Mind! How Much?

It has been expressed regarding "mind over matter" that if you don't mind it doesn't matter. However, there are matters of which we ought to be very mindful as they have impact not only for this life, but are of eternal consequence as well.

As I was growing up, how much did my parents expect me to mind? Though they did not treat me as if perfection was not good enough, they still expected FULL COMPLIANCE and therefore laid out clear guidelines for behavior. The rules they laid down were expected to be followed and when they were not, I understood there would be consequences. Therefore, the expectation was for me to keep their rules WHOLLY in mind. I was not at liberty to pick and choose what I wanted to follow and what I wanted to ignore. FOLLOWING THROUGH with action in accordance with the rules was the expectation and my life has been blessed through the nurturing and training I received from my youth up.

When someone says they have "half a mind" to do something, it means they have not fully decided to do it, but are giving it serious consideration. With regard to our focus on God and His expectations for our life, we definitely need to give it serious consideration, but we can't stop there. As we must give it more than "half a mind", we need to FOCUS ON FOLLOWING THROUGH by acting on or in accordance with it.

When Jesus focused on the foundation of God's expectations, He stated the summation of God's commands as. . .
"And he said to him, 'You shall LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'" ( Matthew 22:37 ESV)

How much is behind our love for God? Just part of the mind? Only "half a mind"? We are to love God with the WHOLE MIND! Anything less will leave us wavering between positions! However, if we truly do love God with ALL OUR MIND we should then naturally be willing to follow Him with all our life; heart, soul, and mind!

Keeping God's Will in mind is so important that Paul had not shrunk from declaring the "whole counsel of God" ( Acts 20:27) to the Ephesian elders. Are we involved in pursuing such a knowledge and understanding? By doing so our MINDS can then be PREPARED FOR ACTION ( 1 Peter 1:13) on which we are to FOLLOW THROUGH. May God and His Will truly be pursued WITH ALL our heart, soul, and mind.

Have a great day LIVING WHOLLY FOCUSED ON GOD'S HOLY WILL!
Carl

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