It was an ordinary Friday at work....dress down and waiting for for 5 o'clock to come! I like to listen to the radio at work and sing as I do my job when I have the chance. In other words...I like to whistle while I work! Amen! But this particular Friday, I was excited because of what was to come later that evening. So I was singing and had a little extra pep in my step. You see, we recently began a Youth Service for the youth of Greater Danbury area. And I was excited to see the young people come out and worship on a Friday night when they could have chosen to be any other place rather than the house of the Lord. Envogue's song had been placed in my spirit and had been ministering to me in its own way. Anyway, later that evening, I had the pleasure of welcoming the youth to Freedom Friday. During that time, this song just rolled off my tongue in the greeting as I was speaking from the heart without having anything prepared. With that, I began to seek God's direction on what exactly He needed for me to say in this message. I understood there was a message for me in there that God wanted me to bring to His people. You see, I had begun researching another topic that I thought was the message. And you know what, I could not get that message together to save my life! Then I knew, it was because it was my message and not God's message. The message was one thing and the research showed something entirely different...so needless to say....I had to leave that alone because that was not God's direction for me. In my heart, I believe Satan had planted a topic in my mind that I wanted to speak on and he wanted to confuse me and make me frustrated. So my mind had began to focus on that topic without the involvement of the spirit of the Lord. My mind had been affected and was cloudy because I thought that I was saying what people wanted to hear. Satan is good for that at causing confusing and doubt in our minds as he is a mastermind with getting in our minds. But God moved and spoke and said..."No, my love....I need you to speak only on what I give you and you will know that it is of me because it will flow from me through you." So that is how I ended up here. There is a word from the Lord today...not from Shirley. So hear me on this....There is a word from the Lord today and not from Shirley. So I ask you to look beyond Shirley and see only the message of the Lord.
The mind is a wondrous thing and as the expression goes...."a terrible thing to waste."
The mind according to Wikipedia.org is the aspect of intellect and consciousness experienced as combinations of thought, perception, memory, emotion, will and imagination, including all unconscious cognitive processes. The term is often used to refer, by implication, to the thought processes of reason. It goes on to say that "in popular usage mind is frequently synonymous with thought: the private conversation with ourselves that we carry on "inside our heads." Furthermore according to Wikipedia, thus we "make up our minds," "change our minds" or are "of tow minds" about something. One of the key attributes of the mind in this sense is that it is a private sphere to which no one but the owner has access. No one else can "know our mind." They can interpret only what we consciously or unconsciously communicate." (Wikipedia.org)
There are times when the mind is clear and your thoughts are pleasant and your good judgment is not questionable and you are able to make sound decisions. Then there are other times when the mind is cloudy and your thoughts are corrupted blocking your sound judgement. For example, your circumstances and situations are staying on your mind both day and night and they are weighing you down. You keep thinking and wondering "What on earth am I going to do and how am I going to fix this mess?" You are worried, you are scared, you are angry and you are an emotional wreck. Satan has seen your weakness and found a way into your mind and so now you are feeling, hopeless and helpless and you feel that your situation is less that hopeless. The mind is racing....going from one thought to another. The problem here is that the mind is so succumbed by all these negative thoughts that you cannot hear the Lord speaking because your negative thoughts are much too loud. Stop right there. Take a moment and free your mind. Well...you say...that is much easier said than done. And that's a song anyway by EnVogue, you say. Why yes it is, but let me just say that when you focus your time and your energy on God and ask God to help you, your mind can experience that peace and joy. Because the rest of the song goes....."Free your mind.....and the rest will follow. Free your mind....and the rest will follow. Let me say it one more time....."Free your mind........and the rest will follow. You see when you begin to pray and meditate on the Word of God and put your trust and your faith and your focus solely on Him, the fog begins to lift and clear and you are able to get back to the path that God has routed out for you and directed you to follow. Thus the Word of God says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and He will direct your path." All of your mind should be focused on God, not just a part, but all of your mind. Some people tend to think that if they can gain more ability to move beyond their circumstances first, then they will be able to serve God later. I too am guilty of that...we are all guilty of that. Now I am not saying that the problems will instantly disappear, but you will be able to face them with a clear mind and a sound mind with confidence because God will take over and began to lead and guide you through. The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." When you are seeking out God first, everything begins to fall into place. Your mind is free of all negativity and everything, yes everything begins to fall into place....in other words....the rest will follow. My God! That is an awesome thing. Not having to worry about anything because our Heavenly Father will supply all of our needs and not only that He has worked out a perfect plan for our lives. All of the burdens, the headaches, the worries.....I encourage to release them now in the name of Jesus. Free your mind today and let the God in you take control of all things and yes.....the rest will follow. Amen.
