Having the Right Mindset

1 Chronicles 22:19, “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.”

Focus. Think only about one thing. How difficult that is in today’s technology ridden world with pop-up windows, banners, and dings coming from our devices as we work.  Distraction is guaranteed and it takes discipline to stay focused on the task before us and not be swept down another track. Even as I write I have several parents who are asking questions regarding today’s online assignments, causing me to toggle back and forth. How easy it would be to let my writing task go and refocus on the rest of the day wearing my teacher hat. I could easily continue to correct past work and there is yet the next day’s assignments to create. But, that is not the focus that I want for today. Today I want to focus on God’s Word. I need it. I need it to minister to my heart. I need to be reminded of God’s goodness and of his sovereignty. I need to thank him for his faithfulness and praise him for all that he has done.

There are times when God asks us to sit and be still before him. Too many times we don’t heed that nudge and instead we let the noise around us dictate our next move. Before we know it, the day has passed and we have again left no time for our maker, the creator of all. Did I even give Him my leftovers? Or, did I crawl into bed with not a speck of time remaining for the one who created time? More times than I can count, I have allowed fear, doubt, anger, frustration, or the hurts of life steal moments away from taking time to be with my creator. Not just time with him, but actively participating in remembering, thanking and praising His holy name.   There are 1,440 minutes in each day. At just one of those minutes I could have chosen to take time with my God. Isn’t it interesting how even living through social distancing and a time of personal or family isolation, we can still let the minutes of each day tick away. The next thing we know – they are gone, forever.

Mindfulness – Dictionary.com defines this word as a state or quality of being aware of something, a technique in which one focuses full attention only on the present, experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them. The term has become more and more popular over the past few years in the fields of education, psychology, and business. Today people use the term and the practice as a way of ­­­­­­­­­alleviating stress.  However, when I look at the term, I see it as an opportunity to step away from the world and focus all of my attention on God.

In a recent Bible study, I was reading through 1 Chronicles 22 when all of a sudden verse 19 seemed to jump out at me. There it was, our modern term of mindset, as clear as can be. King David is sharing his heart and his plans for the building of the Temple.  In an intimate conversation with his son Solomon, David explains the details for the building project, but more importantly, he shares his wisdom. “Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.” David made multiple mistakes over his lifetime, but his focus always came back to loving, praising, thanking the God of Israel, his God. Even with the many mistakes that David made, Acts 13:22 states, “And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”  We again see this clear focus on God in Chronicles 28: 9, when David gives a charge to Solomon; “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart, and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever….” Just think about this – the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought that we each have. There is nothing outside of his knowing (past, present, future).  Omniscience, that one attribute alone is worth taking time to praise Him and give Him the glory that is due his name.

Oh Lord, help me to rejuvenate by focusing on Your Word.  Recalibrate my mind and heart by helping me to set my priorities straight.  Help me to discipline myself to read your precious Word that I might hide it in my heart. May a focus on your Word alleviate the stress in my life.  May my soul long to be refreshed at the springs of living water that come only from you.  May the words of Psalm 42: 1-2 be my words as well; “As the dear pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”  You, my God, are creator of the universe, and nothing has been made that was not made by you. Yet, in all of this, you count us as precious to you. Help me to purposefully praise you by choosing to shelter in and focus on your Word.   Amen

I encourage you to find something to add to your praise journal today.

• I love seeing the faces and smiles of my students during our Friday Zoom calls.
• I enjoy the more consistent video calls from our children, families and friends back home.
• I appreciate the change in morning routines where I can now enjoy my coffee in quietness and take time to start my days in His Word. “Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.”

 Choosing to praise Him,

Linda