There’s a reason the scriptures are very loud on how we use our minds. There’s also a reason God is very particular about our thoughts. This is because the mind is the seat of reason. How we interpret spiritual information is highly dependent on how spiritually developed our minds are.
Every day, thoughts come to us and contend for our attention. Yet, the word of God wants to influence our minds, too. God wants to use our minds so He can work through us. He wants us to have a vibrant relationship with Him and His word. This ought to be a daily thing — an interaction with Him through His Word and Spirit in us.
Jacob was on his way, fleeing from Esau’s anger. He got to Bethel but was oblivious to God’s presence there. This was a man who had just been blessed by Isaac. This was a man who had upon him the double portion. But he got to a place where there was heightened spiritual activity and was unaware of it.
It had to take a dream for him to see the unseen. And this could only have happened because his mind was cluttered. He had a lot to worry about. He was afraid for his life because he’d heard his brother was after him to harm him. Yet, in the very words of Isaac were words of protection from the God of Abraham and his Father.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. (Genesis 27.26–29, KJV).
This shows us that when we are anxious, we often can’t ruminate on the Word of God at the same time. The mind can only give room to one. This is what produces disillusionment. It’s why believers can get so deep in fear and worry that they contemplate suicide. Yet, the Word is so clear about how we react to worry and fear. Jesus says not to worry. He says not to fear. God wants us to see Him and Him alone.
Whenever we let worry and fear take root in our hearts, they can prevent the Word from growing in our minds. And when we get to the root of these things that cause our fears, we realise they are always things that aren’t that necessary. These are things that God can give to us or provide for us.
Our hearts need to come to a place of firm assurance in God, a place of total surrender to His Will and Plans for our lives. Our hearts need to allow only one thing to grow and thrive in them: the Word of God. This is what spiritual growth and maturity are all about. This is what it means for a man’s eyes to be single so his whole body can be full of light.
God needs men who are devoted to His cause. Men who, like Abraham, will believe the Word of God just because it proceeds out of God’s mouth. Men who are always in tune with God so that they don’t miss His plans. They can hear His voice in any situation and aren’t overwhelmed by the challenges of life. They see and know His plans for them.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26.3, KJV)
This is why the indwelling of the spirit is such a big game-changer. It changes everything. God in the believer is the promise fulfilled. God makes the bodies of men His temple. He can live and influence them from within. Ezekiel prophesied this: God will live in His people one day, and everyone will know Him from the least to the greatest.
We live in that day today. We are men who have believed in the gospel, and God lives in us through His spirit. We can hear Him and perceive His leading today. We can know what He will have us do each and every time.
We can live daily knowing He guides us because He lives in us. There ought to be no anxiety about tomorrow because He leads us. He knows what we need even before we ask Him. We are His temples. He wants us to know Him as the guide, the one who leads. And He wants us to live worry-free while at it. He furnishes us daily with new mercies. This is what He does. This is our God.
Hear Jesus;
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6.33, KJV).