Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22).Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature— the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

“We have sinned with our fathers…[and]…did not remember…” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.

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February 11 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this is the way it seems to work. When I keep my mind on You and not on my family, job or even church related activities, I just know that (as the song says) there is a better ending. I don’t know how or why I know, based on my own understanding, but I just know. And yes, I do get distracted by my own idols or circumstances; family, work, health, finances, friends, and ……..But it seems when my circumstances surrounding my idols (family, finances work, friends etc.) are very difficult and there seems no way to address them in my own power, I do focus on You.  Is this the way of it? You leave me to my own devices till I realize apart from You I can do nothing?

And God says…”The silversmith must add enough fire so the silver bubbles up and the impurities float away.  Proverbs 25:4 Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice. Being connected cannot be a “sometimes” thing if you want to live life more abundantly. But for those on earth,  it is a “sometimes” thing, as you are distracted by your natural inclinations and find yourself looking at your circumstances instead of Jesus. Jesus came so that I could see Him instead of you and provide abundant mercy and grace as you get “reconnected” to Me daily. Your ability to see and live abundantly is only possible when you are connected to Me. As Chambers says in this devotional….Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.”