Followers

Sunday, June 2, 2013

WHAT IF: my mind is submerged

What if:
  
 My mind is submerged in Your Spirit,

 Then:
 my words would be saturated with Your love, truth and wisdom.

What if that could really happen in my life?
How different I would be.

If I let my mind be submerged in the Holy Spirit throughout my day, oh what a difference it would make. If I continually -and that's the key- looked to the Spirit of God who lives within me, 

NONE of the thoughts I had would be bad, or complaining, or critical or judgemental. 
 Instead they would be concentrated on how I could encourage someone, or build them up.  Or perhaps help to produce a positive change in my life or someone else's.

Long ago, a dear friend of mine, gave me the book, "Practicing the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. Every few  years I take it out and read it again, because I think this book has challenged me more than ANY OTHER.  The entire premise of this book is to draw you to Jesus throughout your day, whether it be at work or in your leisure time. 
Tom Raley gave me this book while I was pregnant with our daughter Kristi. I was a runner back then and he inscribed in the book to me, 

"Keep Running Missy-but run to JESUS- each and everyday".

So that was 35 years ago. And I know I have run to Jesus. I have pursued Him. I know Him more now than I did then. I love Jesus more now too. I am more intimately aware of Jesus more today than I was 35 years ago. 
Duh...that SHOULD be the case.

But do I think of Him more? Sometimes. 
More likely tho, NO.

What if I did? What if I set my watch to beep every hour of the day while I was awake? First of all, I would need to purchase a watch that did that!! Secondly, I know it would make me stop and remember and pray to Jesus more during my day. Thirdly, if I really stopped and thought about Jesus every hour, it would become a habit after a period of time. Why is it that it takes 6 weeks to make a habit and only 2 weeks to break one?

I have been struggling for awhile now with forgiveness. 
Someone who I thought I could trust, betrayed a confidence.
I'm pretty sure that I have now forgiven the person because I have been diligent-and I mean really diligent about pursuing Jesus in this and realizing that in Colossians 3:13, He has commanded us -specifically me to:

"Forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you".

So I am once again learning that it is easier to forgive than to forget.

But what if my mind had been submerged in His Holy Spirit? 
I truly believe that my words and my thoughts would have been saturated in God's love and His truth and His wisdom and this whole matter would be over and done with.

What if I keep turning to Jesus often-and even trying hourly everyday? 
Oh how His Spirit would saturate me in His love, His truth and His forgiveness of me!!
And that in turn, hopefully, would spill over in me to all the ones He brings into my life in a daily basis.

I am so thankful that Jesus has never given up on me. I am even more grateful that He loves me and because He does, He won't let me stay the way I am. That He is continually through the days and months and years, transforming into looking more like Him. I am so thankful that Tom gave me this book, that he thought enough of me to know that this little read would challenge me through the years.

Its time to read "Practicing His Presence " again.
If you have never read it, I can't encourage you more to go get this book.
I guarantee, you will be challenged for years.

If my mind is submerged in Your Spirit, my words will be saturated with Your love, truth and wisdom.


1 comment:

  1. My father had several copies of that book. Each of his children were given copies and the whole premise of our faith is exactly that - practicing God's presence. Thanks for your encouraging word - I'm gonna drag the book out myself.

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