The Only Way to Really Change Your Mind

@audreyfrank

I went to bed with Condemnation and woke up with it the next morning.

It had started in the place of self-scrutiny, with the instruments we all like to use to measure ourselves. Beauty, Success, Energy, Health, Finance: Fill in your own tool. I had measured and weighed my Self and did not like what I saw.

By the time I fell into bed I was exhausted and weighed down like an anchor chained to a shipwreck. Condemnation slipped its scaly arms around me and began to tighten its grip. By morning it had grown in strength and staked its claim on yet another day.

My perceived failures stood around my bed taunting me, daring me to face the day with anything but discouragement. 

As I brushed my teeth, I carefully studied an imaginary list of my infractions and imperfections on the mirror in front of me. Fear stood over my shoulder, reminding me of all I had to lose if I did not measure up.

This day was not starting with hope. It would seem there was no hope for me.

Even my cup of coffee, the vice that I turn to for morning comfort, was unavailable, stolen by Condemnation. Among my accusers was Nutrition, and I had been falling far short as of late. So no dairy in my caffeinated coffee. No coffee.

I settled for a decaf cup of tea (surely that passes the Test of Acceptability?) and groggily grabbed my Bible. Sheer desperation drove me; that, and a tad of experience that reminded me this might be the only chance I had of redeeming this day that had begun under the heavy cloud of condemnation and self-scorn.

My body slumped and complained, crying out to go back to bed and hide from the duties of the day. Hide. Sleep. Get up and Try Harder. Repeat.

But I needed a mind change, and my body would just have to yield and foolishness masquerading as wisdom would have to step aside. I know its game, and I lose every time.

So I tucked into my tea and my Book.

Be strong and of a good courage. The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?–He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.–My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. 

If God be for us, who can be against us?–The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.–We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.

 (Joshua 1:18, Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalm 73:26, Romans 8:31, Psalm 118:6, Psalm 44:5, Romans 8:37, 1 Chronicles 22:16)

I let those words wash over me more refreshing than a hot shower after a cold run in winter. I stood there in that Stream and turned up the volume.

Be strong and of a good courage.

Goodbye, weakness and cowardice. Hello, His strength. Hello, courage. My slumping body sat up a little.

The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

Get out of here, Fear. God will light the way through this day.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.–My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

I’m faint. I don’t feel mighty. I am certainly weary of fighting the Performance fight, trying to Measure Up. And oh, boy, does my flesh fail, especially as the years go on. But I am promised strength and power. I have a Portion forever, and He is my God.

My body was at attention now, my eyes were open. I felt excitement tingle up my spine as I leaned closer to take in these words of Life.

If God be for us, who can be against us?–The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.–We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Condemnation, flee.

When I insist on being my own enemy, taking up the world’s standards of measurement to assess my worth, He will even defend me from me.

It is only through His Name I will push down this tendency that rises up stubborn and destructive in me. And in His name, I will conquer even myself.

I was awake now. I felt like a new person. I had changed my mind.

Hope surged through me, blowing the breakers of my faulty thinking and burning up the circuits of self and worldly measure.

Arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.

I leaped up from the place where I had only moments before slumped like a dead man. I was alive, and I was strong. Courage had filled me with a new perspective for this day, and I stood Redeemed.

Need to change your mind?

Slump over the Word of God today. Drag yourself to its pages of life and change your mind about your life, your day, your circumstances.

And arise, therefore, and be doing. And the Lord be with thee.

What truths have you found that have changed your mind? Join the conversation!