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Bring Back the Joy --- B B t J . O r g
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CHANGE THE HEART--HOW TO
I've been learning to ski! I had a lovely experience in Copper Mountain with my friend Connie earlier this month. Since then I've had a couple of lessons. My final lesson will be this weekend. Although I don't expect to be a ski expert after three lessons, I do hope that I can shake off timidity and be able to slide down at a respectable pace. (I say that because they say I'm too cautious.) Teenage boys are able to swoop down the slopes with no fear. (They're also part of the reasons why I'm nervous on the regular mountain.) Skiing gets harder as one gets older. Women especially seem to have issues with the idea of learning to ski. We worry about bumps and bruises and who is going to take care of the kids if we break a leg. While all those things may be true, I want to offer a word of encouragement for older people who are attempting to do something new. At several times in my life, I learned that maturity helps. Over the years we have watched a lot of television, read a lot of books and magazines, surfed the web, attended lots of meetings and in general, had a lot of life's experiences. I believe that these "stand us in good stead" when we are forging new paths. If we can set aside fears and draw upon those experiences, we can realize how prepared we are. When applied for skiing, I can be assured that I have been exercising regularly, that my leg muscles are primed and ready to go. I have the equipment and good teachers. I realize that fear only hampers a person--that I need to have confidence in myself and my learning abilities, especially my ability to stop. What does all that have to do with our spiritual lives? As Christians each of us is preparing for evangelism and discipleship. Did you immediately picture handing out tracts on street corners, knocking on doors or taking mission trips to foreign countries? That's not what I mean. Last week I was talking about renewing the mind and that when we accept Christ as our savior, then we receive a new spirit. But that our flesh doesn't always do what we want it to do. So what do we do so that we more often exhibit Christ-like behavior? Well, an obvious answer is that we make ourselves do it. We strive to change. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said to change a bad habit, we replace it with a new habit and must do that new habit 21 times. That's all good and well. But there's also the quote "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." Sometimes I think that's the way it is with me. I want to do it because I know it is right but my mind and body just won't "get with the program." Striving just doesn't work for most people. So what do we do? The Bible gives a number of suggestions. 1. Take every thought captive. II Corinthians 10:5 This scripture encourages us to consider our thoughts. If they are not in alignment with Christ's way of thinking, then we should capture and eliminate them. On the other hand, if a thought is in alignment with scripture, then dwell and expand upon that thought. 2. Read the Bible. The scriptures teach us about Christ. John 5:39 Paul complimented the Bereans because they studied the scriptures to verify what they were being told. Acts 17:11 3. Just do something. I may be giving you an interpretation of the scripture according to Virginia to make a point. I Timothy 6:17-19 tells us that we need to be ready and willing to do good works. We are rich, maybe not in material possessions but in having the knowledge of Christ and Him crucified and we are given the inheritance of the Kingdom of God. This knowledge can help us in reaching out to others, having confidence in self because of the power given to us through Christ's sacrifice and the Holy Spirit . 4. Love one another John 13:33-35 We are told to have love for each other. If we think outwardly and never do anything that will hurt someone (including ourselves), then we will always be looking to do good. Because we are loving, we are recognized as one of Christ's disciples. As we grow spiritually, many things about our life will get better. We will be having positive uplifting thoughts. We will be benefiting from Biblical instruction. We will be out there sharing of ourselves by things that we do. And we reach out to others in love. These things don't happen overnight. We have to continually align ourselves with Christ. If we do that, maturity will come. So like skiing, we benefit from our past, our education, etc. As we grow and learn, we mature. |
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