Mind Training

I (Katie) read an article today in Relevant Magazine about a Finnish experiment linking cynicism and early onset dementia. Basically the article reported the idea that thinking poorly about people and situations actually causes a certain type of brain damage. This resonated deeply with me and reflects the truth of scripture and the importance of allowing Christ to transform our thoughts so that we may have life and life to the full!

It seems like cynicism, self-righteousness and judgement often become my default. This is no more true than when I know the freedom Christ has called me into and I find myself in a period of waiting. Tasks allow me to focus, to get into the dirt of life and find myself lost in God’s grace. However the mixture of understanding and time gives my brain opportunity to wander, often to places that reek of the very sins Jesus warns us about, those sins that make our worship into work, our devotion into piety, our freedom into religion. 

Jesus is constantly calling me back to a place where my mind is fixed. He has trained the paths of my neurons in so many ways (literally, remapping my brain). Yet, old ways of thinking, worldly understanding and generally traditional thought patterns are constantly pounding away my mind. This is why Paul tells us in Colossians 3 to “fix our minds on things above, not on earthly things.” More specifically, in Romans 8, we are told that “the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Isn’t this what we’re all after? Isn’t this the life I want to live?

We are in an intense period of waiting. There has been virtual silence from Bethany since we have sent our Dossier. I don’t know who’s reading our file, I’m not even 100% sure what country is in possession of our paper life. All we have at this moment is time. As we wait, I ask that you would pray for my mind and heart. Would pray Romans 8 over our home and our brains, specifically 8:5-7? When you encounter scriptures about training our minds towards Jesus and away from sin will you send them to us? Keep me accountable to the heart of Jesus, allowing Him to work and me to follow and obey!

Last fall I overheard a conversation that our oldest son, then four, was having with his older cousin who had just started kindergarten. As she told about her day she threw in some details about things she didn’t love so much, at a break in her story Roman looked at her and said, “What’s the good news, Marin?”. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and this phrase has now become part of the fabric of our family. Marin wasn’t being particularly negative, but Roman wanted to know, “what’s good” about life.

Waiting is not easy. Waiting without an idea of when the waiting will be over is even harder. I long to live in the life and peace of the Spirit. I desire to dance in the freedom of Jesus. I want to herald the reality of God’s Kingdom. So the next time you see me could you ask me, “What’s the good news, Katie?” Together we can rejoice in the work He’s accomplishing to bring all things under the rightful rule and reign of Jesus. Together we can sing a new song. Together we can see lives, hearts and minds changed, restored to all we are created to be. 

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Originally Posted: 8/28/14 on our YouCaring site.