cure for depression is to get about the business of your life.  This may sound too simple, but it makes sense to me.  If you are busy taking care of your responsibilities, you do not have time to wallow in depressed feelings.  For those of your who have been through bouts of depression, this is not to downplay the seriousness of the condition, it’s just a small snippet of what is explained in great detail in the course, but it’s more than this blog is intended to cover.  You may click on the link to the course to find out more. 

The bottom line for the renewing the mind focus of this blog is that renewing our minds often means finding a brand new perspective on how to solve a problem or issue that is bugging us, even if it means looking at ourselves as part of the problem first and what we can DO to solve it. After all, that’s my focus for the blog this year, to get about the business of doing, living, and finding an active purpose in my world, not just writing about it. 

February 24, 2016-RTM, Day 5

Today’s Verse:

 I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind. (Romans 12:2)

In Context:

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12: 1-2)

 Oh, how I love this passage!! Who doesn’t want to be transformed now and again?   Do not be conformed to this world. People, all different kinds of people, are what make this world interesting, and we tend to be attracted in the media, in the realm of the rich and famous, and in our everyday ventures in life by those who are unique, individual.  I like being unique. I am proud there is no one else quite like me.  So, how can I be transformed by the renewing of my mind on a daily basis?

Well, for me this means taking one step closer each day to becoming my ideal me, the me God intended me to be.  I will never be perfect, but I can still strive to be. Now, this does not mean beating myself up every day about all the things that are not perfect or stressing about it or becoming OCD in my perfectionist efforts. It means simply to work on one goal each day.  For example, maybe tomorrow my goal will be the advice I often give to the children I work with, but don’t always put into practice myself: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Sometimes it’s better to keep your thoughts to yourself if it’s not something that is going to actually solve a problem or encourage another.  Transforming myself may also mean changing a negative thought into a positive one in order to improve my mood. Sometimes, I can get annoyed at a challenging situation or another’s attitude toward me and allow it to ruin my otherwise good day, but who says I have to? No one, that’s who! I can transform myself and my mood by the renewing of my mind. Maybe that means taking my 15-minute break to go get a cup of coffee with a co-worker who makes me laugh. Maybe it means saying a quick prayer and taking a walk outside in the fresh air. Maybe it means going to play with the kids in the classrooms and allow them to bring me back to my senses and show me what’s truly important. 

There’s so many things we can do to turn things around. The brains God gave us are amazing, and we have more control over our feelings and thoughts than most of us realize.  I remember when my youngest son was little, and he would make a bad choice that upset me.  I would ask him “Why did you do that?” He would reply, “My brain told me to do it.” Do you know what I said next? I told him to tell his brain his brain, “No!” and make a better choice.  Even as a toddler, I was trying to help him understand that you CAN and DO have the ability to change your thoughts, and you always have a choice of how you will react to any and every given situation in your life.   

February 18, 2016-RTM, Day 4

Today’s Verse: I am exercising my authority over the enemy. (Luke 10:19)

In Context: Luke 10:17-20 The Return of the Seventy

(The seventy are ones Jesus appointed to go out 2 by 2 ahead of Him into every city and place He Himself was about to come.)

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name. He said to them, “I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Look, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

What this means to me in regards to my current personal challenge of renewing my mind daily…well, it means I have the power to choose what I will accept into my spirit and what I will deny.  It means I have power over my small world, particularly with God in it.  We all make choices each day, each minute really.  We can choose to take responsibility for our actions or blame others.  We can choose to seek out the silver lining or wallow in self-pity.  We can choose to make the most of the day or allow it to make mince meat of us, from our attitude to our stress level.  We can choose to speak words of life to others or we can choose to focus on complaining and tearing others down. 

We do have choices, and God gives us the power and guidance to make the right ones.  Even if you do not believe in a higher power such as God, you still have a choice.  I often have the opportunity to talk to children about choices and to give them choices.  It’s important they know they DO have a choice in how they react and how they decide to feel about a situation.  Some children will blame others. Some will claim they didn’t have a choice, so we explore those concepts, and usually discover together that they did have a choice after all. None of the choices may have been what they wanted to do, but they did have a choice, particularly one that may have resulted in a more positive conclusion. 

As I consider the topic of renewing our minds, I believe this is one of the best ways to do it, by teaching our young ones how to keep their minds sharp and on the right track. By talking to others about ways to renew their focus and make better choices, we will begin to consider this more fully ourselves, thinking a little more deeply before speaking. That said, I’m very humbled and happy to be able to play their part in children’s lives through my work with them each day. What a blessing! No better way to renew the mind and exercise your authority over the enemy (whatever or whoever that enemy may be for you at the time) than to train up others in how to do it!

February 16, 2016-RTM, Day 3

Today’s Verse: I am becoming the things I think about. (Proverbs 23:7)

In Context: Proverbs 23: 6-8, Saying 9

Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye, neither desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and lose your sweet words.

This is actually quite a frightening verse.  Becoming the things we think about in our hearts might not always be ideal.  I am not going to pretend that my thoughts are always up to God’s standards.  What Jesus would say is not always what is in the forefront of my mind or heart, although I wish it was. It would make life so much easier. J

In fact, today, I’m feeling the effects of my “renewing the mind” focus as of late. At work, I did not feel so positive. I had more trouble following my own advice to look for the best, to laugh, and let go of the little things that usually overwhelm most others.  This is to be expected, though. Whenever I begin to focus on or study a subject in depth, I will often find myself paying more attention to the areas in my life related to it and subsequently, find myself challenged in ways I had not been previously. 

 So, today, I choose NOT to become the things I think about.  Tomorrow, I will choose to focus on only those things that I would be proud to become, filling my heart and mind with the best of thoughts that will uplift others, including myself. J

How’s your day going? Are you okay with becoming the things you have thought about today? 

February 15, 2016-Renewing the Mind, Day 2

Today’s Verse:

I am led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)

Now, in context:

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:12-17)

I think the only way NOT to live in fear and worry in today’s world is to be led by the Spirit of God.  I turn on the TV or the radio, and I am bombarded with violence, disease, and fear.  I go to work receive training on how to deal with active shooters, how to prevent, avoid, and deal with sexual harassment, and how to recognize and report the signs of child abuse and neglect.  In any given month, I go through fire and earthquake drills and ensure that we have all the necessary supplies for a prolonged evacuation in case of an emergency.  The biggest challenge I’ve experienced lately is teaching my son how to stand up for himself and deal with bullies. There are so many things I could choose to fear in today’s chaotic world, but where would it get me?  Mentally and physically exhausted, most likely. 

Renewing my mind in this context means not allowing the concerns of the secular world (the flesh) to plant fear in my mind. Keeping my heart set on higher pursuits and my mind on more worthy thoughts is essential to drive out fear.  At work, this means finding joy in the laughter and innocence of the beautiful children I see every day and sharing triumphs with the caregivers who love their students as if they were their own children.  At home, this means reading and watching more uplifting media rather than fear based, praying and studying God’s word, and giving of my time and energy to purposeful activities (such as spending time with family in nature, volunteering to help those less fortunate, gratitude journaling through this blog, and encouraging my family by supporting and helping them navigate the challenges of this life). 

What does it mean for you? How do you drive out fear and find purpose in your daily life?