The Chronicles of Biscuit - My Mind

The Chronicles of Biscuit: Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

A few nights ago, Biscuit asked me if I would lay down with him until he went to sleep.  He said he didn't feel safe in his new room (new since December).  I asked him why and it had to do with some stories fellow classmates had told at the end of school.

We talked about it for a little bit, and I told Tyler whenever he is afraid he should pray - that God doesn't want us to be afraid and that the Bible says "do not fear".  I asked Biscuit if he ever prayed at those times.  His reply was so honest and sweet, "No, mom, but sometimes my mind doesn't think right."  I told him that sometimes mine doesn't either.  I think we could all say that some times.

Why is it that we may know God - or feel that we do.  We may know what His word says.  We may know we should pray - know we should rely on Him, but then at those times when we should be praying and relying, some times we don't?  Why at times is our mind not right?

The first and biggest, and perhaps only reason, is Satan.  Satan - the devil - tells us that we should be afraid.  He says we should be scared - that the world is a scary place and everyone is evil.  Satan says to us that praying isn't going to help - that there is nothing God can do.  He says we're all on our own.

We must learn to tell Satan to "flee"!  We must learn to tell him "no!"  We must learn to get our minds right and get them back to what we know is true - that God CAN help us!  That God CAN help us not be afraid!  That God will do what He says He will do!  But, just like Biscuit, we must first realize that our mind isn't thinking right.  We must come to grips with the fact that we're not relying on God the way we should. That's the first step in getting our minds to where they should be - nearer to God.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

James 4:7

What Are You Soaking Up?

(This is a kitchen sponge.  Isn't it cute?? I actually sell these in my small business rental booth.  I need to buy one for myself!)

Last night my nephew preached for a youth event. At the beginning of his lesson, he mentioned how our minds are like sponges. Immediately my mind centered around that very true statement. I thought about all of the teens (and many adults, too) who were listening to his message, and how each of our minds soak up information from birth to death.


Sponges are useful items around the house. They absorb things. They soak up spills and help keep things clean, but they can also become dirty and contaminated with germs and grime. In the same way, our minds absorb and soak up all kinds of things. We soak up good and positive things. We soak up bad and negative and sometimes even dirty things.

Sponges can be made clean. They can be disinfected to where they are like new again. Likewise, our minds can be cleaned....cleared....and made to be like new again. We can decontaminate our minds by filling them with what is good and what is holy. We can clean our minds by prayer, by reading the Bible, and by meditating on God's Word.

Ever so often it is a good idea to check our "sponges" (minds) to think about what we are soaking up.  Maybe even ask ourselves, "What Am I Soaking Up?"  Will what I am soaking up and absorbing bring me closer to God or move me away from God?  Will what I am soaking up have me looking more like Jesus...more like one of His followers?  If not, maybe it's time to decontaminate.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:1

"Oh, Be Careful Little Minds What You Think"

In several past posts, I wrote about "Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes, and Ears, and Mouth and Feet." You can find those posts in the archives on the "Shine Like Stars" homepage.

Today let's add a verse to the little song, "Oh, Be Careful Little Minds What You Think!" Before the face of God (Remember, Coram Deo), we use our minds. When you think of our eyes, our feet, our ears, our mounths...it all goes back to what's up here (I'm pointing to my head! You point to your head!. It's all about what's in our mind.

What we think matters to God. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Have you ever taken the time to think about what you think about? Let me ask you again slowly: Do...you...ever...think...about...what...you...think...about? It good for us to take the time to analyze our thoughts. Take the time to think about what you think about. Make sure your thoughts line up with what God would want you to think about.

Thinking on the things God wants us to think about may not always match with what is out there in the world. We must be careful how we fill our minds. Our mind should be on things listed in the verse above, not what the world gives us to think about.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things," Colossians 3:1-2. It's pretty clear where God wants our mind....not on earthly things.

"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:17-20a

If we are going to walk in a manner worth of God, and if we are going to walk like Jesus walked, then we must think like Jesus. That's what Paul talked about in Philippians 2, as he talked about imitating Jesus. “Have the mind of Jesus”. Our thoughts become our actions.

Before the face of God, we think with our minds.
Oh, be careful little minds what you think.