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| (inwardly digest God's Word) |
Isaiah 26:3-4 "Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace - in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock."
In this week of Advent peace we have noticed that God directs our "focus" to Christ. In Christ we are drawn to God's perfect peace. So I think it is fair to challenge this notion of "focus" and ask where it comes from - does the Bible say this? Well, yes it does. Where? Isaiah 26 for a start (see above).
The Bible does not ask us to empty or disengage the mind; God wants His people, all of them, fully engaged in heart, spirit and mind. God tells us that as we set our minds on things of heaven we are transformed to Christ. (Colossians 3) We are encouraged to think about what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely and good; we are encouraged to ponder and dwell on what is of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4). This is neither a mind emptying nor a visualization exercise which can lead to all sorts of distractions - from butterflies to begonias to babble. This is thinking about God alone! This is meditating on God - not a pagan mantra but rather the wrestling digesting chewing regurgitating memorizing speaking aloud and meticulously analyzing day and night type of meditation of the Bible! (Psalm 119) This is dwelling on God. (Romans 8) This is being transformed by God. (Romans 12) This is having a mindset of Christ and a mind set on God. (1 Corinthians 2, Philippians 2)
Advent calls us to ponder God and to contemplate, marvel, wonder, pray, judge facts, respond to circumstances, worship, love and repent. In short, Advent calls us to focus our thinking on God. We are called to be fully engaged. We are made in the image of our God who is wise beyond our wisdom; He gave us minds for a purpose! Not to turn them off or set them aside but rather to turn them on and be fully aware and amazed by Him. Advent calls us to see and know the wonder of our majestic transcendent God who seeks intimacy with us. Peace is not the absence of bad stuff, it is knowing the presence of the ultimate Good in all stuff; it is understanding the presence of God. Our peace is a reality resulting from minds set in marvelous wonder upon Jesus. Peace follows as minds are filled with thoughts of the Christ of Christmas.
Romans 12:1-2 " I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect."
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