Redirection

Word for the Journey

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

There are days during my set time with the Lord that my mind wanders. We all can probably relate to this in one way or another. I find myself thinking about work, finances, my children, the daily tasks that go undone, etc. Many thoughts can pop up, and there are times I struggle to keep my mind and eyes on Jesus.

Recently I had one of those times. I couldn’t sleep because of all the thoughts, though I tried. Work and the very challenging weekend we had kept coming up. Finances and thoughts of not having enough, thoughts of all the things needing to be done before I go back to work… just all the things. I haven’t had a night like that in quite a while. So at 2:30am, I decided to get up and redirect my thoughts. I took out my Bible and read John 14. Instantly, my mind returned to Jesus and His words.

Training the mind and redirecting thoughts has to be intentional. It’s like training a child. The Bible says to train up a child in the way they should go (Proverbs 22.6). You don’t just let a child go anywhere and do anything. This would bring harm and cause delay because they aren’t taught. You don’t just hand a child the remote and let them watch whatever they want for however long they want. This would cause them to see all kinds of inappropriate images and have nightmares. You don’t allow the child to read whatever they want. Children learn from these things- watching, reading, and doing. To properly train them, boundaries and discipline are needed. Truthfully, the mind is the same way.

Recently, when I was in the process of redirecting my thoughts, this came to me: “Whatever is pure, think on these things.” Paul wrote these words, but when I read them, it was like Jesus was speaking right to me.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

What encompasses all of that, but the Word of God?

Meditate means to deeply ponder, to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time.

We need the Word of God to renew our minds. Now, it’s one thing to have thoughts of perversion or lustful thoughts. These are the things people would see that the passage pertains to. But we need to see this differently. It’s not like my thoughts were impure and profane. However, the thoughts I had and can have may easily cause anxiety and/ or frustration. If I am meditating on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy, there’s no place for anxiety. Just before verse 8, Paul addresses anxiety.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Anxiety means feelings of worry, fear, and disease. Another definition says a natural feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.

Here’s the AI definition (since that’s a thing now):

Anxiety is a normal feeling of worry or unease, but when it’s persistent and interferes with daily life, it becomes an anxiety disorder, characterized by excessive worry, restlessness, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, and sleep issues, with treatments including therapy (like CBT), stress management (mindfulness, exercise), and sometimes medication, often stemming from genetics, environment, and stress, and varying in types like GAD, panic disorder, etc.  

Anxiety is seen as normal, but it can lead to things listed in the above description and can become a disorder. We as humans can and will experience anxiety. As Christians, we need to know and understand that this is not normal or natural to us if we are spiritually minded. What the world sees as normal, we ought not agree to. Otherwise, when the challenges of this world come, we fight naturally, not spiritually.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NJV

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Every thought needs to be in accordance with Christ. How do we do that? By meditating on the Word, praying, and only allowing what is pure and holy into our lives. As with a child, they shouldn’t get to watch unholy things for hours. That would not be the way to train them in the way they should go. For us, peace and joy should be normal because they are gifts freely given to us by God through His Spirit. We don’t get them letting our minds be open to unholy and impure things. We don’t receive peace by dwelling on memories and triggers from the past. I didn’t know this when I struggled with constant anxiety. Through the Word and deliverance, I was set free from anxiety. I received peace that doesn’t make sense in the natural. However, it does not mean the enemy won’t try to cause me to go back to that place again. I have to recognize what is happening and redirect, as I did this morning.

We, as believers, are told to meditate on the Word of God. The Word gives us peace and direction. It helps us when we are endowed with lustful thoughts, fear-filled thoughts, anxious thoughts, etc. When I chose to redirect (because it is a choice we have to make), John 14 came to mind to read. Before Jesus was crucified, he gave the disciples these words in one of his last talks.

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This is a promise. We serve a Mighty God! Is He not able to replace our worldly thoughts for His heavenly peace? When He died on the cross, it wasn’t just for our sins. It was for Holy Spirit to come and give peace for the journey.

Philippians 4:9 NKJV

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

When Saul became Paul, he turned from worldly things that turned him from the Lord to heavenly things. He walked as Christ walked, so he was able to say- do as I do to receive peace from God (paraphrasing). He wrote to many of the churches about thoughts and the mind. Jesus spoke of worry/ anxiety as well. Meditating on the Word is a daily task we must do.

Now this does not just pertain to anxiety. Any type of thoughts that would distract us from God, keep us up at night, bring fear and worry, or lust and impurity, this word addresses them all. We need peace in our minds to function as the Beloved of God. We need to recognize what can cause our thoughts to wander to perverse, anxious, or fearful places. As an example, TV and social media can take our minds to all kinds of places we should not go. Sometimes it can be the company we keep.

Let us stop today and seek the Father. Let Him show you, by His Spirit, what is causing your mind to need training and your thoughts to be redirected. Let us be transformed by allowing His Word and His Spirit to renew our minds and give us peace.

Promises for the Journey

Matthew 6:25, 33-34 ESV

²⁵Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?….

³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Joshua 1:8-9 NKJV

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 34:4 NKJV

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

1 Corinthians 6:13-16 NKJV

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.